Milton Major All-Stars get to District 3 Little League Final Four
Rocky Balboa, in the movie with the same name, tells his frustrated son that it isn’t about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. For the 2023 Milton Major All-Star team, hitting might be a little more critical, but the lesson of perseverance rings true.
Following an opening-round loss to fourth-seeded Nanticoke in Seaford July 13, Milton’s District 3 title hopes took a significant blow in the double-elimination tournament. However, the No. 3 seed displayed resiliency over the next two games to become one of four teams left in the District 3 All-Star Tournament. Traces of their resolve and talent could be found during the opening game that didn’t start until nearly 9 p.m. on a muggy night in Seaford.
Trig Joseph threw 82 pitches over five innings of work for Milton, striking out five while surrendering two walks and just three hits in the contest. Of the three runs Nanticoke scored against Joseph, two were earned and all came in the fourth inning. While Milton’s defense was fundamentally sound, an error was committed in the fourth inning and Nanticoke worked a few walks to score three runs in the inning.
Since Milton could only muster up one run in each of the first two innings, those three runs were enough for Nanticoke to take a 3-2 lead. Joseph maintained his composure and pitched a scoreless fifth, striking out two and keeping Milton close.
Milton batters made solid contact in the fifth inning, but Nanticoke’s defense answered the call each time, and Milton was unable to score in the frame. Unfortunately for Milton, Nanticoke’s bats weren’t quite ready to go to bed yet, and three more runs came across the plate, making it a 6-2 ball game heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Joseph led off the sixth inning and not only got on base, but eventually into scoring position thanks to crafty base running. Milton shortstop Trey Dickinson engaged in a great battle at the plate with Nanticoke’s Tyler Hitchens, but ultimately struck out. Kasen Adams’ single in the next at-bat drove in Joseph, who reached third by the time Adams got a hit, making the score 6-3 in favor of Nanticoke.
Adams reached third during Andrew Ockles’ at-bat that led to a walk, putting Milton runners on the corners and the tying run at the plate in the last half of the last inning. Jude Bastian was able to make contact, but the Nanticoke first baseman secured the ball and got a tag in to end the game.
Defeated for the day, but still alive in the tournament, the Milton team went on to face Millsboro the following day. Needing to win out, the all-stars were up for the task at hand July 14 against No. 2-seeded Millsboro, which suffered an opening defeat against No. 1-seeded Georgetown. In a game played at Lewes Little League, Milton cruised to a 10-0 victory over Millsboro, setting up a July 15 showdown against No. 7-seed and crosstown rival Lewes.
With their backs against the wall and in enemy territory, Milton entrusted Adams to keep their title hopes alive. The youngster stepped up in a big way, both on the mound and at the dish. Adams collected 11 strikeouts in five innings of work on the mound and led his team in hitting by contributing three singles. In all, 58 of his 86 pitches were thrown for strikes, and facing 24 batters, he was one strikeout shy of striking out half of those he faced.
Milton’s offense, led by Adams, featured RBI contributions from Nate Kristounas, Colton Wall and Noah Smith. Staked with a 5-2 lead headed into the sixth inning, the Milton defense limited a late Lewes rally to just two runs to secure the 5-4 victory along the banks of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal.
Woodbridge is set to play in Lewes July 17 against Milton in a do-or-die matchup for both teams. The winner will play the loser of the Georgetown/Laurel game, also set July 17. Should Milton win both games, the team will then need to defeat the winner of the Georgetown/Laurel game twice to clinch the District 3 championship.
More information is available at dedistrict3.org.
