Two losses in All-Star Little League play equals double-elimination from the local tournament. And on June 29, Lower Sussex’s 9 and 10 year olds bowed out following a 3-0 loss to Millsboro. But, if it’s any consolation, Lower Sussex’s head coach Doug Hudson couldn’t be more proud of his boys.
Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT
Brian Arthur is one of four Lower Sussex Allstars (9-10) to steal home in the bottom half of the fourth in a come-from-behind 9-6 win over Rehoboth.
They were sent to scrap their way through the losers’ bracket one day after suffering a 12-9 opening round loss to Georgetown. Even more unfortunately for Hudson’s boys, there was a mix-up in the scheduling of the brackets and Lower Sussex’s opponent — Rehoboth — wasn’t in Georgetown to play, while Georgetown’s squad was.
League officials postponed the game to the following night. Hudson’s boys were disappointed. They’d been preparing for two hours prior to the game and were eager to play. Finally, they were able to channel all of that desire into a 9-6 come-from-behind win over Rehoboth on June 28.
Rehoboth led 2-0 heading into the bottom half of the fourth, when Hudson’s squad took the bull by the horns. It was now or never, and they wanted to play more baseball, so Lower Sussex stole home four times in the bottom of the fourth to take a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
“We’ve tried to teach the boys to be aggressive on the bases,” Hudson explained. “Rehoboth’s catcher wasn’t throwing the ball back hard and the pitcher turned his back on our players, so we [third base coaches] would whisper to them to go and they did.
“On a play like that, we were playing the percentages,” he added. “We were playing the likelihood that they wouldn’t be able to complete the throw and tag, because so much has to happen. The pitcher has to make the catch, then make the throw home; the catcher has to be in the right place to make the tag. And at 9 and 10 years old, everything isn’t always going to be just right.
“It was win or go home, and the boys gave everything they had. I’m very proud of every kid. But I’m even more proud of the sportsmanship they displayed. Usually if they’d get down they’d stay there. But this day they were gamers and came home with [the win],” Hudson said. “It was a fun game to play.”
Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT
Sean Whelen’s catch and throw nabbed a Rehoboth baserunner trying to tag up from third with no outs in the top of the fourth. Rehoboth didn’t score that inning.
And, while stealing home four times in the bottom of the fourth may’ve been integral to Lower Sussex’s win, the play of the game went to a beautiful catch and throw on the fly by outfielder Sean Whelen to catcher Eddie Hogan in the top of the fifth.
Rehoboth had a man on third with no outs when a ball was well hit to outfield. But Whelen made the snag and rifled the throw right to an awaiting Hogan, who applied the tag.
“That was one of the best plays I’ve seen in years,” Hudson admitted.
Jake Hudson relieved starting pitcher Chuck Arthur and earned Lower Sussex’s lone All-Star Tournament win. Lower Sussex’s all-star record was 1-2.