Softball
South Portland 1
Scarborough 0
Last season, the Scarborough softball team put so much energy into winning the SMAA tournament that, by the time Western Class A tourney began, they were zapped.
Red Storm coach Tom Griffin wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice, especially when winning the SMAA tournament again this season would mean winning two games in the same day.
Scarborough beat Biddeford, 5-2, Monday afternoon, then, after an hour-long break and a location change – because of a malfunctioning sprinkler head on the main field at Scarborough High – they took the field for the final against South Portland.
The Red Riots, seeded second in the Western Class A tournament, beat No. 1 Scarborough, 1-0.
“It was a well-played game, just about what I expected,” said Griffin. “I’m not disappointed. We just went out there and played it pretty loose, like a practice game, scrimmage game.
“Last year we got caught up in wanting to win it badly and we really worked hard and we ended up winning it, then turned around and lost in the states. So we’re looking forward to possibly doing it this year.”
According to coach Jim Hartman, the Red Riots took a similar approach.
“It’s a nice way to get ready as a scrimmage out here, getting ready for the playoffs,” he said. “But we’re just getting ready for next week. Next week everything counts.”
One big difference between the two teams, however, was that South Portland won its semifinal game – over Bonny Eagle – last Thursday. The Red Riots hadn’t just finished playing seven innings, so there was something extra in the tank.
Pitcher Jess Flynn was particularly rejuvenated. She spread six hits out over seven innings of work.
“I just felt like I’m back to myself again this season. It took me a while, but I feel like I’m there again,” said Flynn. “I was sick, and I didn’t have energy and it took me a while to get back in shape.
“It gives us really good momentum. My team’s great. I don’t know what I’d do without them. So, I mean, this definitely builds us up a lot.”
Flynn worked her way out of three jams in the game, the first of which took place in the bottom of the second inning. Scarborough’s Angie Damon reached on a two-out single.
Catie Funk followed with another single, but Flynn got Sarah Bonenfant to groundout to end the inning.
The next of the three jams wouldn’t occur until after the Red Riots had scored their run. In the top of the fifth, Flynn reached on a single to left field. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mandy Shannon, then scored on an error by Damon, the first baseman. Kristin Kill grounded to short, but the throw to first got by Damon.
“We played well. We outplayed them; we out hit them; we out pitched them, but we made the mistake,” said Griffin. “What can you do?”
Flynn made the lone run hold up when she wiggled out of another second-and-third situation in the bottom of the inning. Funk led off with a walk, and Bonenfant followed by reaching on an error.
Kira Gordon then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Flynn fielded the ball and went to third to get the lead runner for out number one. The next batter, Kelsey Griffin, did move the runners over with a groundout, but now there were two outs. Meaghan Myers grounded to second to end the threat.
“We definitely have the pitching. Kelsey (Griffin) will get us there, but we just need to start hitting more,” said Scarborough pitcher Caitlin LeBorgne, who nearly matched Flynn zero for zero while striking out 10 and allowing just three hits. “We’re hitting it right to people. We just need to find the gaps.”
The Red Storm failed to come through with timely hits again in the bottom of the seventh. Katrina Collins started a two-out rally with a single to left field. Gordon followed with a spinner that dropped in behind the shortstop, but Griffin grounded to second to end the game.
“These kids were outstanding. Jess hit her spots, put the ball where she needed to, and we were tough defensively,” said Hartman. “The last few games we kind of let down in a big inning. There was one inning in every game where we just kind of got frazzled. We didn’t do that. Even in the seventh, they put a little pressure on us, but we held our own and stayed together.”
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