Milton outlasts Lewes in Pat Knight 8-10 championship

It was a game that resembled a Rocky movie when the Milton 8-10 team slugged it out with the Lewes squad for the Pat Knight championship. When the final out was made and the fans’ hearts had settled, Milton had squeaked out a 10-9 victory.

The never-say-die Lewes team was behind 7-1 after three innings and then 10-4 in the fourth inning. They scored one in the fifth and four in the sixth on a pair of walks, a ground out, a pair of fielder's choices, an error and a walk to close the deficit to just one run with two outs.

With the bases loaded and the tying run on third with two outs, Milton pitcher Ike O’Brien got a line drive out to shortstop to win the game.

The Milton team outhit the Lewes squad 9-1. Henry Hill went 4-for-4 on the day. Ike O’Brien went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Brodie Hopkins delivered with three RBIs. Michael Sockriter and Aiden Veith each pounded a double, while Camden Bloom garnered a hit.

Hill picked up the W on the mound for Milton, allowing one run and striking out seven batters. Jase DeLacy, Nash Dondarski and O’Brien teamed to finish the Milton victory.

“I felt pretty good about the game,” said Hill. “We were a little nervous at the end, but we pulled it out.”

“It’s pretty sad to lose,” said Lewes third baseman Ahmere Peterson. “But you just have to keep your head up. We were down but almost pulled off the comeback.”

“It was a great game,” said Milton manager Bobby DeLacy. “We jumped out early, faced some adversity throughout, and our boys were able to come together in the end and win it. Lewes battled hard to get back in the game. We had a great team. The boys worked hard all summer to be able to go undefeated. I’m proud of all their hard work. Milton Little League is going to have a fun couple years with talent on Pat Knight and all-stars.”

The Lewes team was led by Conor Cleary, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Peterson, Bryce Leinbach, Owen Jackson, Javion Turnage and Brayden Barlow each picked up an RBI.

Bentley Jackson, Leinbach and Peterson teamed for four innings on the mound. Deacon Jones came in from the bullpen in the fourth and shut down Milton, striking out six.

“We are very proud of our Lewes 8-10-year-old Pat Knight team,” said Lewes manager Patrick Jackson. “They played their hearts out every game and made some really awesome plays throughout the tournament. Our players represented four of the Lewes Minor League teams and they came together as one. It was a tough loss, but Milton has some great players. We went 2-2 overall and enjoyed playing in the tournament.”