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Milton 8-10 softball falls to Lower Sussex, Laurel

Milton third baseman Maddie Brown bare-hands a grounder and throws out Lower Sussex batter Gabriella Class. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
July 11, 2025

The Milton 8-10 softball all-stars fell in the District 3 tournament, losing 8-1 to Lower Sussex July 10, then 3-2 to Laurel July 11. 

Against Lower Sussex, the eventual district champion, Milton was held without a hit by pitcher Olivia Owens. 

“We came in knowing it was going to be a tough game, and as always, we’re the underdogs,” said Milton manager Tony Willey. “We just couldn’t get the bats to fire up. These girls have been putting in a lot of work and have only known each other for a couple weeks, so all in all, they are killing it in my book.” 

Milton pitcher Pyper Willey struck out 12 batters while only walking two. 

The Milton squad played tough against Laurel the next night, but the Bulldogs pulled off the win with one out in the sixth inning to garner the 3-2 victory. 

Milton struck first in the opening inning on a double by Hannah Hartstein. She stole third and scored on a wild pitch. 

Laurel came back in the bottom of the third on an Allie Russell single. 

Willey pounded a single in the top of the fourth to grab a 2-1 lead. 

The game was tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Adelynn Horsey hit into a fielder's choice, allowing the walk-off winning run to score. 

Hartstein went 2-for-3 with a double for Milton, while Maddie Brown went 2-for-2. Willey knocked a single.  

Willey had a strong performance in the circle, striking out 10 batters without giving up an earned run. 

Laurel’s Kendall Givens went the distance, striking out 12 batters, allowing five hits and two earned runs.

“Although we lost, we won in the end,” said Willey. “We usually inter-league with Lewes to make up the Cape team, but this year, we couldn’t do that. We came out with a scrappy little group of girls, with some of them being first-year players having their first all-stars appearance. The older girls helped them along the way by guiding them through the ups and downs of this tough, tough bracket. Laurel was a great game with a lot of emotions. As the game ended, we had not come out on top, but the girls had won with me as they grew in every practice we had. I’m proud of each and every one of them.”

 

Milton pitcher Pyper Willey struck out 12 Lower Sussex batters in the loss.
Milton shortstop Gia Scott puts the tag on Lower Sussex’s Julia Owens.
Gia Scott beats out the throw to first on a bunt, but the play was called back as a foul ball.
Milton second baseman Peyton Dunn throws to first for a put out.
Milton outfielder Clara Smith rushes the ball and gets it into the infield.
Milton pitcher Pyper Willey dives safely back to first.
Milton’s Gia Scott snags a hot grounder at short.
Milton third baseman Maddie Brown throws out a Lower Sussex batter.
Milton pitcher Pyper Willey slides safely into second beating the tag of Lower Sussex’s Julia Owens.
Milton pitcher Pyper Willey collides with Lower Sussex third baseman Scarlett West.
Outfielder Kaelynn Peet gets the ball in quickly for the Milton squad.
Lower Sussex catcher Harper Holland keeps the base runners close to their bag.
Lower Sussex batter Gabriella Class lays down a bunt.
Olivia Owens delivered a no-hitter for the Lower Sussex team.
Shelby Bollinger gets a hit for the Lower Sussex squad.
Milton’s Maddie Brown slides safely into home.
Milton first baseman Hannah Hartstein snags a throw for an out.
Milton outfielder Mackenzy Wunderlich gets the ball in quickly on a hit.
Milton’s Aubree Dukes knocks the ball into the outfield.
Milton’s Journey Watson takes a solid cut at a pitch.
The Milton 8-10 softball team members are in back (l-r) coaches Katie Hartstein, Tony Willey and Chrissy Dunn. In third row are Mackenzy Wunderlich, Hannah Hartstein, Maddie Brown and Pyper Willey. In second row are Payton Marr, Journey Watson, Kaelynn Peet and Aubrey Dukes. In front are Clara Smith, Gia Scott and Peyton Dunn. Missing coaches are Devin Scott and Jen Willey.
Milton’s Pyper Willey went the distance against Laurel striking out 10 batters.
Laurel’s Kendall Givens went the distance, striking out 12 batters.
Milton’s Gia Scott throws out a Laurel runner.
Milton’s Hannah Hartstein scores in the first inning.
Milton pitcher Pyper Willey slams a single.
Milton’s Clara Smith slams a ball in the outfield.
Milton’s Maddie Brown went 2-for-2 in the game with Laurel.
Milton’s Hannah Hartstein slams a hit against Laurel.
Peyton Dunn hits a ball into the outfield for Milton.
Milton catcher Payton Marr throws down to second in the Laurel game.
Milton catcher Payton Marr gets some major ups to get a high throw at home.
Adelynn Horsey hits into a walk off fielder’s choice in the sixth to garner the win.

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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. 

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