Milford softball uses long ball to move into DIAA final

The 11th-seeded Milford Bucs loaded up their cannons and fired a barrage of long balls to propel them to the DIAA softball state final with a convincing 18-5 win over Indian River May 27 at the Pyle Center in Roxana. The Bucs had 15 hits in the game.

Milford senior third baseman Nia Bowe drove in cousin Rajene Bowe and junior Darby Brennan with a three-run homer in the first inning. Rajene had reached base via the walk and proceeded to steal second and third on two Indians pitches. Brennan followed her with a walk.

Nia did it again in the second inning, knocking in her cousin and Megan Fry with another blast out of the Pyle Center ballpark. Nia had four hits and six RBIs in the game.

The Bucs used the long ball again in the fifth inning, when Genesis Chamberlayne knocked a solo home run to move the Bucs’ lead to 9-2.

But to head coach Sean Brennan, a seven-run lead isn’t safe against a quality team like IR, as you could hear him saying to his team, “Just keep playing; just keep playing.”

Milford freshman Macey Myers hit her third dinger in as many games for a three-run spot as the Bucs scored six runs in the seventh inning to nail down the 18-5 victory. Myers finished with three RBIs.

Milford catcher Courtney Kohel also had three RBIs in the Bucs’ win.

Milford pitcher Morgan Abbott kept the Indians off the scoreboard for the first three innings and ended with three strikeouts, allowing just five runs off nine hits.

Madi McGee went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Indians in hits.

The Bucs will face No. 9 seed Delmar Tuesday, May 30, at the Lower Sussex fields in Roxana. The Wildcats defeated Delaware Military Academy 6-2.