Kristunas walk off single advances milton in District 3

Benny MitchellSports

Milton coaches address their players after a thrilling win, photo by Benny Mitchell

Milton- After two nights of rainouts and three straight evening rain storms Milton and Lewes were finally able to get on the field for a Little League District 3 semi final game. The wait was well worth it as both teams were locked into a scoreless game through five and half innings.

Milton broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth when Ike Beam reached first on a base on balls with two outs. As Beam was advancing to second base on a wild pitch catcher Luken Jones threw a bullet to second base that careened off the foot of a sliding Beam sending the ball into leftfield. Beam then advanced to third on the play.

Nate Kristunas then singled down the right field line scoring Beam as Milton advanced to the winner bracket championship game with a 1-0 victory over Lewes.

“I was standing in the dugout praying that I would get a chance to get up to bat,” Kristunas said.

Kristunas hit came on a 2-2 count.

“I knew he would throw a fastball outside, he seemed to have a lot of confidence in his fastball” Kristunas said.

Both teams had their chances to put a run across throughout the game. Lewes starting pitcher Ben Tollett pitched out of a base loaded no-out jam in the bottom of the third forcing a ground ball and a pair of strikeouts. Reliever Christian Cabello used a ground ball and a strikeout as Milton left the bases loaded again in the fifth. Cabello struck out four batters in two innings of work.

Milton reliever Triztan Willey got a strikeout to end the top half of the sixth as Lewes threatened with bases loaded.

“It gets scary, you have a couple great opportunities to score and don’t, but those are two really good pitchers and great kids over there,” Milton manager Tony Willey said.

Joseph Ruark started the game on the mound for Milton going five innings allowing just one hit while striking out six batters and walking four walks before reaching his pitch count in the game.

Milton also turned a double play in the fourth inning.

“Joseph Ruark is our stud, our go to guy. He pitched a phenomenal game tonight,” Willey said.

Tollett was equal to the task on the mound going four innings allowing three hits with eight strikeouts and one base on balls. Tollett also had one of three Lewes hits in the game.

Lewes threatened in the sixth inning with one out and runners on first and second. Milton catcher Jordan Williams blocked a wild pitch, tracked down the ball and threw out the runner at third. Lewes did not score in the inning.

Cabello started the sixth inning with a pair of strikeouts before yielding a walk followed by Kristunas’ single.

Triztan Willey, Trey Dickinson and Williams all had hits for Milton. Cabello and Jameson Pease had hits for Lewes.

Milton will host Laurel on Tuesday night at 7:00 in the winner bracket championship. Laurel advanced with a 10-5 win over Lower Sussex. Lewes will travel to Laurel for an 8:00 pm game against Woodbridge.

 

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