How Colchester Little League stunned Maine to reach New England softball championship game

An early five-run deficit? No sweat.

Down to the final out in the sixth inning? No fear.

Facing elimination, the 10-to-12-year-old Little League all-stars from Colchester pulled off a stunning rally Wednesday. And now they're on the doorstep of history.

Athalie Fane-Cushing's infield single brought home the game-winning run as the Vermont state champions stunned Maine with a 7-6 walkoff win in the New England Region tournament at A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut.

Colchester will play Connecticut in a winner-take-all New England championship at noon Thursday on espn+, with the winner advancing to the World Series. No Vermont Little League team — baseball or softball — has ever reached the World Series.

"We couldn't be happier for these girls and their families," Colchester manager Mat Robinson said in a phone interview. "It's been an exciting ride and it's good for the girls, good for our state and good for our town.

"It's a crazy experience and it's one we don't want to end."

Trailing 6-1 after the first two innings, Colchester chipped away but still trailed by a run to start the bottom of the sixth. Then Maine pitcher Reese Bryant fanned the first two batters of the frame, putting Colchester in a bleak situation.

With the top of his order up, Robinson, though, still believed.

"I thought to myself, 'If we can get just one (player) on base,'" Robinson said.

Elle Robinson, the manager's daughter, walked on four pitches and then stole second to get into scoring position. Taylor Davidson, who entered Wednesday 6-for-6 for the tournament, singled on a hard grounder to right to plate Robinson. Davidson advanced to second on a throwing error.

Fane-Cushing offered on the first pitch she saw and blooped a hit over the second-base bag. The Maine shortstop scooped up the ball but her throw to first sailed, allowing Davidson to scoot home for the winning run.

Robinson said Fane-Cushing was almost a late scratch due for health reasons. The second baseman also recorded the final out of the top of the sixth, to halt Maine from tacking on an insurance run.

"She wasn't feeling well before the game, but she's a tough kid. That's what makes this special," Robinson.

After an uncharacteristic start to Wednesday's game, Colchester settled in after starter Destiny Hendy worked a 1-2-3 third inning. The Colchester crowd also provided energy between innings, according to Robinson.

"That third inning was big and the fans were pretty significant. It helped build momentum," Robinson said.

Fane-Cushing had an RBI single in the third and Harlow Hier raced home on a wild pitch in the fourth to make it 6-3. In the fifth, Persephone Tirrito brought home two runs on a ground out to slice the deficit to 6-5.

Then Colchester capped its comeback with the dramatic, two-out rally in the sixth.

"We are just a little bit flat at the start, but they never gave up on themselves," Robinson said.

Robinson, Davidson, Hier and Fane-Cushing each finished with two hits. Tirrito's 1-for-3 game included three RBIs. In the circle, Hendy went the distance and allowed four hits and four earned runs while fanning six and walking seven in the 139-pitch performance.

For Maine, Amelia Fries went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Thursday's opponent is a familiar one for Colchester. Connecticut handed the Vermont representative a 4-1 defeat on Sunday. Robinson said his squad is ready for a rematch.

"We know it's going to be a tough game," Robinson said. "I don't have any doubts that it's going to be a good game."

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Little League softball: Walk-off sends Colchester to New England final