Upper Sussex junior all-stars fall to Western Sussex

The Upper Sussex Junior League All-Stars finished the 2024 season July 1 with a 9-5 loss to Western Sussex in Georgetown.

Upper Sussex tallied eight hits in the game. The Upper Sussex fans anticipated a seventh-inning comeback like their team pulled off against Lower Sussex in the first round, but the last-inning four-run rally fell just short.

“I’m so proud of the girls,” said Upper Sussex manager Doug Tonge. “By the time our regular season ended versus when all-stars started, we had a really fast turnaround. They fought hard every game. A couple of the games could have gone either way, but I’m proud of them. In our comeback against Lower Sussex, all the credit went to my girls. They knew what the score was and they turned their bats on. We hit the ball well tonight too. Early in the game, we hit the ball right at people. If we could have gotten on the board early, who knows?”

A’niyah Taylor went 2-for-3 with three RBIs to lead Upper Sussex. MaryKate Dougherty and Isabella Fitzgerald each went 2-for-3, with Fitzgerald scoring a run. Teagen Forester and Natalie Longo each went 1-for-3 and knocked in a run.

Chloe Tonge started in the circle, throwing three innings and striking out three batters. Taylor White came in from the bullpen and finished the game. She struck out six.

“I was just wanted to shut them down and help my teammates get back into it,” said White.

Western Sussex was led by Bobbie Smith and Emma Short, who both went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Ally Bennett, Kendall Scott, Maliyah White, Lauren Myers and Reagan Swain each had an RBI. Western Sussex had six stolen bases, including three by second baseman Aryiana Lake.

Western Sussex kept the streak going July 2, with a 5-4 win over Laurel in nine innings. That sets up a winner-take-all final between the two squads July 3.