Milton Legion suffered a tough 12-3 loss to Braintree, but remains in fourth place in their district division and is preparing for the upcoming playoffs. After falling behind 7-0 early, Milton showed signs of perseverance that will be important in the playoffs. Several players had standout performances in the loss, including recent graduates who will play college ball, giving the team hope moving forward. The team will need strong pitching from younger players as the playoffs approach in three weeks.

1. Milton Legion Suffers Tough Loss but still Ready for Playoffs
Seamus FitzPatrick
7/3/12
Despite the 12-3 loss to Braintree July 2 at Braintree High School, Milton is still in fourth
place with an 8-4 record; just a half game behind Braintree (8-3) and one game behind
Weymouth (9-3) in the District 6 East Division. This game can be viewed as a “reality
check” after coming off an impressive 21-0 routing of Jamaica Plain just the night before.
After going down 7-0 in a rough first two innings, Milton showed signs of perseverance
that will be vital in the upcoming weeks heading to the playoffs, which start July 24.
Leftfielder/third basement Joe Ferrara, who recently graduated from Thayer Academy
and will be playing at Tufts next year, reached base and scored Milton’s first run in the
third inning. Later that inning, Milton Academy graduate and soon-to-be Colby attendee
who splits time between shortstop and second base, Tyler Starks, knocked in Milton’s
second run with a well-hit sacrifice fly.
Derek Curley, who will be attending Umass Amherst, ended Braintree’s half of the fourth
inning with an impressive put out from centerfield. BC High pitcher Trent Berg was
given the difficult task of coming to the mound with a 7-0 deficit and did a solid job of
holding Braintree to four runs after four innings.
Thayer Academy graduate and outfielder Justin Lloyd, who will be playing for Union this
upcoming year, gave Milton something to cheer about when he blasted a solo homerun
over the 360 ft. centerfield fence.
Milton High catcher/first baseman Pat Coffey also gave the team some hope in the sixth
inning with a double to deep centerfield that seemed like a sure homerun off the bat.
Arguably Milton’s most impressive outing of the night was BC High lefty pitcher Zach
Dunphy, who came in to an 11-2 deficit and allowed just one run in the last two innings
while recording four strikeouts. With the playoffs just three weeks away, Milton will
need this type of pitching down the stretch, especially from its younger players like
Dunphy and Berg.
Tufts pitcher/shortstop Willie Archibald, one of the more outspoken leaders on the team,
had some honest and choice words to say after the game – “We gotta work harder than
that. We got straight up beat.”
Hopefully Archibald and the Milton Legion team can bounce back at their home field,
Cunningham Park, against Quincy on Thursday, July 5.