Milton Secures a Spot in the Winners Bracket of the Legion State Finals

In the first round of the double-elimination Legion State Finals, Saturday, Milton Legion Post 114 overcame 0-4 second inning deficit against Shrewsbury Post 397 to come back for a 7-6 victory in a rain delayed game at Campanelli Stadium, Brockton.

Catcher Josh Ellis batted in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth. With the game knotted at 6-6, Brian Besigner was walked with two outs. Besinger stole second and was able to advance to third on an overthrow.

The stage was set for Ellis, who scored after an error on the second basemen in the third, hit a single in the fifth and walked in the sixth. When Ellis approached the plate, he knew the Shrewsbury infield had been iffy all night.  He hoped anything in play would secure him and first and send Besinger in for the winning run.

Eliis swung at a pitch from Shrewsbury reliever Josh Desai and sent a dribbler to second base. A mishandle, and some strong base running got Ellis to first and the seventh run of the day across home.

"Momentum was huge there," Ellis said. "It shows momentum wins games."

Milton came into the game knowing that securing a spot in the winners bracket would set the tone for the tournament.

"The first game in these tournaments is the most important," Coach Pat Bryan said.

His team would have to wait over an hour and a half to get started on that task as the skies over the home of the Brockton Rox opened up. Once the clouds cleared and the field was uncovered the game began.

Milton's first run of the night was weather assisted as Jack Colton scored on a Jack Davis fly to left field. The slippery conditions put Cory Loomer on his back instead of making the routine grab. The field would not be a factor for the rest of the contest.

Pitcher Jonathan Massad gave of nine hits in six and two thirds, but made it difficult for Milton to string together a group of runs.

"The best thing against that kid was to put the ball in play," Bryan said. "We battled and got runs." The team put up one run in every inning but the second and ninth.

Colton went three for three on the day, while Mike Muse, Willie Archibald, Davis and others had critical hits.

Bryan's biggest gripe with his team's offensive effort on Saturday was base running. Several runners were picked off as they got into scoring position, further damaging the team's effort to score multiple runs in a frame.

On the other side of the ball, Bryan trotted out Mike Bortolotti to handle pitching for Post 114.  Bortolotti seemed to struggle early, giving up three hits and a walk for four runs in the second. Bryan had not problem sticking with Bortolotti into the ninth inning.

"Mike's been a strong pitcher for us for three years," Bryan said.

Knowing his pitcher's tendencies proved to work for Bryan as Bortolotti rung up four of his six strikeouts after the second, two of which came back-to-back in the seventh.

"He seems to get stronger as the game goes on," Bryan said.

After Bortolotti gave up two hits in the ninth, Bryan brought in Cody Clark, Milton's proven closer. Clark fanned two and forced Ryan Harrington to pop out to Matt O'Neill, ending the game.

Milton will play 4:30 p.m. today at Campanelli Field. With the momentum they picked up Saturday, the motivation of a close game will serve as inspiration going forward, according to Ellis.

"The closeness of this game will carry us," Ellis said.