by Stephen Blue
The Deltaville Deltas 2019 season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion, as the Deltas lost a 9th inning lead before falling by the score of 4-3 in 13 innings to the Richmond Brewers last Thursday night in the Richmond NABA tournament.
A pitchers duel was on the plate for the majority of the game, with Brewers ace and former Washington Nationals draft pick Seth Greene dueling against the Deltas right-hander, Lynchburg College player, and Gloucester High School alum Jason Wood.
Wood allowed a first inning base hit, but it would be the only hit he would allow over the next 7 innings. Greene was up to the match, and while the Deltas scattered 5 hits over the first 7 innings, they were kept off the scoreboard.
Deltaville finally broke through in the bottom of the 7th when Scott Crump reached on a fielding error and advanced to 3rd base on a base hit from Tyler Wood. During the next at bat, a stray pickoff attempt was ruled an illegal balk, and Crump was awarded home, giving the Deltas a 1-0 lead.
Leading 1-0 in the top of the 9th, Deltaville needed just 3 outs to advance to the championship game for the fourth consecutive year. However, the Brewers mounted a rally. After striking out the first batter of the inning, the Brewers managed a walk and a hit. Pitcher Reggie Johnson was brought in to relieve, but the Brewers top of the lineup managed 2 hits to score 3 runs, and take a 3-1 lead.
With the roles reversed, Deltaville rallied in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game 3-3. Colby Roberts led off the inning with a single, and scored on a Josh Hinson hit 3 batters later. Hinson later scored on a wild pitch, tying the score and sending the game into extra innings.
The Brewers brought on former professional pitcher Hunter Williams to relieve Greene, and the Deltas matched with former Rappahannock High School standout Devin Sisson. Both teams loaded the bases in the 10th, but Williams and Sisson matched scoreless innings in the 10th, 11th, and 12th innings.
However, in the 13th inning, the Brewers managed a lone run to take a 4-3 lead. The Deltas fought back in the bottom of the 13th, with Hinson and T. Wood both getting hits and in scoring position to tie—and potentially win—however, Williams induced a fly out to the outfield to seal the game.
The Deltas fell despite out-hitting the Brewers 13-9 in the game, in an offensive effort paced by a 3-for-6 effort from Josh Hinson. Five other Deltas managed 2-hit games, but the team stranded 8 runners in scoring position throughout the game.
Sisson was charged with the pitching loss, despite a strong relief outing. He scattered 5 hits and struck out 3 over 4 innings. J. Wood’s start was one of the best Deltaville saw all season, striking out 8 while allowing just 2 hits over 8 1/3 innings.
The Deltas finished the tournament in 3rd place overall, with the #2 seed Richmond Team Woody eventually defeating the Brewers for the league championship by the score of 10-7 on Saturday.
Deltaville finished the season 19-2 overall.
“While we’re disappointed with the way it ended, it was a great season,” Deltas coach Jerry Crittenden said. “Thank you to all of the fans, players, and ballpark staff that made this season possible. We are already looking forward to next year.”
