All-Stars runners-up in sectionals
Published 4:40 am Saturday, July 23, 2011
KEMPSVILLE—The Southampton-Sussex Nationals Pony 13- and 14-year-old All-Star team on Thursday played a steamy nighttime doubleheader, but fell short in the title game for sectionals.
Southampton-Sussex 13- and 14-year-old Pony Division All-Stars, from left in front, are Benji Goodrich, Nate Williams, Hunter Peck, Paul Parker, Dustin Lance and Dylan Beale; in back, Coach Willis Scott, Austin Pierce, Manager Dave Sackett, Tae-Tae Holloman, Sean Raulston, Jeffrey Cannon, Business Manager Chad Edwards and Alex Jones -- SUBMITTED
The team lost 6-1 to Western Branch and finished as runners-up in the 2011 Pony East Zone South Regional Northeast Section Tournament. The local All-Start team went further than any other boys’ team from Southampton-Sussex, while Western Branch advances to the regional tournament in Davidson, N.C.
“We’re really proud of them,” said Southampton-Sussex Business Manager Chad Edwards. “They did a really good job.”
Southampton-Sussex started the tournament on Monday with a 6-5 win over Delmarva from Salisbury, Md. Tae-Tae Holloman earned the win, striking out five batters and giving up four hits.
On offense, Sean Raulston hit a triple with one RBI, and Paul Parker hit a single that scored two runs.
On Wednesday, Southampton-Sussex lost 7-3 to Western Branch.
Thursday night opened with a 6 p.m. game against Delmarva.
“It had to be well over 100,” Edwards said. “It was very, very hot.”
Southampton-Sussex won 7-3 behind the pitching of Holloman and Austin Pierce. Holloman struck out five and gave up three hits in three innings. Pierce struck out two and gave up three hits in three innings.
“We had a lot of singles and moved the guys around,” Edwards said about the team’s scoring.
Benji Goodrich hit a double.
In the final game, Western Branch pitched a no-hitter. The game was tied 0-0 after five innings. Western Branch scored four runs in the top of the sixth.
Southampton-Sussex came back with Raulston scoring a run after getting on base on an error, stealing third and stealing home on a walk.
Southampton-Sussex got into the sectional tournament after a come-from-behind win in the last inning to defeat Smithfield 5-4 and win the district title on July 14 in Windsor. Southampton-Sussex defeated Smithfield 14-13 and Windsor 11-1 to make it to the title game.