Walk-off homer crowns Lewes District 3 champions

Vikings and knights may not get along, but when they battle, it is a sight to behold.

Another thrilling chapter of perhaps the biggest rivalry in Sussex County was written July 14, when the Lewes major all-stars upended Mid-Sussex 5-4 via a Lucca Fazio walk-off home run in the sixth inning to clinch the District 3 title.

“It was awesome!” Fazio said. “Coming off the bat, I knew it was gone right away, and I just saw a hanging curveball, so I got on it.”

Fazio smashed the winner directly after Mid-Sussex came back in the top of the sixth to tie the game. A packed crowd at the Georgetown Little League field could not believe either event. From Mid-Sussex's near-comeback to Fazio abruptly ending the game, the sixth inning was the cherry on top of a mouth-watering baseball sundae.

Fazio was on the hill for Lewes. He mowed down 10 batters in five innings while giving up just one run off two hits. 

“My fastball was really working. I really stick to that a lot in the game within a game,” Fazio said.

Although Fazio brought the heat on most pitches, he kept the Mid-Sussex offense off-balance with a good mix of pitches that prevented them from finding rhythm against him. Calling the game and catching was his younger brother, Brody.

“I catch him all the time,” Brody said. “It felt so comfortable back there.”

The younger Fazio also played a key role on offense when he grounded out to the right side of the infield in the bottom of the first, allowing Ben Pease to cross home for a 1-0 lead.

Mid-Sussex immediately responded with a sacrifice of its own, coming off the bat of Ethan Baum. Bentley Hazzard scored on the play to tie things at 1-1.

Lucca Fazio picked up his first RBI of the game when he drew a walk to score Finn Kane and put Lewes up 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning. Ayden Jester kept the party going by driving in Jackson McGinley while loading up the bases. Pitcher Cole Robson escaped the jam with Lewes leading 3-1 after fielding a comebacker and firing it to catcher Luke Dickerson, who tagged home and fired down to first to complete the bases-loaded double play.

McGinley popped up in the box score again when he notched his team-high second hit of the ball game. The fifth-inning single scored Michael DiMuzio to put Lewes ahead 4-1. It’s the first all-star season for McGinley.

“I was going in the dugout asking my teammates how fast the pitcher was throwing teammates,” McGinley. “It's huge to know how fast he's throwing, because then you know what to look for, and my teammates were right, so I just saw ball, hit ball.”

Up 4-1 with just three outs to seal the deal, it looked like Lewes needed to find a spot to celebrate. However, Mid-Sussex came storming back when Dickerson singled in Cole Beauchamp, then Baron Cleary drove in Devyn Murray to put Mid-Sussex within one run. Dom Squillante plated Dickerson the next at-bat to set the stage for a dramatic finish.

Lucca Fazio shrugged off the momentum Mid-Sussex was building to lock in at the plate to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Speculation that Fazio would be walked was heightened following a first-pitch ball. The second pitch, a curveball, challenged Lucca in the zone. He was ready.

The ball sliced through the thick July air like a hot knife through butter. A no-doubter that immediately convinced everyone it was landing beyond the fence. As the ball made its new home in the trees beyond center field, Fazio trotted the bases ecstatic. 

“I’m just happy as can be because it’s my last at-bat for District 3 Little League all-stars,” Lucca said about his state of mind on his trip around the bases.

The victory marked the fifth year in a row a Lewes squad won either the 8-10 or the majors title in District 3.

Lewes will travel to Naamans Little League for the opening game of the state tournament at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 22.