After a slow start, the Sussex East Warriors, representing Post 28, have finally hit their stride. They’ve countered a four-game slide by winning their last three, including a June 30 doubleheader against R.C. DuPont to pull their record within one game of .500 (5-6).
Coastal Point • SHAUN LAMBERT
If Bryan Lynch were any hotter, he’d be the sun. He’s gone 8-11 with 9 RBI’s over Post 28’s last two wins. He belted two homeruns in the second game of the Warriors’ doubleheader against R.C. DuPont and has hit three homeruns in his last four games.
R.C. DuPont jumped on starting pitcher Trevor Abbott after R.C. DuPont manager Don Kimsey mentioned that his third-base coach “had spotted something” between catcher Bo Wilkinson and Abbott’s exchange, and the result was Abbott giving up seven runs (all earned) on eight hits and four walks.
Abbott allowed only one hit (a solo homerun in the top of the first) and one walk through three innings, and struck out three before R.C. DuPont was able to adjust. R.C. DuPont rallied to regain the lead (3-2) in the top of the fourth, with four consecutive singles and a bases loaded walk. Abbott got out of the inning but was hit again hard in the fifth.
R.C. DuPont extended their lead to 5-2 following three consecutive hits, including a solo homerun and an RBI single, before making way for relief pitcher C.J. Bell.
Bell struggled with his control and issued five walks, including one to plate an R.C. DuPont run. Finally, the Warriors were able to stop the bleeding behind the strong arm and bat of Mike Casale.
Casale inherited two base runners after relieving Bell in the top of the sixth but was able to get out of the jam after striking out the first batter he faced, looking on only four pitches and inning-ending double play. R.C. DuPont was able to add another run on a throwing error by Wilkinson in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 8-4, but the Warriors would rally in dramatic fashion.
Sussex East centerfielder Brian Scott gave the Warriors a leadoff base runner after being hit by a pitch. Bell followed with a line-drive single down the third base line to give them runners at first and second with no outs.
Third-baseman Colin Warner drew a walk to load the bases and left fielder Sean Lewis knocked in Scott on a fielder’s choice (and also hit a two-run homerun in the fourth) to cut R.C. DuPont’s lead to 8-5 with runners on the corners. Wilkinson popped out for the teams’ second out, which set the stage for Casale.
Casale was faced with a full count and two outs. Lewis had stolen second on, ironically, the second pitch to Casale, to increase the chances of scoring another run on a base hit. But it would prove unnecessary. Casale tied the game at eight apiece with a three-run blast. Casale got his team back in the batter’s box after striking out his fourth and fifth batters in only three innings, and his teammates took it from there.
Coastal Point • JOHN DENNY
Mike Casale (28) bailed Post 28 out of a late game jam by hitting a game-tying three-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning during the first game of a June 30th doubleheader against R.C. DuPont. Casale also earned his first win after relieving Trevor Abbott & C.J. Bell.
Right-fielder Josh Sweetman and shortstop D.J. Long led off the top of the eighth with consecutive singles. Scott belted another single to centerfield, but Sweetman held at third with no outs and Bell delivered the walk-off RBI single on the first pitch he saw, to end the game and to give Casale (1-1) his first win of the season.
The Warriors snatched the momentum then and they kept it throughout the second game, which they won 10-1 behind the big bat of Bryan Lynch and the strong arm of Warner (2-0). Lynch hit two homeruns, driving in four runs while going 2-3 in the game.
Bell and Lewis each added two RBI’s and recent addition Sean Lecates added another following his first homerun of the season. Warner, on the other hand, pitched six strong innings, striking out 10 and only giving up one run on two hits. Casale closed out the game and struck out two to give him seven strikeouts on the day.
Then, on July 2, the Warriors faced the Milford Red Sox and kept their hot bats alive to win 14-5. Sweetman and Scott pitched six innings for the pitching-starved Warriors before Casale came into to close out the game. Lynch hammered in a game-high five RBI on 4-5 hitting, including two stand-up doubles. Wilkinson added another four RBI on 3-5 hitting and Bell went 3-3, including a stand-up triple, two singles and an RBI.
During their three-game win streak, Post 28 amassed 37 hits, with seven of their players having multi-hit games. Bell led the group with three multi-hit games (8-11, 4 RBI). Lynch and Wilkinson both had two multi-hit games (6-8 and 9 RBI, and 5-12 and 5 RBI’s, respectively).
“I knew the bats would come alive once we started playing some games in a row, instead of just one a week,” Warriors head coach Jody Sweetman said, following their win over Milford. “We’re starting to get some guys hitting and, hopefully, the guys will all stay healthy and we can keep this roll going.
“I’m really excited that were able to start getting the games in,” he added.
The Warriors were set to play Sussex West (Seaford) on July 3 and Georgetown on July 5 (both after Coastal Point press time), before playing consecutive double headers against Newark and Stahl Post. Post 28 will travel to St. Mark’s to play Newark on July 7 and then host Stahl Post the next day.
They’ll have Monday, July 9, off and then head back on the road to play Dover Post 2 at Wesley College on July 10. Post 28 will host Milford on July 12.
“[Post 28] has a good team,” R.C. Dupont’s coach said during a 15-minute break between games of their June 30 doubleheader. “They’re pitching is very good, and I think they may surprise some people in the state tournament.”