Groton tops Milton behind big 3rd inning

Groton put up 6 runs in the third inning to back a strong pitching performance from AJ Colarusso as they topped Milton Academy 10-2. Milton struck first with a two run double in the bottom of the second inning, but Groton struck back quickly. After Walker Davey and Walker Smith both walked to lead off the third and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Drew Burke, Luke Beckstein tied the game with a hard groundball single up the middle. Bennett Smith rifled a double down the line to score Beckstein, then following another walk, Thomas Dempsey doubled in two more. Robbie Long then chased the Milton starting pitcher with an RBI single to center to put the Zebras up 6-2. The score remained the same until the top of the 6th, when Groton loaded the bases on walks and tacked on 2 runs thanks to a throwing error. They closed out the scoring with 2 more in the 7th on a bases loaded walk by Drew Burke and an RBI single by Bennett Smith. Colarusso threw five excellent innings on the mound, striking out 9; despite the Milton hitters battling their way to several deep counts, he avoided any walks and worked around a couple of errors in the 5th. Shane Kim and Dempsey each threw a scoreless inning in relief, striking out a batter apiece. The win is Groton’s fourth in their last five and brings their record to 9-5 in the ISL and 10-6 overall; the Zebras finish their season Saturday against longtime rival St. Mark’s School.