Another Win for Orange All Star 11-12 Year Olds

Beneficiary of 6 walks, 3 wild pitches, an infield error, and Katie Esposito’s 2-run single, the Orange 11-12 year old girls Little League All Stars marched home 6 first inning runs and from there, strolled past West Haven 14-4 Saturday night in the District 4 round robin play-offs at Stankye Field. Orange picked up its second win in 2 days while West Haven slipped to 1-1 in the pool round of the play-offs.  When the round robin portion of the playoffs end later this week, the 2 teams with the top records in pool play, will advance to the best 2 game out of 3 sectional championship series.

Orange will host North Branford tonight in a 7:30 PM contest at Stankye Field.

After West Haven bunched a second inning lead-off walk to Valerie Mays, a wild pitch from Orange hurler Cassidy Kirby, and 2 infield outs, it scored its first run.

Following the 6 run first inning that saw 11 Orange batters come to bat, the winners accumulated a 13 batter-8 run second inning that exploded its lead to 14-1. The second inning began with a pair of West Haven errors. Those miscues preceded 3 more walks and 2 more wild pitches by starting pitcher Taylor Weiss along with Jenna Thomas’ 2-run single and a 2-run double by Katie Koshes. When Weiss also served up a run-scoring base hit to Kirby, she was replaced in the pitcher’s circle by Julia Bothwell. By the ends of the second inning, Orange had stacked up a 14-1 advantage.

Heading into the top of the fourth inning, Orange knew if it held onto at least a 10 run lead the game would end due to the Mercy Rule. Kirby, who had walked only 1 batter in the first 3 innings, suddenly lost her control in the top of the fourth. Consecutive free passes to Sara Duprey and Madison Watts along with a fielder’s choice off the bat of Valerie Mays loaded the beses with no one out.

Kirby got Alex Bridsall to hit a nubber back to her and she flipped the ball home to catcher Martha Zhang, erasing Duprey. Pinch hitter Taylor Fresora stepped up and banged a 2-run single into center field. Later in the same inning, Bridsall scored on Bothwell’s infield out. While she also walked Sadie Roberts, Kirby managed to retire pinch hitter Page Sheridan on a game-ending pop fly.

According to Orange Coach Frank Koshes, “Cassidy has good stuff. Last year, she carried us to the state championship, but she has to learn to trust her stuff. Her pitches have great movement. I’m not sure what her problem with her control in the top of the fourth. I don’t know if it was a lack of confidence or if she had gotten tired. I’m very happy with her pitching, but she has to work on a few things.”

Kirby gave up 4 runs on only 2 hits. She also walked 4 and fanned 3.

Koshes added “I thought we played a good game tonight. Everyone on our roster got to play. We swung the bats and hit the ball well, but sometimes when the game slows down like it did tonight, its tough for the girls to stay focused and concentrate on the game. They begin to take things for granted.”

Katie Koshes led the winners a double and a single, 2 runs, and added 2 RBI.  In addition to being the winning pitcher, Kirby singled, scored twice, and drove in a run.   Teresa Marchitto also singled, scored twice, and drove in a run. Esposito and Thomas each chipped in with a base hit, a run, and 2 RBI.