Seahawks get tying run to plate in 5-2 loss to CR in Wilmington

DIAA postseason action at Frawley Stadium is still several weeks away, but Sussex Academy made sure a good ball game would occur April 7.

The Seahawks were the home team and welcomed a top-tier Caesar Rodney squad into the home of the Washington Nationals affiliate Wilmington Blue Rocks. Unfortunately the boys headed back south with a 5-2 loss, but also with plenty of things to hang their hats on.

“It's a great opportunity,” senior Victor Goodhue said. “You don't get to go out to these types of places every day, and a lot of us won't ever get to play on this type of field again. It’s really a blessing. Win or lose, it’s just so nice to be on this field.”

Goodhue toed the rubber for Sussex Academy and as the host’s pitcher, he got to open up the game in his own style, firing in the first official pitch after warming up on the pro mound.

“It felt big time; it was a great experience,” Goodhue said. “I felt important.”

The right-hander gave up a single to start the first inning, but bounced back with a strikeout and a fly-out, and headed to the dugout after sophomore Mason Glover threw out the lead-off man as he attempted to swipe second with two outs.

Goodhue walked after five pitches to get the Seahawks started on offense. Junior Derek Sachs put down a perfect bunt to advance Goodie and reach base safely himself. Glover’s single loaded up the bases for sophomore Ben Tollett, who smacked a single into left field, scoring Goodhue and Sachs, and giving the Seahawks a 2-0 advantage.

However, those would prove to be the final runs Sussex Academy scored in the contest. CR grabbed a 3-2 edge in the top of the third inning and tacked on a run each in the fourth and fifth innings for a 5-2 lead.

Refusing to go down without a fight, the Seahawks made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning when Laine Roberts smoked a ball past the infield to reach first with one out. The senior looked injured on the play, but toughed it out and proved it was just a knock.

“I was 0-for-2 my first two at-bats, so I was hoping to see the ball, hit it hard, and that’s what I did,” Laine said.

Goodhue forced a two-out walk to put runners on first and second with the tying run at the plate. Sachs was in the box and had been having an impressive game offensively and defensively, but freshman Justice Smith slammed the door shut on the Seahawks for a 5-2 Riders victory.

Following the game, Sussex Academy was more frustrated than deflated. In a game where they committed five errors, they had the tying run up at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Seahawks think they just need to clean up some things before they really take flight.

“I go into every game thinking we're in the game all the time,” senior Maddox Roberts said. “Our team's good enough to be in every single game; I truly believe that. Individually, [we’ve] just got to be better, including myself.”