Sussex Central Preparing for State Semifinal vs Caravel Academy

GEORGETOWN, Del. – The DIAA State Semifinals are Wednesday, right around the corner, as two of our local teams find themselves in the final four. Caesar Rodney and Sussex Central.

WMDT Sports caught up with SC at practice ahead of the big matchup. Finally, one of America’s favorite pastimes will come to a head in Delaware at the High School level.

Sussex Central will faceoff against Caravel Academy, a team that got the best of them back in May. The Buccaneers dominated that game 16-6, but Head Coach DJ Long tells WMDT what it will take to beat a team of that caliber.

“We got to fill up the strike zone. Last time we played them, we made 5 errors. We got to make routine plays, nothing spectacular, fill up the zone, make the plays and swing the bats.”

This time around, though, the stakes couldn’t be higher: a chance at a state title appearance. Senior pitcher and third baseman Logan Comley on the team’s dugout atmosphere.

“The nerves are there, we know we got a pretty special team, we all got heart, and we got to do what we got to do.”

In a game of this magnitude, nerves and passion are essential. SC has been playing like a team driven by destiny, winning their previous outings with two back-to-back walk-off wins.

Coach Long believes the team can face adversity because of strong brotherhood and culture.

“You know, we’ve been down in the 6th inning in both games, and ended up coming back and tied it. Eventually, we ended up winning it in walk-off fashion. It’s them not quitting, just a tight group in that dugout.”

Osiah Kelley was one of those players, hitting a 3-run walk-off bomb in the 2nd round, and has faith in his guys.

“We had 2 walk-off wins, of course that’s big time, but we have been swinging the bat pretty well all year, trying to carry that into tomorrow.”

Kelley, the Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year is going to have to pull out even more magic in Wednesday’s matchup.