Chris Stankiewicz's RBI single in the top of the seventh inning proved to be the difference, as Branford clipped Milford Post 196, 2-1, in a Zone II matchup at Walker Field on Friday.
The rising senior at North Branford High singled to drive in William Coleman with one out in the seventh, knocking Post 196 starter Tyler Chacho out of the game and staking Branford to a 2-0 edge.
Milford (8-15) rallied in its last at-bat, sparked by a two-out walk drawn by Mac Taylor. Taylor stole second and scored when Bobby Auger doubled into the left-field corner off of Branford starter Dylan Millhouse. Right-hander Michael Schettino then came on in relief to nail down the save, freezing pinch hitter Colin McKenna on a called third strike.
Millhouse, a Hamden Hall graduate who will play at Wesleyan, limited Milford to five hits — striking out four. Chacho was the hard-luck loser, scattering six hits and walking two, before R.J. Jackson got the final two outs of the seventh inning.
Drew Arciuolo had two hits for Milford. Post 196 will travel to DeMayo Field tomorrow to face North Haven (6-16) in doubleheader beginning at 9:30 a.m.