In a Carl Budrick Tournament rematch of two days prior, the Milford Red Machine U-8 All Stars once again faced the hometown Stratford Blue.
This time Stratford came out swinging and took an early 3-0 lead going into the bottom half of the first.
Milford posted six, five and six runs in the next three innings en route to a 17-5 lead.
Stratford roared back to get within 17-11, but the Red Machine received sold defense and garnered the win to move into the semifinals and a game with two-time champion Norwalk at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, at Clover Field No. 2 in Stratford.
Leading Milford defensively were Jack Thomas (1B), Major Peterson (2B), Jackson Gryzwacz (SS), Christian Galligan (P) and Patrick Butler (C).
Keying the outfield play were William LeCuyer (LCF), Jack Beaupre (LF), Nicholas Stevens (RCF), John Messore (RF) and Alexander Bludevich.
Every player contributed at the plate and were bolstered by the return of Devin Calvin (3B), as well as Ethan Toledo (RF) and Carmello Nunno (OF).
The top-seeded Milford Blue Thunder will meet Bridgeport in the other semifinal game at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Clover Field #1.