Connie Mack U11 Red Sox defeat Athletics, 14-10

On a sunny and warm Saturday morning at Garnet 2, the Connie Mack U11 A's met the Red Sox for the final time in the regular season. The Red Sox prevailed 14-10.

The A's opened the first inning with leadoff batter Alison Staebell singling down the left field line. Brigid Ryan walked on four pitches before Rachel Callea singled toward third, scoring Staebell with Ryan moving to third on the throw to first. Kelsey Dwello's walk loaded the bases for Taylor Gibbon, whose hit to the right side scored Ryan and Callea.

The Red Sox answered in the bottom of the inning. Jen Krajnik walked, stole second, and scored as Sarah Parish's drive along the third base line was fielded by Sophia Militello at third and fired home, nearly nailing the runner. Grace Garlick and Amanda Krajnik drew bases on balls, setting the table for Dominique Jones, whose drive to left center scored two, driving home Parish and Garlick. The first inning ended 3-3.

The A's stranded two in the second. Red Sox pitcher Garlick fielded two hits and threw to Amy Trabert at first for putouts stranding Kaitlyn Schinaman and Samantha Dispenza.

The Red Sox added three in the second as Trabert singled, Gina Maisano, and Tricia Andrews walked and all three scored on hits by Shannon DesRosiers and Parish despite great field play by Callea and Staebell.

The A's struck again in the top of the third. Ryan's line drive along the third base line was knocked down by Jones, whose fine play held Ryan to a single. Ryan stole second and scored on Callea's single to left center. With the bases loaded, Rebecca Regan walked, scoring Callea. Schinaman singled to drive in Dwello.

The Red Sox regained the lead in the bottom of the third. Trabert, Maisano, and Madeline Grisko each had RBI singles to bring the tally to 9-6.

The A's were stymied in the fourth by the pitching and fielding of Grisko. With runners on first and second, Grisko caught a pop fly and threw to Andrews, doubling the runner off first base. She then recorded a strikeout to bring the Red Sox back to bat. DesRosiers and Krajnik each singled and scored to move the Red Sox in front 11-6.

The Athletics were not about to give up and in the fifth saw Gibbons score on Regan's drive to third where Maisano's fine fielding and accurate throw recorded the first out. Schinaman singled and scored on Staebell's hit to right. Ryan's drive over the left fielder's head drove in Militello from second base to bring the score to 11-9.

The Red Sox rebuilt their lead in the fifth. Trabert singled but was forced at second on Maisano's hit as Dispenza fielded and threw to Schinaman who came in from center field to cover. Maisano scored on Tricia Andrews' hit past third base. Andrews scored on a single by DesRosiers, who was then plated by Krajnik's hit. The A's were only able to add one in the sixth as Callea doubled to center and was driven in by Militello.

Garlick, Grisko, and Jones each pitched two good innings for the Red Sox.

Jones struck out three batters. Callea struck out two in two innings for the A's and has walked only one batter in her last four innings pitched.

Braves 10, A's 10

With a light breeze and under warm blue skies, the Braves and A's met for the fourth and final time in the regular season. Despite getting girls on the base paths, each team was held scoreless in the first by excellent pitching.

The Braves opened scoring in the second. Holly Sullivan, Laura Lawson and Julie Sullivan drove Cheyanne Kurzweg, Margaret Boyle, and Jenna Kirkland home.

The A's returned fire with Brigid Ryan leading off the inning with a single. Ryan, Kelsey Dwello, and Samantha Dispenza scored on successive singles by Taylor Gibbon, Rachel Callea, and Megan Mallon.

The top of the third saw Sarah Boyle slash a hit that scored Hanna Floss.

Boyle's triple to left center drove in her sister Sarah. The home half of the inning saw the A's Sophia Militello and Melissa Mallon walk. Militello scored on Rebecca Regan's single. Mallon and Regan scored on successive singles by Ryan and Dwello.

Holly Sullivan opened the fourth with a perfect bunt, surprising the A's, as it was the first bunt they had seen all season. Lawson's single scored Sullivan. Julie Sullivan's single past the shortstop moved Lawson to third. Lawson and Sullivan scored on singles past third by Floss and Kyra Sweeney.

The A's kept pace in the bottom half as Dispenza and Gibbon scored on Megan Mallon's double to center. Kaitlyn Schinaman drove home Callea to give the A's a 9-8 lead.

Undaunted, the Braves regained the lead in the top of the fifth. Sarah Boyle singled to right center and scored when her sister Margaret singled to left center. Boyle then stole second and third before scoring on Holly Sullivan's hit to center.

Sweeney grabbed a hard shot down the first base line and Julie Sullivan struck out two to hold the A's scoreless in the fifth. A's pitcher Megan Mallon struck out the heart of the Braves lineup in the top of the sixth to set up the dramatic finish.

In the bottom of the sixth, Dwello drew a leadoff walk and stole second before scoring on Callea's single. With two outs, Callea stole second and third as Megan Mallon worked the count to two and one.

Mallon drove the next pitch deep into center field where Kirkland caught the towering drive for the third out as Callea raced toward the plate with the potential winning run.

For the Braves, Julie Sullivan struck out six and Megan Mallon of the A's struck out nine in three innings of work.