Share: 

Milton 8-10 All-Stars battle back after opening-round loss

Three straight wins put team one away from championship round
July 9, 2018

The Milton 8-10 All-Stars ran into the hot bats of Lower Sussex July 5 and went down in defeat 15-0 in the first round of the District 3 playoffs. But the never-say-die Milton team bounced back to defeat the Nanticoke All-Stars 11-6 in Millsboro July 6, then powered past the Millsboro squad 9-4 at the Lower Sussex fields in Roxana July 7. They then advanced by defeating Lewes/Rehoboth 5-3 July 8.

In the 15-0 loss to Lower Sussex, Aaden Johnson slugged a double and was hit by a pitch, while Gideon Woods slammed a single. Logan Motter made two great defensive catches in left field. Woods had four strikeouts on the mound. Dylan Grise was the winning pitcher for Lower Sussex with four strikeouts.

In Milton’s win over Nanticoke, Ryan Coulbourne picked up the victory, with Victor Goodhue coming in for the save. Woods had a hit, two RBIs and scored two runs, while Johnson had two runs and knocked in two RBIs. Coulbourne scored two runs; Dominic Fuscellaro had a hit, and Trizton Willey scored a run. Victor Goodhue, Liam Mitchell and Harper Kaser all scored runs. Mason Glover got on board with a bunt single and scored a run. Amari Jackson made two Sportscenter-worthy defensive plays at third base and turned a double play. Johnson threw out three runners from behind the plate. 

The Milton squad didn’t stop there, as they powered through Millsboro 9-4. Woods picked up the win with eight strikeouts. Jackson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored; Coulbourne got a hit and scored three runs, and Johnson went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and three RBIs. Woods slammed a double; Will Burke went 1-for-2 with a run scored, and Mitchell went 1-for-3. Motter had a 1-for-2 night with a run scored and an RBI, while Kase laid down a sacrifice bunt to push a run across. 

In the win over Lewes/Rehoboth, Coulbourne picked up the W with five Ks, while Burke came in for the save. Johnson went 2-for-3 with a single, a triple, a run scored and two RBIs. Jackson was 1-for-4 with a run scored; Coulbourne scored a run and knocked in a run, and Woods went 1-for-3. Austin Guerrierri went 1-for-1 with a base hit, Willey scored a run; Goodhue went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Motter was 1-for-2 with a base hit. Big defensive plays were recorded by Glover, Burke and Goodhue. 

Milton was down 3-1 going into the bottom of the fifth. Coulbourne led off with a walk. Johnson followed with a triple to score him. Johnson then stole home to tie the game at 3-3. Willey walked and scored on an RBI single from Goodhue; then he scored on throwing errors to give Milton the 5-3 lead. 

Milton was set to play Georgetown at 7 p.m., Monday, July 9, at Millsboro Little League for the opportunity to move into the championship game.

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter