Seahawks honor trio leaving the nest in season finale

Three seniors on the Sussex Academy baseball team were celebrated before their final varsity game May 19, a 9-8 loss in extra innings to Smyrna. The loss leaves the team just shy of the .500 mark to end the year.

Despite doubling last year’s win total, the Seahawks felt they could have done more after their final game produced an 8-10 overall record for the season.

“When we were 4-9, it looked like the season was over, and they just fought like a son of a gun,” said coach Doug Nowell. 

An appearance in the state tournament was a goal the team set in preseason, but they fell just short. 

“Maybe it was a little far-fetched at times to think that, but as the season went on, and as we started getting better and cleaning some areas up, we gave ourselves a shot to get in the tournament,” Nowell said. “That's all you can ask; I'm proud of today's guys for that.”

Sussex Academy struck first against Smyrna, as Mason Glover scored when Matthew Brittingham grounded into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded.

Brittingham was on the bump and had five strikeouts through 3.2 innings before Smyrna finally tagged him for a run to even the game.

The junior helped out his efforts in the bottom of the fourth after reaching on an error and coming around to score on a bases-loaded walk forced by Maddox Roberts.

Smyrna responded with a bases-clearing triple to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead. They added another in the top of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sussex Academy’s Victor Goodhue beat out a throw to first to plate Roberts, which was then followed by senior Emerson Layton smoking a double to score Goodhue and Laine Roberts.

Smyrna struck yet again, this time with three runs in the top of the seventh to put the Seahawks on the brink of a loss. On the second of two outs, however, senior Whitman Stout put a charge into the ball that nearly put it over center fielder Liam Conway’s head. It was caught, but it sparked another comeback.

Glover walked to score Maddox Roberts before Goodhue’s single scored Laine Roberts and pinch runner Harvey Ryan, tying the game 8-8. The winning run was stranded on third to end the inning.

“It was a battle from start to finish,” Stout said.  “At the end of the day, that kind of sums up our season; we’re really close, we're showing great results, and I think the future is really bright for the team, to be honest.” 

After taking a 9-8 advantage in the top of the eighth inning, the Eagles retired the side for the extra-inning victory.