Milford’s Lil’ Dogs win district championship in extra inning

Image: Milford’s Lil’ Dogs get dramatic win to claim district championship — The Milford Lil’ Dogs celebrate their district championship victory and display their plaques and championship banner provided by Game On Athletics. Milford, along with the Ferris Scorpions, qualify for the state tournament in Clifton.

Milford’s Lil’ Dogs get dramatic win to claim district championship — The Milford Lil’ Dogs celebrate their district championship victory and display their plaques and championship banner provided by Game On Athletics. Milford, along with the Ferris Scorpions, qualify for the state tournament in Clifton. (Barry Byers)

Image: Grace makes plays — Italy’s second baseman Grace Payne throws to first base for three straight outs against the Ferris Scorpions but the Scorpions held on for a 3-run win, 15-12, knocking Italy out of the tournament. Also pictured is Hillsboro’s MaKenzie “Hollywood” Wallace, a pick-up player Italy added to their roster for tournament play.

Grace makes plays — Italy’s second baseman Grace Payne throws to first base for three straight outs against the Ferris Scorpions but the Scorpions held on for a 3-run win, 15-12, knocking Italy out of the tournament. Also pictured is Hillsboro’s MaKenzie “Hollywood” Wallace, a pick-up player Italy added to their roster for tournament play. (Barry Byers)

Image: What’s up? — The Milford Lil’ Dogs unite after a victory that put them into the district championship game against the Ferris Scorpions.

What’s up? — The Milford Lil’ Dogs unite after a victory that put them into the district championship game against the Ferris Scorpions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alex hits single — Alex Jones reaches first base while the Ferris Scorpions’ 6 year old first baseman Brianna Evans instructs her teammates to hold the ball.

Alex hits single — Alex Jones reaches first base while the Ferris Scorpions’ 6 year old first baseman Brianna Evans instructs her teammates to hold the ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Diamond Divas — Ennis RP Electric Diamond Divas earn 3rd Place in the IYAA hosted girls 8u district softball tournament in Italy.

Diamond Divas — Ennis RP Electric Diamond Divas earn 3rd Place in the IYAA hosted girls 8u district softball tournament in Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Fun in the sun — IYAAs baseball/softball town representative Stephen Mott presents the 3rd Place trophy to an ecstatic Diamond Diva.

Fun in the sun — IYAAs baseball/softball town representative Stephen Mott presents the 3rd Place trophy to an ecstatic Diamond Diva. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jace McIntyre — Jace is ready to use her bat to sting the Scorpions.

Jace McIntyre — Jace is ready to use her bat to sting the Scorpions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Katera Birdow — Katera poses before the games against Ferris.

Katera Birdow — Katera poses before the games against Ferris. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gabby Castilleja — Gabby doesn’t say much while practicing her swing.

Gabby Castilleja — Gabby doesn’t say much while practicing her swing. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alandra Montgomery — Alandra has a winning smile.

Alandra Montgomery — Alandra has a winning smile. (Barry Byers)

Image: Reaching first — The Ferris Scorpions capitalize on Milford’s misfortunes to hand Milford their first loss of the season, 13-4, forcing an extra game to decide the district tournament champion.

Reaching first — The Ferris Scorpions capitalize on Milford’s misfortunes to hand Milford their first loss of the season, 13-4, forcing an extra game to decide the district tournament champion. (Barry Byers)

Image: Nice effort — A sliding Abbey Evans and Janaria Brooks try to put points on the board for Milford but the Ferris Scorpions manage the must win 13-4.

Nice effort — A sliding Abbey Evans and Janaria Brooks try to put points on the board for Milford but the Ferris Scorpions manage the must win 13-4. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sarah Sanders — Sarah Sanders bat would play a key role in Milford’s ultimate district championship victory.

Sarah Sanders — Sarah Sanders bat would play a key role in Milford’s ultimate district championship victory. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alex hits — Milford head coach Ty Evans pitches to Alex Jones and Jones does the rest.

