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Cape senior all-stars fall to Mid-Sussex in District 3 championship

Friends battled friends, teammates took on teammates for title
After wrapping up the title, Mid-Sussex pitcher Kolton Barger and catcher Gage Wilkins congratulate one another on a three-hit, shutout performance. AARON MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Aaron R. Mushrush
July 1, 2024

When Golden Knights get together with Vikings, a battle is sure to ensue. The boys from Mid-Sussex bested the Cape kids 10-0 in six innings June 27 for the District 3 Senior League title.

Kolton Barger pitched a gem for Mid-Sussex, going the full six innings, striking out eight while allowing three hits and surrendering two free passes. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate and helped himself out by scoring both times he reached base. 

Mid-Sussex tacked on three runs in the second before doubling up to six runs in the third inning to take a 9-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third. Cape’s Robbie Payton ended Barger’s no-hit bid in the bottom of the fourth with a single. He stole second with two outs, but was unable to come around and score.

Following back-to-back three-up-and-three-downs in the fifth inning, Mid-Sussex reached the mercy rule limit when Mike Toomey singled in Barger for the 10th run. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Dominic Mangini singled and got into scoring position on another Payton single.

Barger ended the game with his eighth strikeout to claim a 10-0 victory and a spot in the state tournament for Mid-Sussex. The boys will head up to Newark Sunday, July 7, with a first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

 

Dominic Mangini fires in a strike during the first inning.
Noah Miafodzyeu has nowhere to run from this heater that plunked him in the back.
Max Selders cruises into second for an unchallenged stolen base.
Max Selders cuts off a throw to the plate as Mitchell Hocker scores.
Brayden Cronic rises up to grab a throw before trying to tag out Brayden Hazzard at second base.
Levi Morris gets ready to catch a throw to first.
Cameron Hartstein tries to collect a hit against his best friend Kolton Barger. The latter smoked a fastball into left-center against the former in the top half of the sixth inning.
Dominic Mangini reaches safely in the bottom of the sixth.
Robbie Payton smacks a grounder down the third-base line.

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Aaron Mushrush joined the sports team in Summer 2023 to help cover the emerging youth athletics scene in the Cape Region. After lettering in soccer and lacrosse at Sussex Tech, he played lacrosse at Division III Eastern University in St. David's, PA. Aaron coached lacrosse at Sussex Tech in 2009 and 2011. Post-collegiately, Mush played in the Eastern Shore Summer Lacrosse League for Blue Bird Tavern and Saltwater Lacrosse. He competed in several tournaments for the Shamrocks Lacrosse Club, which blossomed into the Maryland Lacrosse League (MDLL). Aaron interned at the Coastal Point before becoming assistant director at WMDT-TV 47 ABC in 2017 and eventually assignment editor in 2018. 

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