There are 18 outs in a 6 inning softball game and Orange Pitcher Nicole Koshes struck out 17 Thursday night as the Orange 9-10 year old Little League softball All-Stars blanked Milford 4-0 at the District 4 playoffs in North Branford.
Koshes not only whiffed 17 Milford batters, she also retired the 18th without allowing a hit. While Koshes did toss a no-hitter, she spoiled her own bid for a perfect game when she gave up a walk.
Following that victory, Orange plays East Haven on Saturday at 4 p.m. and then Hamden at noon on Sunday. Both round robin games will be played at Totoket Field in North Branford.
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Following two scoreless innings, Orange finally broke the ice with two outs in the third inning. Taylor Walsh slapped a single, stole second base, and then raced over to third base on a passed ball. Rachel Crow drove in Walsh with a run-scoring single to right field.
In the fourth inning, Nicole Hunt drew a lead-off walk, stole two bases, and slid home on another Milford passed ball.
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Now leading 2-0, Orange tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth inning. Grace Whitman spanked a lead-off single into left field and Sarah Kelly followed with a free pass. Later in the same inning, Walsh stepped up and drilled a 2-out, 2-run single that staked Koshes to a 4-0 lead.
According to winning Coach Ed Whitman, “Nicole was dominant in every inning and got stronger as the game went on. I could not be prouder of the effort all the girls put into this first playoff game. Each girl that played gave her all. Our veterans played with the type of leadership I expected of them.”
