MILL 10U Softball All Stars Win District Championship

The old saying goes that defense wins championships. The new saying in Milford goes that believing in yourself, believing in your teammates, and believing in the softball angels, can also win you a championship.

Facing a North Branford team who had earlier 10-run ruled them in their first game of pool play and who had only allowed 1 run the entire District tournament, the odds were certainly not on Milford’s side. But someone much bigger than life was.

On Tuesday night, the Milford International Little League 10U District All Star softball team pulled off a major upset with a rally in the bottom of the 6th inning to knock off previously unbeaten and top-seeded North Branford 3-2 at Stankye Field in Orange.

MILL will now travel to Unity Park in Trumbull on Thursday to take on District 1 Champion Darien in the first game of the State Sectionals at 5:30.

After a scoreless 1st inning, MILL would get on the board first in the bottom of the 2nd. Emily Krauss was hit by a pitch and advanced to 3rd on a pair of stolen bases. Brianna Madelung and Angelina Robinson both worked walks and Krauss scored on a wild pitch to give Milford a 1-0 lead.

The lead would hold until the top of the 4th when North Branford strung together 2 singles and 2 walks and pushed across 2 runs taking a 2-1 advantage into the 6th inning.

In the top of the 6th, MILL starting pitcher Judy Tarczali led off with an infield single and Emily Krauss walked. Angelina Robinson worked another 1-out walk to load the bases. Erin Donegan the hit into a fielder’s choice in a close play at first base scoring Tarczali tying the game at 2. With runners on second and third, Haley Stroffolino stepped up and took the first pitch for a ball. As the second pitch crossed the plate in the dirt and passed by the North Branford catcher, Emily Krauss raced home to score the winning run giving MILL the upset win.

Thank you Milford’s softball angel, Danni Kemp…for giving my girls something to believe in.

Scott Worzel
Head Coach MILL 10U District Softball All Stars