Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh

Camden-Wyoming’s Junior League baseball all-stars didn’t want to drop into the losers’ bracket, of course.

But C-W manager Jake Harvey said losing a close game to Lower Sussex on Friday definitely got his team’s attention.

“I think we needed a bump on the head to bring us back to reality and play,” he said.

On Tuesday night, Camden-Wyoming completed its climb out of the losers’ bracket, downing Lower Sussex, 13-3, to capture the Junior League baseball state championship at Dover Little League.

The District I champions won three straight games after falling to Lower Sussex, 14-11, on Friday night. The title sends Camden-Wyoming to the Eastern Regional, which starts on Aug. 5 in Freehold, N.J.

In Tuesday’s victory, Camden-Wyoming broke a 1-1 tie by scoring three runs in both the third and fourth innings. C-W then ended the game by the 10-run rule with five runs in the sixth.

Brandon Hatch pitched a complete-game seven-hitter to earn the victory.

A year ago, this group of Camden-Wyoming players won the Intermediate state title. The year before, they lost in the District I finals in Major League.

“They feel like they’ve accomplished something,” Harvey said about winning the Junior title out of the losers’ bracket.

“I think this time, because they’ve had to go through more games to get where they’re at, they know the next level of competition is going to test them. I think they’re really looking forward to the challenge.”

Major League

Milton 17, Brandywine 3: Milton forced a second game for the state title with the decisive win on Tuesday.

The two teams will play again today at Newark National at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Mid-Atlantic Regional in Bristol, Conn.

Milton, which lost in the state finals a year ago, is trying to become the first Sussex County squad to win the Major League state crown since Lower Sussex in 2002.

Softball

9-10 tournament

Camden-Wyoming 9, Laurel 3: Camden-Wyoming bounced back to win the state championship with the victory on Tuesday night in Dover.

Laurel won on Monday to force the second game for the title. The championship puts Camden-Wyoming in the East Regional, which starts on Aug. 5 in Fleetsville, Pa.

“Give Laurel credit, they played six straight days in this heat,” said C-W manager Brian Wilson. “They made us earn it. Like I told my two coaches, the bad thing is one team had to lose.

“This is a dream experience these girls are going to have the rest of their lives. It’s great.”

Winning pitcher Peyton Shields struck out nine and also had four hits and scored three runs. Sydney Hatch (3 hits, 2 runs), Ella Wadhams (1 hit) and Vanessa Gaines (1 hit, 1 run) also led the way for Camden-Wyoming.

Kylee Hill pitched for Laurel.

Senior League

Camden-Wyoming 16, Maryland 10: The Delaware state champions posted a victory in their finale in the Eastern Regional on Tuesday.

Camden-Wyoming finished 1-3 in the tournament, losing two games by a total of just three runs in the regional, played in Worcester, Mass.

Junior League

West Haven, Conn. 10, Camden-Wyoming 3: Delaware state champion Camden-Wyoming finished with a record of 1-4 in the Eastern Regional after falling to host West Haven, Conn. on Tuesday.

Jada Courtney went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI while also striking out three and allowing only two hits in three innings pitched. Grace Tuxward gave up just two hits in four innings.

Also leading Camden-Wyoming were Kisten Keller, with two hits, and Tasha Powell, Peyton Force and Brie Arthur with one hit each.