Millville American edges Pennsville in winner-take-all pool game to claim second division spot in District 3 bracket stage
DISTRICT 3 TOURNAMENT
Saturday’s Games
Millville American 5, Pennsville 2
North Vineland 5, Buena 3
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – As Pennsville manager Jay Weatherbee watched the final out of the game disappear into the glove of the right fielder from the third base coach’s box, his head slumped and his body bent at the waist. He was hoping his Little League All-Stars could add to the legacy set by their predecessors last year, but they just couldn’t pull it off.
The Little Eagles had a shot to advance to the District 3 Tournament finals and were in it to the end, but fell to Millville American in a winner-take-all game for the second seed out of the American Division 5-2. Millville now plays National No. 1 East Vineland in Monday’s 8 p.m. opening round bracket game at Elmer Little League.
When Penns Grove rallied from a two-run deficit to beat Millville Friday and win the American Division pool, it set up Saturday’s last-day showdown between Millville and Pennsville for the final playoff spot. The winner also would be 3-1 in pool play, but Penns Grove held the head-to-head tiebreaker over whichever team won to earn the division’s No. 1 seed.
“They beat us,” Weatherbee said. “Again, small mistakes we make early on in the game come back to bite us, just like every game.
“This time we just couldn’t overcome it.”
Millville took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Pennsville tied it in the bottom of the inning. Chase Dolden led off with a double, moved to second on Pat Galloway’s ground out to short and scored on Brayden Weatherbee’s ground out to third. Starting pitcher Trey Sam followed with a solo homer to tie the game.
“That felt great,” Sam said. “I thought we had a chance, but our defense …”
After the home run Pennsville managed only four hits (all singles) and five baserunners the rest of the game against three Millville pitchers. Hard-throwing Nate Shelton, who finished the Penns Grove game Friday, pitched the final three shutout innings, giving up two infield hits, walking none and striking out four.
“The kids bounced right back after last night’s (loss),” Millville manager Dan Shelton said. “I was definitely a little worried about it, but they came with the heads ready to go and they got the job done.”
Dolden followed Sam to the mound for Pennsville in the third “really hyped” and threw only three pitches to get his first three outs. He kept Millville off the board in the fourth and fifth innings before the visitors pushed a final run across in the sixth.
“Just come in and do what I normally do,” Dolden said of his mindset. “I really wanted to win because I wanted my revenge on Penns Grove.”
Millville manufactured its other three runs to get and extend the lead. C.J. Tipton raced home on a wild pitch in the second inning to break the tie, Lucas Campachano scored on Noah Rodriguez’ sacrifice fly in the third and Nate Shelton stole home in the sixth.
Sam said the Americans were “probably the most aggressive team” he’s faced. They had seven hits in the game and took nine extra bases.
“I play baserunning, baserunning is my thing,” Millville manager Shelton said. “I manufacture runs by baserunning. If a man gets on base, my job is to score them any way possible. That’s just my job. I teach it hard.”
MILLVILLE AMERICAN 5, PENNSVILLE 2
| Millville American | 211 001- | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| Pennsville | 200 000- | 2 | 6 | 3 |
District 3 standings
| AMERICAN | NATIONAL | ||
| Penns Grove | 3-1 | East Vineland | 2-1 |
| Millville | 3-1 | South Vineland | 2-1 |
| Pennsville | 2-2 | Elmer | 1-2 |
| North Vineland | 1-3 | West Cumberland | 1-2 |
| Buena | 1-3 |
DISTRICT 3 FINALS
(Double-loss elimination)
Monday at Elmer
G1: Penns Grove vs. South Vineland, 5:45 p.m.
G2: East Vineland vs. Millville American, 8 p.m.
Tuesday at Millville
G3: Winner G1 vs. Winner G2, 5:45 p.m.
G4: Loser G1 vs. Loser G2, 8 p.m.
Wednesday at North Vineland
G5: Loser G3 vs. Winner G4, 7 p.m.
Thursday at South Vineland
G6: Winner G3 vs. Winner G5, 7 p.m.
Friday at South Vineland
G7: If necessary, 7 p.m.
SECTION IV TOURNAMENT
At West Deptford LL
(Double-loss elimination)
(Opening games)
July 11
District 3 vs. District 16, 6 p.m.
District 14 vs. District 15, 8 p.m.
July 12
District 3-District 16 winner vs. District 13, 5 p.m.
Riverview Sports News 