ALWS Game 4: In battle of 1st-timers, it’s a win for Delaware

In a meeting of first-time American Legion World Series participants, it wouldn’t be a surprise if nerves played a role in their matchup.

But if you ask winning coach Mike Buono of Wilmington Delvets (Del.) Post 1, his team played its normal game and continued its historic run with a 6-1 victory over the Billings Scarlets (Mont.) Post 4 in Thursday’s Game 4 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.

“We weren’t nervous at all coming into this game,” Buono said. “We came in with a plan and we’re going to follow this plan and stick with this plan. These boys want to win and so do I.”

The Delvets turned four walks, two throwing errors, no hits and a five-minute delay to work on the pitcher’s mound in the top of the first inning into two runs that stood up for the victory.

“Once we get going, we get going,” Buono said. “Those two early runs were big.”

Delvets pitchers Matthew Speicher (4 1/3 innings), Jack Rossi (2 1/3 innings) and Evan Frank (1/3 inning) combined on a five-hitter and yielded only a fifth-inning run on Cody Collins’ two-out RBI single in the victory.

The Scarlets’ lone run came after the Delvets took a 6-0 lead in the top of the fifth behind Hunter Dicarlantoni’s RBI single, Aidan Kee’s sacrifice fly and Vincent Offutt’s two-run home run.

“These boys are relentless and they are tough as nails,” said Buono, whose team improved to 22-6 on the season.

Rossi had three hits and Michael Smyth two to lead the Delvets’ eight-hit offense.

For the Scarlets (63-17), who were making the first ALWS appearance for a team from Montana since 1962, Kade Votnstal had two hits.

Both teams are off on Friday before returning to action on Saturday. The Delvets meet Midland (Mich.) at 4 p.m. and the Scarlets meet Bossier City (La.) at 7:30 p.m.