The softball squad comprising players from eastern and central Sussex County won a pair of games July 7, to claim the District 3 junior softball championship. 

Players from Georgetown, Lewes, Lower Sussex and Millsboro defeated the Western Sussex squad 7-3 and 17-2 to move on to the junior softball state championship July 13-17 in Georgetown. The Western Sussex squad featured players from Laurel, Nanticoke and Woodbridge. 

Skylar Althoff and Rilynn Lecates teamed to throw the Sussex team to two victories.

Althoff struck out 13 batters to pick up the 7-2 win in the first half of the doubleheader. Lecates came in from the bullpen to finish off the Western Sussex team with four strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work.

Sussex outhit Western Sussex 6-3. Loralei Donaway, Skylar Medford, Altoff, Lily Kreger and Bailey Lecates each delivered RBIs. 

The second game was dominated by the pitching of Lecates, who threw a one-hitter while striking out 11 batters. Sussex had 11 hits in the contest. 

Emilee Williamson delivered from the dish, slamming a home run and knocking in three runs. Medford and Rilynn Lecates each had two RBIs, while Donoway, Althoff, Kreger, Jules Marinelli and Pyper Rogers each had an RBI. 

"The team did great tonight," said Sussex manager Emily Harne. "It’s a wonderful group of young ladies that have a lot of talent. As a team, they had great-quality at-bats, with some big hits, smart base running and good defense. In the two games combined, we only allowed four hits and eight walks. The pitchers and catchers did amazing with 28 strikeouts combined."

Harne said the challenge of all-stars is creating a team with players from different schools. 

"These girls showed great attitude, effort and a team-first mentality right out of the gate," Harne said. "They created a team all on their own very quickly. We [coaches] are really excited to watch them compete in states."