By Rick Menning
MILFORD, CT -- The pipeline of champions starts at a very young age in the Milford Little League Softball program.
Joining the Major (12-unders) and Junior (14-unders) divisional teams in the yearly spotlight of All-Star tournament success, Milford's 10-under girls proved equally up to the task of facing the best of the best and persevering on the diamonds.
Like so many Milford squads before them, this year's 10-under representatives battled through tough competition and defeated Fairfield twice to capture the Section 1 title at Wilton Middlebrook School.
And although they showed great heart in wrapping up All-Star play with a 1-2 record in the state tournament, reaching the next level remains a highly achievable goal for these Milford standouts.
"I couldn't be prouder of the girls, and all the hard work and effort they put in," team manager Mike Maziarz said. "They showed such fierce tenacity in every game and battled all the way through both tournaments."
Trailing 3-2 in the decisive sectional showdown in Wilton, Milford prevailed in a 4-3 thriller as Zoe Jaques ripped a two-run single for the key blast. The win also featured a booming RBI (runs batted in) triple by Eliana Coladarci that drove in Jenna Foust, who had walked.
Addison Iannaccone kept the hit parade going with a double and Ashlynn Seaberg rocketed a late-inning laser-beam single to provide even more support for pitcher Ali Tworkowski, who faced some tough Fairfield batters but kept her poise to finish the winning effort.
Great fundamentals with the bat were shown by Chloe Trice, who came through with a perfectly executed bunt during the game 3 action.
The sectional crown for Milford was secured in dramatic fashion with shortstop Kaylee Phelan making the catch and then throwing over to Eliana Coladarci at first base to complete a game-ending double play.
The three runs scored by Fairfield were the only ones given up in the entire sectional tournament by Milford, which outscored its opponents 26-3 including a pair of shutouts in the tournament.
After blanking host Wilton in the opener 14-0, the girls from Brewster Field played the first of their two games against Fairfield and achieved an 8-0 triumph.
Milford made a statement right from the outset against Wilton as Eliana Coladarci unleashed a three-hit onslaught -- including two doubles -- resulting in five total RBI. Kaylee Phelan was likewise a force at the plate with three hits and two RBI, while Ryleigh Gregory also clouted a double.
The barrage of hits included singles by Avery Caprio, Jenna Foust, Addison Iannaccone, Molly Maziarz and Chloe Trice.
Inside the circle, Ali Tworkowski recorded seven strikeouts in three innings, while Avery Caprio struck out the side in her one inning of pitching.
In their first game versus Fairfield, pitcher Ali Tworkowski was nothing short of dominant with 14 strikeouts. Her performance was aided by the hitting of Molly Maziarz, who lined a two-run double and also laced a single.
Cayla Doyle, Ryleigh Gregory and Chloe Trice also contributed to the victory with base hits.
A strong 'state'ment
After losing game one to Bristol at the Connecticut state tourney in Simsbury, Milford came out with a full arsenal against SFCC in game two.
Avery Caprio pitched a great game with 12 strikeouts, and her teammates pounded out 12 hits as the Section 1 champs rebounded from a 10-2 setback to Bristol to beat SFCC convincingly 11-1.
As part of Milford's offensive might, Eliana Coladarci served up a pair of singles that allowed three runners to cross home plate. Ryleigh Gregory and Kaylee Phelan each delivered two singles, while Cayla Doyle, Jenna Foust, Addison Iannaccone, Molly Maziarz and Chloe Trice launched clutch base hits.
Ali Tworkowski doubled for the only extra-base hit, but the bat brigade was more than enough to secure an impressive state win that also featured stellar outfield play by Milford.
Despite a fantastic 13-strikeout showing inside the circle by Ali Tworkowski, Milford's All-Star season concluded with a hard-fought 3-2 loss.
Chloe Trice -- who supplied the only hit in the first game against Bristol -- had a great game in the finale contest with two hits (single and double). She also made a great catch and proceeded to turn a double play with Eliana Coladarci, who also contributed offensively with a double.
Connecticut's Section 1 champions
Milford 10-Under Division Little League Girls Softball Section1 Champion Team Roster (in alphabetical order): Avery Caprio, Eliana Coladarci, Cayla Doyle, Jenna Foust, Ryleigh Gregory, Addison Iannaccone, Zoe Jaques, Molly Maziarz, Kaylee Phelan, Ashlynn Seaberg, Chloe Trice and Ali Tworkowski. The manager is Mike Maziarz, and the coaches are Ray Phelan, Jeff Jaques and Andy Trice.
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