MILTON -- Every team goes through some growing pains early in the Little League All-Star seasons.

Players get their vacations in before play starts. Players that have competed against each other all season have to learn to play together.

The Warrior Run Senior Division softball All-Stars went through all of those things, plus an old fashioned case of the nerves in the first inning of Wednesday's best-of-three series for the District 13 title with Milton.

"This is the first time we've played together as a team," Warrior Run manager Bob Kilgus said. "We've had one or two practices that we've all been together."

After making two errors and giving up the tying run in the bottom of the first, Warrior Run's defense and pitcher Maddie Bird took over.

Bird retired 15 hitters in a row at one point and Warrior Run's small ball offense took advantage of four Milton errors in a 4-1 Warrior Run victory at the Mary F. Byers Complex.

"It's wonderful to beat Milton," Bird said. "They've beaten us a lot over the years."

The two teams will face off again at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Milton will be trying to force a decisive third game.

"We've got one, possibly two more chances at this," Milton manager Dick Hubler said. "We've got to play better."

Warrior Run took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first; Morgan Wagner reached first on a wild pitch after striking out and went to second on a throwing error on the play. After another strikeout, Emily Roat also reached first after a wild pitch on a strikeout. A hit batter loaded the bases. Kelly Kilgus then had a bunt RBI single for the lead.

Milton tied the game when Christy Weaver reached on an error. Maddie Hubler then singled. Lauren Thew hit a ball to second. The ball was dropped at first and Weaver scored. Threw thought she was out on the play and was called out for the second out when she walked off the field. Bird got out of the inning when Hubler tried to score on a wild pitch. Catcher Emily Roat made a nice throw to Bird, who blocked the plate and made the tag simultaneously.

Milton's bats went silent thanks to Bird. She only struck out four, but Milton didn't hit too many balls hard. Milton didn't have another hit until Karey Wolfe singled in the sixth.

"The first inning had me nervous, but it was the first time we've played together and it took us an inning to mesh," Bird said. "I had really good control (she didn't walk a hitter), better than the last time I pitched against them."

Warrior Run broke the tie in the third with two runs. Roat singled and stole second. Ashley Barges sacrificed her to third. Roat then scored on a throwing error on Kelly Kilgus' bunt. Sara Byers then brought Kilgus home with an RBI fielder's choice for a 3-1 Warrior Run lead.

Warrior Run added an insurance run in the fifth. Byers doubled to the left-field fence and then scored on Emile Badman's RBI single.