PORTLAND, Ore. — After losing 2-0 to Sterling, Ill., in pool play, Midway had hopes of revenge when the two met in the Little League Softball World Series championship game Wednesday.

Midway appeared to have an excellent chance of winning the title while holding a 3-0 lead heading into the third inning at Alpenrose Dairy Stadium.

But Sterling used a seven-run third inning to conclude a perfect season with a come-from-behind 7-5 victory to capture the World Series title.

Midway catcher Michelle Olvera tags out Sterling’s Emily Visnic at home Wednesday.
Miles Vance / Special to the Waco Tribune-Herald

“We gave it everything we had, we left it all out there on the field and we played our best,” Midway’s Taylor Ellis said. “I felt like we had a good chance to win when we were ahead 3-0. We just had one bad inning, though, and we pretty much gave it to them.”

Midway had a good start in the first inning. Ace pitcher Chandlar Coskrey hit a leadoff single and scored two batters later on an RBI double by Ellis.

Sterling had outscored five previous World Series opponents 51-4.

“I really don’t feel too good about second place, because our goal when we came here was to win it,” Midway manager Tommy Coskrey said. “The disappointing thing is I feel like we gave it to them. Other than the third inning, they (Sterling) only hit the ball hard a few times during the game.

“The girls expected to win, they really did, and I just feel so sorry for them. There were lots of tears after the game, because they fell short of their goal. I feel very proud of them though, they’re a great group of kids and I was so glad to have an opportunity to coach them this year.”

Midway went up, 2-0, in the second inning when Jordyn Baugh’s RBI triple scored Katie Guffey, who earlier hit a one-out single. Midway then got another run in the third to extend its advantage. Chandlar Coskrey drew a leadoff walk and scored on a one-out RBI single by Ellis for a 3-0 edge.

“I feel proud of our team for reaching the championship game, but we really wanted to win and it’s very disappointing to lose,” Chandlar Coskrey said. “That’s a great team and they really hit the ball well.”

Sterling’s potent offense was clearly evident in the bottom of the third as it responded by pounding eight of its total 15 hits in the inning. Sterling capitalized on two costly Midway errors and scored seven runs to take a 7-3 lead.

Midway answered quickly and sliced the deficit in half in the fourth at 7-5. Midway capitalized on three walks as it sent eight batters to the plate and loaded the bases three times.

Substitute Haley Hester drew a one-out walk, Baugh followed with a single and Miranda Youmans earned a free pass to first to load the bags. Hester scored on Kaitlyn LaValley’s RBI single, and Baugh scored on a bases-loaded walk to Allye Beth Deaton, making it 7-5.

Midway was unable to capitalize on further scoring chances, though, and left the bases loaded at the bottom of the frame.

Midway, traditionally one of the Little League’s most dominating teams, was seeking its first title in seven years. Midway won 11 titles in 13 years from 1992-2004 and was hoping to get its 12th title, but now it will have to wait until next year.

Sterling is the second team from Illinois to win the World Series title.

“It was great to be here and it would’ve been a lot better if we would’ve won, but it was an honor to play in the championship game,” Baugh said. “When we narrowed the margin to get within 7-5, It looked like we might’ve had a chance for a comeback, but it just didn’t happen. It was fun being here with my team and all the other teams from around the world, and it was fun meeting all the other players.”