Lakers Fall to Crusaders in NHIAA DIV Championship Matchup

Tuesday, the Sunapee Lakers faced off against the Littleton Crusaders for the NHIAA division four baseball championship.

Sunapee came into the game with the number two seed while Littleton held the much deserved number 1 seed as they came into the contest with a perfect 19 and 0 season. Ben Robinson took the mound for the Lakers while Tyler Brown took the mound for the Crusaders. Sunapee was able to score two runs in the top of the first off of Will Austin’s RBI triple and Cole Cruz’s sacrifice fly.

These would be the only runs scored for both teams over the next five innings as both Robinson and Brown settled in to hold their opposing batters to just four hits over their outings. Now we come to the bottom of the sixth with the score still sitting at two nothing Sunapee.

Littleton was able to hit a lead-off double and a one-out single to cut the lead to one run. Cole Cruz took over pitching duties for the Lakers and was able to strikeout two batters to end the inning with limited damage. Sunapee came up to bat in the top of the seventh and was sat down in order. To the bottom of the seventh we go. The Crusaders needed just one run to tie the game and two to win.

Cruz would walk the first batter who was then sacrificed to second base. The next batter drew a walk and Will Austin was called in to replace Cruz. Austin then induced a ground ball that could have gone for a double play to win the game but after the first out, the ball was thrown wildly which allowed the lead runner to move to third.

A walk then loaded the bases. Another walk then drove in the tying run. Kuda Kubowski then stepped up to the plate for Littleton who wore a pitch that forced the championship winning run home and sealed a perfect 20 and 0 season for the Crusaders. Final score, Littleton 3, Sunapee 2.

Beloved Littleton teacher Emily Platt had passed away last Saturday so the Crusaders felt as if they won the game in her honor, wearing orange shirts and sweatbands to remember and celebrate the teacher that meant so much to the community.