Milford rallied after losing in tournament opener

After dropping the first game of the 2026 American Legion State Tournament, Milford manager Steve DiVitto had a good feeling that his team would be able to bounce back.

“They didn’t waiver one bit, through the whole process,” DiVitto said. “We told them after night one that it’s one game at a time, but don’t tell me you can’t win five games in a row. You’ve done this all year.”

Milford finished the season with a 26-6 overall record, and a 3-2 mark in the state tournament that it hosted at Fino Field. Post 59 lost a 2-1 nail biter to Franklin in the tournament opener. After blowing out three straight foes in win-or-go-home scenarios, Milford played another thriller against Franklin, losing 3-2 in extra innings on a walk off hit batsman.

“It was a hell of a ride,” DiVitto said. “To get to the state final after losing on day one, it’s a tall task and I am proud of the kids for the commitment and sacrifice they made, all season long.”

During the state tournament, DiVitto said the energy from the hometown crowd helped to fuel his team, but Milford was buoyed on the field by great individual performances all summer. Milford resident Jackson Fournier, a rising senior at St. John’s, hit .466 with four home runs and 33 runs batted in for the season. Milford High graduate Joey McGee played in all of Milford’s 32 games and batted .337.

Hopkinton’s Nick Pedroli finished the year hitting north of .400 with a team-leading 41 RBIs. He was also the team leader in innings pitched. Sam Schoenberg and Ben Maiorano of Holliston were two more key cogs who rarely left the field.

On the mound, Milford High 2025 graduate Tyler Ballard finished a perfect 5-0 with a minuscule 1.15 ERA. Nipmuc’s Josh Giancola and Cole McGovern, Hopedale’s Brady Wajda, and Milford High’s Jaxen Lindsey all contributed significantly to Post 59’s deep pitching staff.

Milford has 10 players eligible to return next year from the 18-player roster that nearly won it all this summer.

“It was such a gritty, gutty performance there throughout the season, but also over the course of the last five days,” DiVitto said following the state final loss. “Obviously, we are disappointed, but I really hope the kids understand that they have to keep their heads high.”

He added, “it was such a fantastic year. Our kids should be proud.”