Millsboro's Major League All-Star team came back through the losers' bracket to defeat Lewes twice en route to a District III championship. The squad will travel to Newark tonight (Monday) to play District I champ Middletown-Odessa-Townsendin the opening round of the state tournament.
The District III reps had little trouble with Lewes in the first game between the two, as Hunter Parsons tossed four innings of perfect ball en route to a 10-0 Millsboro mercy rule victory.
Saturday's championship clincher, which ended 9-8, was a little more difficult, however, as Millsboro fell behind 6-4 after jumping out to a 4-0 advantage through four innings.
After the squads battled back and forth in the fifth and top half of the sixth, when Lewes tied the contest at 8-8, Millsboro got a little magic from centerfielder Orlando Kelley. Kelley, with one out and the bases empty, tripled to right-center despite stumbling around second base on his way to third. Lewes, seeing the stumble, made an attempt to gun Kelley down at third but the throw sailed wide and the Millsboro All-Star took off toward the plate and scored the game-winner just in front of a tag.
If District III wins tonight, it will play District II (New Castle County) champ Brandywine in the winners' bracket final. A loss tonight, however, would drop District III to the losers' bracket, and they would not play again until Wednesday. All games are slated for 7 p.m. starts.
The winner of the state tournament moves forward to the East Regional in Bristol, Conn. The winner there heads to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
