The 2019 Minor League (9-10 boys) District Baseball Tournament rolled on Monday evening with four squads left standing out of seven that began the tourney at Royal Lane Park. Half of the semifinal teams hailed from Sampson County. The Clinton All-Stars and Sampson All-Stars each advanced after going 2-1 in pool play over the weekend.

Clinton vs Burgaw

Clinton’s All-Stars were pitted against the Burgaw All-Stars for Monday night’s first semifinal matchup. These two teams met earlier in the weekend, which saw Clinton eke out a 5-3 victory.

Burgaw would get the last laugh, however, mercy-ruling Clinton, 10-0, clinching their spot in the championship game that was set for Tuesday.

Clinton opened up the game with the bats first. Securing a one-out walk would be the highlight for the visiting team. The Burgaw pitcher induced the 6-4-3 double play, silencing Clinton’s first opportunity to make noise.

Getting two runs in their half of the first, Burgaw staked out an early lead over Clinton, 2-0. Errors plagued Clinton, but aided Burgaw in the next three innings, as they slowly built up a 6-0 advantage.

More errors by Clinton in the bottom of the fifth led to a 10-0 Burgaw lead, supplying them with the necessary four more runs to invoke the mercy rule after the fifth inning.

Drake Sinclair and Josh Staley recorded the lone hits for Clinton on Monday night.

Sampson vs East Duplin

Things wouldn’t be much better for the Sampson All-Stars either, who faced off against East Duplin. Sampson fell, 16-6, following a fifth and sixth inning offensive explosion.

East Duplin was the visiting team in this game and they started off hot, scratch across three runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. Sampson going three-up, three-down in their first inning aided East Duplin in keeping their early advantage.

Three more East Duplin runs went unanswered until the bottom of the fourth. Sampson rallied to tie the game at 6-apiece. The rally was highlighted by two RBIs from Preston Toohey.

The momentum Sampson had built was crushed in the fifth inning. East Duplin responded to the six-run blast from Sampson with five of their own. All five came from two consecutive inside-the-park home runs, as 11-6 grew to 16-6 and the game began to wind down in the sixth, East Duplin clinching their spot in the Tuesday evening championship game.

That title game will feature East Duplin facing off against Burgaw at Royal Lane Park. East Duplin will have to lose twice to be denied the crown.

Burgaw routed the Clinton’s All-Stars 10-0 on Monday, while Sampson All-Stars either fell by the same margin, 16-6, to East Duplin in the Dixie Minor League District Baseball Tournament at Royal Lane Park. Burgaw and East Duplin were set to face off on Tuesday.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_1.jpgBurgaw routed the Clinton’s All-Stars 10-0 on Monday, while Sampson All-Stars either fell by the same margin, 16-6, to East Duplin in the Dixie Minor League District Baseball Tournament at Royal Lane Park. Burgaw and East Duplin were set to face off on Tuesday.
Local All-Star teams outsted in semis

By Justin Lucas

Sports Writer