The Milford 11-12 All-Star softball team dropped a 3-2 decision to North Branford in the third game of the best-of-three finals in the District IV Little League softball championships played in Orange on Sunday night.
Milford had advanced to the championship round after the locals outscored the opposition by a 59-5 margin in pool play. Included in that run was a 6-4 win over North Branford.
Home teams controlled the action in the final series, as North Branford won the opener 4-0 on Friday, and Milford took the second game 3-0 on Saturday.
North Branford jumped in front 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, before Milford’s defense settled down to back Kaitlin Capobianco’s outstanding pitching.
Three misplays in the opening frame, and a pair of singles, staked North Branford to the three-run cushion.
Milford drew two runs back in the bottom of the second inning.
Lolly Mendillo and Erica Boehm had one-out singles. With two outs, Courtney Olensski put the ball in play against the strong right-handed serves from Angelina Ramada. Her pop up to the right side was juggled, then dropped, as Mendillo and Boehm hustled home.
Kailey Loewenberg was on second base and Cali Jolley, who had bunted her way aboard, was on first, when North Branford shortstop Kay Peterson put the third out in the book.
Jill Montano had a double and two singles for Milford, which out hit its foe by a 7-3 margin.
See the complete game story in the next issue of the Mirror.