Alex hits — Milford head coach Ty Evans pitches to Alex Jones and Jones does the rest. (Barry Byers)

Image: Hurtt’s the hero! — After a lead-off triple by Sarah Sanders, with the district tournament championship game on the line and the score tied 13-13 in the bottom of the 7th inning, Kieauna Hurtt taps one into play scoring Stamper from third base giving the Milford Lil’ Dogs the district tournament championship with a 14-13 win over the Ferris Scorpions.

Hurtt’s the hero! — After a lead-off triple by Sarah Sanders, with the district tournament championship game on the line and the score tied 13-13 in the bottom of the 7th inning, Kieauna Hurtt taps one into play scoring Stamper from third base giving the Milford Lil’ Dogs the district tournament championship with a 14-13 win over the Ferris Scorpions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sanders stomps — Sarah Sanders stamps her cleat print on home plate as Milford’s Lil’ Dogs defeat the Ferris Scorpions 14-13 to claim the district tournament championship. Both Milford and Ferris qualify for the state tournament in Athens.

Sanders stomps — Sarah Sanders stamps her cleat print on home plate as Milford’s Lil’ Dogs defeat the Ferris Scorpions 14-13 to claim the district tournament championship. Both Milford and Ferris qualify for the state tournament in Athens. (Barry Byers)

Image: Celebration begins — Kieauna Hurtt’s hit to score Sarah Sanders from third base allows Milford’s fans to start the district tournament championship celebration.

Celebration begins — Kieauna Hurtt’s hit to score Sarah Sanders from third base allows Milford’s fans to start the district tournament championship celebration. (Barry Byers)

Image: We’re the champs! — Milford’s assistant coach Veronica Rankin gather’s as many Lil’ Dogs as she can hold in her arms following the dramatic extra inning win over Ferris.

We’re the champs! — Milford’s assistant coach Veronica Rankin gather’s as many Lil’ Dogs as she can hold in her arms following the dramatic extra inning win over Ferris. (Barry Byers)

Image: We won! — In celebration, Sarah Sanders gives teammate Alex Jones a piggyback ride around the infield.

We won! — In celebration, Sarah Sanders gives teammate Alex Jones a piggyback ride around the infield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ferris Scorpions — Congratulations to the Ferris Scorpions who played four games on Saturday and finished in 2nd Place in the district tournament and will be joining the Milford Lil’ Dogs at the state tournament.

Ferris Scorpions — Congratulations to the Ferris Scorpions who played four games on Saturday and finished in 2nd Place in the district tournament and will be joining the Milford Lil’ Dogs at the state tournament. (Barry Byers)

Image: Only six years old — Ferris’ second baseman Jessie Wakefield receives her district tournament Runner Up plaque from her head coach Minerva Evans.

Only six years old — Ferris’ second baseman Jessie Wakefield receives her district tournament Runner Up plaque from her head coach Minerva Evans. (Barry Byers)

Image: Abbey and Ty — Milford head coach Ty Evans poses with his daughter Abbey Evans who played both cacther and centerfield for the “champs” during the tournament.

Abbey and Ty — Milford head coach Ty Evans poses with his daughter Abbey Evans who played both cacther and centerfield for the “champs” during the tournament. (Barry Byers)

Image: Happy coaches — Milford coaches Veronica Rankin, Michael Brown, Ty Evans, Marcus Houston and Jennifer Brooks display their district tournament plaques.

Happy coaches — Milford coaches Veronica Rankin, Michael Brown, Ty Evans, Marcus Houston and Jennifer Brooks display their district tournament plaques. (Barry Byers)

Image: Good sports — In a show of sportsmanship, the Milford Lil’ Dogs and the Ferris Scorpions share in a victory chant after the game. Good luck to both teams in the state tournament.

Good sports — In a show of sportsmanship, the Milford Lil’ Dogs and the Ferris Scorpions share in a victory chant after the game. Good luck to both teams in the state tournament. (Barry Byers)

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