Millburn Magic 10U Loses in Championship Game

The pre-season expectations for the 2010 Millburn Magic 10U Fast pitch softball team were somewhat muted with only two starters returning from last summer's squad that advanced to the semi-final game of the league playoffs. But the Magic, infused with new talent and a heightened team spirit, rose to the challenge, culminating in the best post-season finish ever by a Millburn 10U squad.

On Saturday, the Magic trounced Bridgewater in the semi-final game of the Central Jersey Amateur Softball League 16-4.  Kayla Wolf went the distance on the mound, fanning six and limiting the league's most potent offense to just three hits over six innings of work.  Millburn played exceptional defense behind Wolf, who did not allow a base runner until the fourth inning. She was aided by a great catch by Carrie Mason in left field in the second inning.

Millburn posted its best offensive performance of the season, lead by Helen Casey (two doubles, triple, five RBI), Erica Lupiano (two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored), Mason (2-4, three RBI and two runs scored) and Antonia Park (2-4, 2 RBI), en route to the victory.

Later in the day, Millburn faced top-seed Branchburg (9-1) in the championship game, which had defeated Warren White on Friday night to advance to the finals.  Millburn handed Branchburg its only loss of the season back on May 2 by a score of 7-2. 

In the championship match-up, Branchburg edged in Millburn in nine innings 5-4 in a thrilling, well-played game.  Millburn jumped out to 3-0 lead in the third inning, plating two runs on consecutive suicide squeeze plays executed by Ami Gianchandani and Park, scoring Lupiano and Julia Thompson.

Branchburg tied the game in the fourth inning at 3-3 and took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the six, Casey led off with a double to left field, moved to third on stolen base and scored the tying run on a fielder's choice by Mason. The Magic were able to fend off their opponent in the bottom of the sixth despite the winning run advancing to third base, thus forcing extra innings. The pitchers dueled continued into the seventh and eighth innings with neither team able to plate the decisive run until Branchburg won the game on a based-loaded walk. Losing pitcher Callie Kramsky went the distance, yielding five runs on five hits and recorded 18 strikeouts over nine innings of work, in a stellar effort on a hot, humid day.

The team, whose three losses this season (8-3) were by a combined total of three runs, were coached this season by Rick Wolf, Brian Zirlin and Allie Eatroff.