WINDSOR—Although Middlesex High School’s bus broke down on the way to Windsor, and the Lady Chargers did not arrive at the ball field until an hour after the game was scheduled to start, the trip was well worth it.

Middlesex made a three-run third inning stick and held on to beat the Lady Dukes 5-2 in the first round of the Group A Region A playoffs Tuesday.

The game was scheduled to start at 5 p.m., but the Lady Chargers did not pull in until almost 6 p.m., delaying the start of the game by nearly 90 minutes.

Middlesex (18-2), the number two seed from the Tidewater District, rallied around pitcher Jamie Holmes, who allowed five hits and struck out 12 batters.

The Lady Chargers scored three runs in the third inning off four Windsor errors.

Windsor (12-7) scored a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Corrine Cahalan and another run in the sixth on an inside the park homerun by Hope Falls, who slammed a ball which got past the Middlesex leftfielder. The score cut the Middlesex lead to 4-2.

The Lady Chargers loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and scored one more run.

Chuck Parish, Windsor head coach, praised his team for playing tough.

“I don’t like to lose, but the kids’ effort was great,” he said. “I’ve got a smile on my face right now because of the kids’ effort, and that’s big. That’s big in life. We teach that. Our kids do not quit.”

Windsor was the Tri-Rivers District regular season and tournament champions.