Softball
Biddeford 2
Scarborough 1, 11 innings
For two games this season and most of a third, the Scarborough softball team was able to keep Biddeford’s star player, Hofstra-bound shortstop Jen Dutremble, from doing too much damage with her bat.
In the most recent meeting between the two teams – Monday’s Western Class A semifinal at Scarborough – Dutremble was 0-for-2 with a pair of ground outs through the first six innings.
In the seventh, Scarborough pitcher Kelsey Griffin was one strike away from setting Dutremble down for the third time in the game. But she worked the count full.
Then, with one quick swing, Dutremble flashed the skills that earned her a four-year Division I college scholarship. She sent Griffin’s offering over the left field fence. It cracked a windshield and tied the game at one. Biddeford scored again in the top of the 11th and held on to win, 2-1.
Citing his team’s success against Dutremble all season, Scarborough coach Tom Griffin balked when asked if he gave any thought to the intentional walk.
“No, no,” said Griffin, whose team beat Biddeford last week in the SMAA semifinals. “All she’s going to do is tie the game up. I don’t want us to put ourselves in a situation where we’re going to lose the game.
“She’s a good athlete, but that’s the first time she’s hurt us all year. We really controlled her bat for (three) games. She’s got a big swing on her and sometimes she overswings, but obviously she’s a good athlete and you’ve got to give her credit.”
Griffin’s daughter, Kelsey, deserved some credit, too, and Biddeford coach Leon Paquin had no problem dishing it out.
“That was one (heck) of a pitcher they had there on the mound,” he said.
Griffin allowed just two hits through the first four innings, while striking out eight.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Scarborough offense gave her a lead. With one out, Caitlin LeBorgne dropped a bloop single down the left field line off Biddeford starter Michelle Gagnon (11 innings, nine hits). She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Victoria Joyce and hurried to third on a passed ball.
Angie Damon followed with a hard-hit grounder up the middle. Dutremble ranged to her left and dove to snag the ball, but she had to hurry her throw and it sailed wide of first base. LeBorgne came around to score the game’s first run.
Dutremble’s chance for redemption came two and a half innings later – after Griffin had continued her dominance by setting down seven more Biddeford hitters in a row.
Aimee Mortensen led off the top of the seventh by popping out to shortstop. The next batter was Dutremble.
“The disappointment was we had her struck out twice there, we thought, and then it becomes a 3-2 pitch and she just laid it out over the plate, I guess,” said Coach Griffin. “I’m not sure. I haven’t talked to Kelsey about it yet.”
Dutremble, meanwhile, wanted to atone for her error, but she was careful not to press.
“I just told myself, ‘Be patient.’ I don’t know. I just had a good feeling. I guess I was just waiting for that perfect pitch to hit.
“It was like a dream, really. I believed that I could do it, and when it happened it was a dream.”
The Red Storm put runners on in the seventh and eighth, but they couldn’t push a run across.
Biddeford did – in the top of the 11th. Ashley Potvin reached on an infield single and was replaced by pinch runner Cady Gagnon, who stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Emily Rousseau. Justine McCurry then provided an RBI single to centerfield to make it 2-1.
Griffin thought about bringing in LeBorgne, but he had faith in his daughter.
“We started warming Caitlin up, but she was still throwing pretty well,” he said. “Kelsey’s used to throwing a lot of innings in fall ball.”
Joyce reached in the bottom of the 11th on a single to right, but she never moved past first base.
“What can you say? The kids played their hearts out, said Griffin. “I wasn’t expecting to give a farewell speech today. I told the kids that all this is minor compared to what’s important in life. So we put things in perspective and move on.”
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