Ravens defeat Dover 6-4 as North baseball race heats up

Tim Mastro
Posted 5/9/17

GEORGETOWN — With a six-run bottom of the fourth, the Sussex Tech baseball team sent the Henlopen Conference Northern Division race into pure chaos.

The Ravens came from behind to earn a 6-4 …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already a member? Log in to continue.   Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Ravens defeat Dover 6-4 as North baseball race heats up

Posted

GEORGETOWN — With a six-run bottom of the fourth, the Sussex Tech baseball team sent the Henlopen Conference Northern Division race into pure chaos.

The Ravens came from behind to earn a 6-4 victory over Dover High on Tuesday afternoon. The result means there are now four teams tied in the loss column for first place in the Henlopen North with two weeks left in the season.

Dover was in front 4-0 after sophomore Hiram Davis belted a grand slam in the top of the fourth. But Sussex Tech answered with six in the bottom half, highlighted by Anthony Hitchcock’s go-ahead double with the bases loaded which drove in three runs.

“All season long we haven’t responded well to a team who has punched us in the mouth,” said Sussex Tech coach G.L. Jefferson. “That grand slam right there was the ultimate punch in the mouth. That was so big, just responding to that. I’m very proud of our guys.”

Sussex Tech improved to 7-3 in the Henlopen Conference, tying it with Dover in the loss column who is 8-3 in the conference. Smyrna (7-3) and Polytech (6-3) also are in contention for the Henlopen North title while Cape Henlopen is still hanging around at 7-4 in the conference despite a loss to Delmar on Tuesday.

Sussex Tech has three more games remaining in the conference, against Polytech on Friday (4:15 p.m.), Seaford on Saturday (11 a.m.) and Smyrna next Tuesday (4:15 p.m.).

Thanks to Tuesday’s win, the Ravens would hold the tiebreaker against Dover in a potential two-way tie.

Dover meanwhile owns head-to-head tiebreakers over Polytech and Smyrna. The Senators finish their Henlopen Conference slate against Delmar on Thursday and Indian River next Tuesday (both contests at 4:15 p.m.).

“The Henlopen North is always a tough division and the Henlopen Conference is a tough conference in all,” Jefferson said. “Dover is a quality opponent and we know that. We really wanted to put a full seven innings of baseball together against them because it feels like we haven’t done that all season long. Luckily enough this was our day.”

Sussex Tech’s fourth inning rally started when Matthew Warrington was hit by a pitch and Garrett Richardson reached on an error. Brady Parks plated the first run with a RBI double.

Jason Genshaw then also was hit by a pitch before Braydan Graham singled and Deshown Sample walked to load the bases in a 4-3 game.

Hitchcock came to the plate and smoked a hard liner off the wall in centerfield to clear the bases.

“I just knew I had to do my job,” Hitchcock said. “My brothers got on base for me so I had to get them in.”

Parks then came on in relief and the Ravens did not allow a hit in the final three innings.

“This is very important for us to get back on track conference-wise,” Hitchcock said. “I’m glad we got this one.”

Members and subscribers make this story possible.
You can help support non-partisan, community journalism.

x
X