In the fall, Cheverus had one of the best field hockey teams in Western Class A – but couldn’t beat Scarborough.

In the winter, Cheverus had one of the best girls’ basketball teams in Western Class A – but couldn’t beat Scarborough.

In the spring, Cheverus has one of the best softball teams in Western Class A – and finally beat Scarborough.

The Stags defeated the previously unbeaten Red Storm 5-1 on Tuesday, getting outstanding pitching from Theresa Hendrix and all five runs in the fifth. It was their first victory against Scarborough.

“It was fun,’’ said Coach Amy McMullin. “Since Day One we’ve been talking about this game. A goal of ours was to be ready for Scarborough and to win. We knew we could do it. Last year we were up on them and couldn’t finish it. (Tuesday) when we got the lead, we weren’t going to give it up.’’

Hendrix pitched her best game of the season, allowing five hits and three walks, striking out eight, including two in the seventh. “She had great composure on the mound,’’ said McMullin. “She was confident and made some big pitches.’’

A key moment came when Scarborough Coach Tom Griffin had his pitcher, Melissa Dellatorre, intentionally walk Hendrix with two outs and a runner on third in the fifth. Hendrix promptly stole second. The next batter, Anna Snook, hit an infield blooper that was thrown away, allowing both runners to score. Audrey Grinnell followed with an RBI single and Jasmyn Welch hit a two-run homer.

“I didn’t want Hendrix to beat us. It was my decision,’’ Griffin said Wednesday. “In hindsight, maybe we should have pitched to her, but she’s been hitting incredibly and I felt the game was going to be decided, win or lose, in that inning. That’s the gamble I took.

“But give Cheverus a lot of credit. That’s an excellent team. I felt they were the top team right from the get-go.’’

Cheverus has lost four games: to playoff-bound teams McAuley, Kennebunk, South Portland and Thornton Academy.

“This is what the girls needed, especially the way we started the season,’’ said McMullin. “We knew we hadn’t played particularly well. This was the first time I had seen the team ready emotionally to play and be prepared as a team rather than individuals. That’s the biggest boost, that we were a team. If we play that way, we can go far.’’

Scarborough, meanwhile, will look to regroup.

“We lost a game last year and weren’t happy about it, but it made us a much stronger team,’’ said Griffin.

DAVE GETCHELL, the head softball coach at Gray-New Gloucester, returned to the team Wednesday after missing two games.

Melanie Craig, the Gray-New Gloucester athletic director, couldn’t comment on why Getchell wasn’t at games against Lake Region and Fryeburg Academy, saying, “It’s a personnel matter.”

She added, however, “Coach Getchell is back at the helm of G-NG softball. We have reached a mutual agreement and are moving forward in a positive direction.’’

Getchell missed the Patriots’ biggest win of the season, a 5-4 victory against previously unbeaten Fryeburg on Monday. He was replaced by volunteer assistant Jeff Ryan.

“It was a good softball game, the way it should be played,’’ said Ryan, who also wouldn’t comment on why he was coaching instead of Getchell. “It was good and tight. There were a few errors on both sides, but the ball was getting hit and runners were getting on base.’’

The Patriots had lost previously to Fryeburg, 11-4. “We’ll take a split with Fryeburg any time,’’ said Ryan. “And we’re looking forward to using that game to energize us the rest of the season.’’

ALL-STAR GAMES: The Maine Senior All-Star games will be played June 24 at Cony High in Augusta.

The first game will feature senior all-stars from C-D East against C-D West, followed by the game between the A-B East and A-B West.

Then, on June 29, two all-star games will be held at St. Joseph’s College.

The first one, at 4 p.m., will pit Maine senior all-stars against New Hampshire senior all-stars, the second year teams from the two states have met. That game will be followed by a Maine underclass all-star game at 6 p.m.

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com

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