Orange 9-10-Year-Old Softball team now 3-0

Grace Whitman allowed only 1 hit, struck out 8, and walked 4 as she hurled the Orange 9-10 year old girls Little League All Stars to a 13-1 triumph over Hamden Sunday afternoon at Bassett Field in Hamden.

The game was curtailed after 4 innings due to the Mercy Rule. The one hit Whitman allowed as a third inning bloop single off the bat of Sarah Carigan into shallow left center field. In addition to banging out 10 hits, Orange took advantage of poor control by Hamden pitchers, drawing 9 walks and also benefited from 6 wild pitches and a plethora of stolen bases.

First inning singles by Taylor Walsh, Nicole Koshes, Amanda Gravados, and Nicole Hunt staked Whitman to an early 3-0 lead. The visitors’ 4 run second inning featured Hunt’s double along with run-scoring singles by Walsh and Koshes. Leading 7-0 after 2 innings, Orange posted 5 more tallies in the third inning and an additional lone tally in the fourth session.  Hunt’s 2-run double and Koshes’ RBI single were the highlights of the visitors’ at bat in the top of the third inning.

Koshes banged out 3`singles, scored 3 runs, and chalked up 3 RBI. Hunt added 2 doubles and a single as well as 3 RBI. Walsh chipped in with 2 hits and 3 runs.

According to Coach Ed Whitman, “We did what we had to do today. We were aggressive at the plate and ran the bases exceptionally well.  We also took advantage of almost every scoring opportunity Hamden gave us. In addition, Grace (Whitman’s daughter) threw a very good game,.”

Orange (now 3-0) continues pool action on Tuesday night with a 5:30 p.m. contest against the Annex at North Branford and then takes on the hosts in a 7:30 game the following night.

Orange crushed East Haven 12-2 on Saturday night.