Milton Majors defeat Millsboro 8-2
The Milton Major League All-Stars continue their quest to make it to the Eastern Regionals for a third straight year with an 8-2 win over Millsboro at Milton Little League Wednesday July 11. They defeated Laurel 7-3 July 9.
Milton garnered 12 hits while allowing Millsboro just two. Tyler Jacona delivered with a three-run homer in the first inning after Trey Hitchcock and Gage Joseph each singled to start the game. The Milton squad then turned a triple play in the bottom of the first inning.
“I don’t know what’s more exciting, hitting a three-run homer or turning a triple play,” smiled Milton manager Paris Mitchell. “That set the tone for the game. It really got the players fired up. With 12-year-old players, momentum is huge, and to start the game off with a home run and a triple play, it’s tailor made.”
Joseph hit a two-run home run, his second of the tournament, in the fourth inning after Hitchcock beat out an infield single. Milton scored three more in the fifth inning with Jase Mitchell's RBI triple and Noah Wells’ RBI single.
Hitchcock went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, Jacona went 3-for-4 with the three-run homer, Mitchell went 1-for-2 with a two-run triple, and Joseph hit 2-for-4 including the two-run homer.
Kade Hall hit a solo home run for Millsboro in the second inning.
Jayceon White pitched four innings, giving up two hits, one run and striking out four Millsboro batters. Jacona pitched the final two innings out of the bullpen, striking out five while allowing just one run.
“We had a few mistakes in the first game,” said Mitchell. “We’ve gotten spectacular pitching in both games and played better defensively tonight. We’re not perfect. If you play perfect, there’s only one way to go. We’re trending better and hoping that trend continues.”
Milton dominates Laurel
In the first game with Laurel July 9, starting pitcher Gage Joseph tossed three no-hit innings, striking out eight Laurel batters. He helped himself at the plate, going yard in the fourth inning with a booming two-run homer over the right-center fence.
Tyler Jacona, Jayceon White and Bryce Dominick came in to pitch in relief to keep the pitch count down for future games.
Milton had seven runs on nine hits. Eight different players had hits in the victory.
Dominick doubled in the fourth to score Jacona, who scored three times in the game.
Milton will face Lewes/Rehoboth at 7 p.m., Friday, July 13, in Milton. The winner will advance to the championship game.
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
