Theraflu, Advil, and Slim Jims. Mix in the requisite good pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting, and it amounted to a winning combination for the Chesapeake City Major Division baseball All-Stars. Chesapeake City captured the Little League Maryland District 5 title with a 6-4 comeback win over North East Thursday night. Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the fifth, Chesapeake City erupted for four runs highlighted by a go-ahead, two-run double by Nate Fleming.
Andrew Connolley was hit by a pitch to ignite the uprising. After a fielder's choice for the first out, Deaven Jones singled to bring Fleming to the plate. On a 2-1 pitch, Fleming drilled a two-run double over the head of the center fielder to put Chesapeake City in front, 4-3. Fleming had a simple description of his game-changing at bat. "Sit fastball," he said. "Just give me a fastball and I'll hit it. Basehit. Scored some runs." With two outs, Truman Auwerda delivered an RBI double and eventually scored to make it 6-3. North East did not go quietly. Mason Newton led off the top of the sixth with a double to left. It came on the 85th and final pitch from the Chesapeake City starter Jones. More on Jones a little later. With lefty Chris Harris on in relief, Newton went to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Ethan Workman. Greyson Starling reached on an error, representing the tying run. The next batter hit a soft liner to the left side. The Chesapeake City shortstop Auwerda charged, cleanly scooped the ball out of the air, then stepped on second to complete the championship-clinching double play. Jones gave up just one earned run in five innings of working despite fighting the effects of the flu. "I was up all night throwing up," Jones said. "Shaking and stuff. My mom (Christina) took off [Thursday] and gave me medicine." The medicine, Theraflu and Advil, combined with water some Slim Jims were the ideal elixir. North East starter Landon Knaub also turned in a solid effort against the potent Chesapeake City offense. Chesapeake City led 2-1 in the third before North East tied it on Evan England's inside-the-park homer. England drilled a shot down the right field line. The Chesapeake City right fielder made a valiant, diving attempt to catch the ball but it was out of reach and rolled to the fence, allowing England to sprint around the bases. North East, needing two straight wins over undefeated Chesapeake City to claim the championship, seized a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. Kyle Trott led off with a single and wound up scoring on a two-out error. Chesapeake City advances to the state tournament, which begins Saturday, July 21 at Federal Little League in Hagerstown. Chesapeake City is scheduled to play its first game at 6 p.m. Comments are closed.
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