Congratulations to two outstanding young Sussex County sports teams who demonstrated their star-studded skills in championship play.
Milton Majors' 11-12-year-old team won the 2017 Delaware Championship, earning the title of best team in Delaware and a place among only six Little League teams – from among 1,800 – that made it to Little League's Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship in Bristol, Conn.
These hardworking champions won the second of three games at the regional level, but then fell to a Maryland team, a loss that would end their bid to play in the Little League World Series.
Meanwhile, in Roxana, Georgetown's senior girls won five games in the Senior Softball World Series, before losing to Asia Pacific 1-0 in a tense pitchers' duel, the last game before the knockout round.
Georgetown shook off the loss and eventually faced that same undefeated Asia Pacific team again in the World Series final.
The final also remained scoreless, until Georgetown broke through with a run in the fourth inning. Jakayla Sample added a towering home run in the sixth, and her teammates went on to add two more, sealing a 4-0 win and the 2017 Senior Softball World Series Championship crown.
The Georgetown team did not allow a single run to score in the knockout rounds behind pitcher Taylor Wroten who pitched every inning.
That two Sussex County teams – one boys, one girls – advanced to World Series regional play is a remarkable achievement – topped off by winning the 2017 Senior Softball World Series Championship.
As a sign of growing interest in sports at all levels, ESPN broadcast both games, showcasing the skills of Sussex County athletes on television screens everywhere.
Congratulations to both teams and to their coaches, sponsors, families and friends, whose support and encouragement lay the basis for these achievements. Championships require long hours of work for athletes and countless sacrifices and hours of prep time, driving, watching and encouraging for families.
Hats off to all for a great effort that makes your entire Sussex County family proud.
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Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
