LAUREL – Milford got the spring sports season started on the right foot Thursday in Laurel, as both its baseball and softball teams scored victories over their Laurel counterparts.

In softball, the Lady Buccaneers got a two-run single from designated player Brandi Paquette in the top of the fourth inning that produced the tying and eventual game-winning runs - in the form of sophomores Katherine Richard and Kylie Nelson - and then held on for a 3-2 victory.

“I was looking for my pitch in the outside zone and went with it,” Paquette said of her single to right.

While the win was a big one for his team’s confidence, as Laurel is one of many clubs expected to compete for a Henlopen Conference title, Lady Buccaneers coach Sean Brennan stressed to his Bucs the season is long.

“This was a good win for us, Laurel is a great team,” he said. “We’ll use this and hopefully build from it, but this is still just one of 18 (games in the regular season).”

Over on the baseball field, the Bucs shook off a slow start to defeat the Bulldogs 12-3.

With several Major League Baseball scouts observing him, senior pitcher Nick Grant worked six innings on the mound and struck out eight to earn his and the team’s first win of the season.

After three innings the game sat at a 2-2 tie before Milford scored 10 runs over the remaining four frames. Chris Huk led the Buccaneers with three hits and two RBI while Georgie Michael added a pair of hits and drove in two runs.

Kegan Yossick and Andrew Davis each had one RBI for the Bulldogs.

“It’s always good to get that first win,” Milford coach Nick Brannan said. “We started a little slow, but I think almost every team does that in their first game.”

Next up for Milford softball and baseball is a Tuesday trip to Cape Henlopen. Laurel baseball and softball will also play Tuesday at home against Seaford.

More on both games can be found in the Wednesday, March 28, print editions of the Milford Chronicle and Sussex County Post. Also, check out our photo galleries online for softball and baseball.