Orange All Star 11-12 Year Olds Out After Loss to North Branford

In most athletic events, the team or individual that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins. Conversely, the team or individual that makes the most mistakes usually does not win. Never were both statements more true than the recent weekend 11-12 year old girls Little League District 4 championship series between the Orange All Stars and North Branford.

Following 5 scoreless innings on Sunday night North Branford took advantage of an Orange error to push home the game’s only run in the bottom of the sixth inning and beat Orange 1-0 at Stankye Field. Friday, 2 Orange errors gave North Branford both of its runs in a 2-1 victory at Totoket Field in North Haven. By taking the best-2 games-out-of -3 series North Branford (now 6-1) takes its newly-won District 4 title to Trumbull for the Sectional Championship Series that gets underway this week. Orange ends its season with a 5-2 record.

“It is what it is,” Orange Coach Frank Koshes said. “Defense wins ball games.”

 Lindsay Gallo led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single into right field and Julia Haeckel’s sacrifice bunt moved Gallo into scoring position. Sabrina Lemere legged out an infield roller to put runners on the corners with 1 out. After Michelle Theilguard was retired, Emily Velez smacked a 2-out hopper up the middle. Orange’s left handed shortstop Katie Koshes cut across the diamond trying to scoop up the ball and throw out Velez. As Gallo raced home, Koshes got to the ball, but bobbled it. As she finally gloved the ball and threw it to first baseman Mullins, Gallo had scored the game’s lone run and Velez was across first base.

Koshes said, “This is a tough way to lose. The ball was hit up the middle and Katie did the best she could getting to it.”

Orange had 2 golden opportunities to score runs but failed to capitalize on either one. In the top of the first inning, Katie Koshes lofted a fly ball that was dropped by North Branford right fielder Emily Muzyka. Cassidy Kirby’s sacrifice bunt moved Koshes on to third base. Teresa Marchitto topped a roller down the third base foul line. Koshes made a move toward home plate but changed here mind and dove back to third base. She drew a throw from Gallo but beat the tag. With runners at second and third with only 1 out, Orange failed to cash in and score.

According to Koshes, “Not scoring in the first inning was huge. You always want to be on top early in the game and force the other team to chase you.”

Orange let another golden opportunity to score slip through its fingers in the top of the sixth. Mullins waved at and missed a third strike but the ball skipped past catcher Michelle Theilgard. Her hurried throw pulled Golia off first base and Mullins raced to first base on the throw and Mullins was soon wild pitched to second. With one out, Kirby legged out an infield hit, putting runners on the corners. Marchitto lofted a fly ball to left field. Mullins tagged up, started down the line toward home but suddenly stopped and tried to dive back into third base but was tagged out by third baseman Velez to complete the unusual double play.

“We had runners on second and third with 1 out on 2 occasions and couldn’t score either time. Our mistakes obviously hurt us, but don’t forget, these are 11-12 year old kids. Cassidy (Kirby, now 3-1) pitched a great game.”

Kirby allowed no earned runs on 3 hits. She walked 1 batter and struck out another batter.

In Friday night’s contest, North Branford jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning. Haeckel reached base on a Kirby error. Lemere singled her to third and she scored on Theilguard’s base hit. The winners’ second score (also unearned) came in the bottom of the third inning. With 2 outs, the Orange second base player's miscue was followed by Theilguard’s RBI double.

Koshes allowed only 3 hits, struck out 11 and walked 1.She retired 10 of the last 12 batters she faced.

In the top of the second inning, Martha Zhang led off with a base hit, moved up a base on Allie Gusmano’s sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on Katie Esposito’s single. Kachmar lofted a high fly to center field. Zhsang tagged and tried to score but was cut down on a strong throw from Lemere to Theilguard, who slapped the tag on a sliding Zhang.

 Frank Koshes said, “I think we were robbed on that play. Martha looked safe to me.”

After failing to score once again with runners on second and third with one out, Orange finally scratched out a run in the top of the fourth inning. Marchitto was hit by a pitch. Zhang’s base hit and a free pass to Tori Gustafson loaded the bases. Marchitto tagged and scored on Kiley Stackpole’s sac fly to right field.

Still railing by a run (2-1) Orange thought it had tied the game when Kachmar banged the ball into right field with 2 outs. As Zhang came home, Kachmar was thrown out on a close play at first base.

“That was a tough call,” Koshes said. “We hit the ball hard throughout the game but most of them were right at people. Katie threw a great game. Unfortunately, we made 2 errors and North Branford scored each time. We just didn’t play defense like we usually do.”