By Andy Walter

They had already played two games on Wednesday.

And the second contest had been the toughest for Delaware South’s players as they fell to Mid-Penn, 5-3, in eight innings.

But if they still wanted a shot at the Carpenter Cup title, the downstaters would have to win at least two more games in what had already been a long day in Philadelphia.

“I told them, that was the one to lose if we were going to lose one,” said Delaware South coach Shawn Phillips. “I think they were a little hungrier after that loss.

“We had a break so I think they thought about it a little bit. They came and battled for two games after that.”

Delaware South won both elimination games, downing Tri-Cape (N.J.) 13-7 and then Delaware North, 12-7, to reach the Carpenter Cup finals.

The Delaware quad will get a rematch with Mid-Penn in the finals. Because of schedule conflicts for both teams, the title game won’t be played until July 13 at noon in Philadelphia’s FDR Park.

The downstate players endured a long day on Wednesday. With most of the 12-player roster from Sussex County, they had a two-hour drive to Philadelphia, arriving in the city around 8:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. first game.

It ended up being a 12-hour day at the ballpark, with the game against Delaware North finishing around 8:30 p.m.

That was after the team made the four-hour roundtrip, playing a game and having two other contests rained out on Tuesday.

“They always say they play all weekend (in travel ball),” said Phillips, an assistant coach at Delmar High. “But I think the high caliber was more draining. To face pitching like that every pitch, we were definitely drained.

“You could tell we were gassed toward the end. I think everybody was.”

Delaware North jumped out to a 4-3 lead after the first inning of the last game. But Delaware South answered with seven runs in the third to take control.

In its five games in the tournament, the downstaters have out-scored their opponents, 61-19.

Phillips said Delaware South’s success in the regional tourney shows the quality of Henlopen Conference softball. All the players are from the Henlopen except for two from Delmarva Christian.

The Carpenter Cup includes players from high schools in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

“You bring the Henlopen Conference together and you look for good things,” said Phillips, the former Laurel and Delaware State baseball standout. “They didn’t disappoint. It was fun to coach and being around well-coached softball players, it just shows what kind of softball players and softball coaches we have in our conference.

“It’s pretty easy coaching that level of ball. You just try to guide them and do the best you can.”

Delaware South will be trying to capture its fifth Carpenter Cup crown, and first since 2018, in the finals. No other team has won more than two titles in the event’s 15-year history.

Phillips said winning the championship would be a nice reward for the hard work this group of players has put in.

“It’s a joy coaching these girls,” he said. “It’s fun coaching them and just being around them. I’m learning from them, they’re learning from us. Everybody can take something from this experience.”