By Rick Menning
Brewster Field in Milford, Connecticut will come alive with excitement and plenty of cheering on Thursday, Aug. 4, starting at 7 p.m.
It won't, however, be from the sights and sounds of any game action on the diamond. It will be to recognize an amazing group of Major Division girls who are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime.
The Milford All-Stars are expected to receive a fantastic show of support and encouragement as they prepare to leave for Greenville, North Carolina as the New England Region representatives in the Little League Softball World Series!
The 7 p.m. ceremony will include a rousing sendoff for a team that went undefeated through district, sectional, state and regional competition. Going all the way back to district play, Milford has compiled an 11-0 record.
This will be a very historic occasion for the team and the community of Milford as the girls are not only congratulated but also showered with well wishes as they represent not only their town but also Connecticut and all of New England.
The Milford Little League organization promises to send them off in style and there is no doubt that will be the case as these outstanding ballplayers deserve every accolade that comes their way for what they have accomplished over the past month.
"This is a special night for this team, our league and our town," the Milford Little League organization's Facebook post reads. "First Connecticut team to play in a Little League Softball World Series in the past 15 years!"
Members of the New England Region championship team are (in alphabetical order) Maddy Bonanno, Norah Bove, Chloe Capalbo, Leah Corris, Maddie Deldin, Ariella DiOrio, Riley Fagan-Davies, Sophia Horvack, Nyla Jaser, Gabby Rodriguez, Julia Scibek, Emily Speringo and Lily Stankevich.
Southern Hospitality
Next stop after Brewster Field with be Stallings Stadium as the Milford All-Stars will soon head south to North Carolina.
The first order of business will be a gala welcoming by the Greenville Little League staff and, soon thereafter, the girls will receive their New England uniforms and begin preparations for their opening game on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
Could a highly anticipated match-up against rival Delmar, Maryland be in the cards that afternoon?
The 1 p.m. showdown on ESPN+ pits Milford against either the Central Division champions (Columbia, Missouri) or the Mid-Atlantic champions (Delmar, Maryland). Those teams play on Aug. 9 and the winner will play Milford.
Other teams in the Purple Bracket with Milford (along with Maryland and Missouri) are Bacolod, Philippines (Asia-Pacific Region), Alberta, Canada (Canada Region) and Bologna, Italy (Europe-Africa Region).
The Orange Bracket includes Chesterfield, Virginia (Southeast Region), Hewitt, Texas (Southwest Region), La Verne, California (West Region), Issaquah, Washington (Northwest Region), Guayama, Puerto Rico (Latin America Region) and Winterville, North Carolina (Host Region).
The Delmar squad punched its ticket to Greenville with a 9-3 triumph over Delaware in Thursday's nightcap regional championship showdown at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol.
Have a game, Madyson Bull!
Milford All-Star Madyson Bull launched not one but two home runs in yesterday's game against Texas in the Little League Junior Division World Series.
Bull has two of the four home runs in that tournament in Kirkland, Washington.
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