Shallotte’s 10-and-under baseball all-stars won the Diamond Youth Baseball AAA Division 2 state championship with an incredible comeback. (Shallotte Area Sports Photo/W.A. Myatt)
Whiteville had an 8-0 lead as Shallotte came to bat in the bottom of the sixth and final inning on Thursday in the Diamond Youth Baseball Division 2 state championship game on Field 1 at Ocean Isle Park.
Shallotte coach Sam Hickman was heard exhorting his team.
“We can accept it if they’re better than us,” Hickman said. “But don’t quit on me.”
Quit? No. Miracle? Yes.
Shallotte went from a flickering sliver of hope at the start of the frame to a jumping, shouting, joyous celebration when Huck Hickman was hit by a pitch with two out and the bases loaded for an incredible 9-8 victory.
Stevie Johnson, who got the win in relief as an unbelievable sequence of events unfolded, led off by reaching on an error that put him at second. Hickman singled on a fly that just eluded the center fielder’s diving attempt. Then Preston Lowe doubled to score the baserunners and the teetering hope turned into a growing belief.
“We realized after Preston Lowe’s double that things could happen really quick,” said Coach Hickman.
Lowe scored on an error. Jax Trent had an RBI single and the lead was sliced in half to 8-4.
A walk and a catcher’s interference loaded the bases, but there were two out when Hudson Shaw stepped up. His RBI on an infield hit made the score 8-5. A walk to S.J. Teply made it 8-6. A run scored on a passed ball and Shallotte clearly had the momentum.
Whiteville gave Jameson Hardee an intentional pass to have a force out at every base but its third pitcher of the inning issued a four-pitch walk that tied the score.
Hickman took the first pitch high. Second base umpire Errol Daniels signaled time before the next pitch brushed Hickman to end the game.
“I’m still processing it,” Coach Hickman said Friday morning. “Can’t put it into words, but our kids kept fighting.”
Coach Sam Hickman’s club overcame an 8-0 deficit in the fijnal inning.
(Shallotte Area Sports Photo/W.A. Myatt)
Shallotte loaded the bases in the first and fourth to no avail.
Holden Garrett pitched into the sixth. Johnson came in to get all three outs in the sixth.
“Holden filled up the strike zone and forced them to put the ball in play,” said Coach Hickman. “We made plays behind him. We weren’t perfect but he gave us what we expected. Stevie set them down. As it turned out, holding them to eight runs was important.”
The Shallotte team will get North Carolina uniforms and represent the state in the DYB World Series in Lexington, South Carolina, beginning August 1, with a game against Florida in pool play at noon.
Thursday was a winning day for Brunswick County on Field 1 as South Brunswick topped Whiteville, 5-2, for the DYB Division 2 Majors (12-and-under) state championship prior to the AAA final
The state champion roster. (Shallotte Area Sports Photo/Calley Myatt)
Jax Trent connects to drive in a run.
(Shallotte Area Sports Photo/W.A. Myatt)
Stevie Johnson goes up to make a play in center field.
(Shallotte Area Sports Photo/W.A. Myatt)
Coach Sam Hickman congratulates Hudson Shaw on a big hit. (Shallotte Area Sports Photo/W.A. Myatt)
