It’s raining homers

KENNEBUNK — A mix of rain and home runs hit Kennebunk on Tuesday.

The Kennebunk softball team smacked three home runs in its 10-1 victory over Sanford, improving its record to 4-2 on the season.

Janelle Bouchard and Carinn Burns, the Rams No. 3 and No. 4 hitters, provided the muscle. Bouchard blasted a grand slam over the left field wall in the fifth inning, while Burns smacked two towering shots over the wall to seal the win.

“I had a rough day at the plate [Monday against Deering],” Burns said. “I just kind of relaxed today, hoped I did something, and I guess it worked.”

Kennebunk was also given a strong pitching performance by Hannah King, who allowed one run on four hits while striking out nine batters to earn the win.

Kennebunk head coach Jim Lang was impressed with the patience of the Rams hitters.

“Today was good,” Lang said. “I think they showed some good patience. [Sanford pitcher Samantha Adams] was good, she kept the ball down and outside. We just had to be selective and not do too much with that pitch, and they kind of settled in.”

The game was a matchup between two teams stuck together in the MPA Heal Point standings. The Rams are currently the No. 6 seed in Western Class A softball, while Sanford is the No. 7 seed. Beating the Redskins gives the Rams two wins in two straight days, giving the team confidence after losing a 3-2 contest to McAuley on May 2, giving Kennebunk plenty of time to think over what needed to be improved.

“I think our loss to McAuley was big thing for us,” Burns said. “We knew we needed to win and we didn’t pull through. I think we realized we really do need to win these [games] if we want to go anywhere this year.”

Kennebunk took an early 1-0 lead in the first, after Meg Cadigan was scored from third base on an RBI groundout from King. Two innings later, the Rams would add four more runs to increase the lead to 5-0. Bouchard led the inning off with a single, before Burns stepped up to the plate and cranked a pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer to make the score 3-0.

Sanford head coach Kristi Cochin said Burns’ first home run took the win out of the Redskins’ sails.

“I was telling my team, the only excitement that I saw from my team was when the end was near and they were getting ready to get on the bus,” Cochin said. “Which is not characteristic of the team at all. I think it was an off day, a flat day, whatever you want to call it. It wasn’t our best day. I certainly think we’re better than losing 10-1 to that team for sure.”

Five batters later, Liz Cable plated Brittany Madore, and Kelsey Livermore would score on a wild pitch give the Rams the 5-0 lead.

Burns provided her second homer of the game in the fourth, on a lofty shot over the center field wall for a 6-0 lead. With the bases loaded in the fifth, Bouchard blasted her grand slam over the left field wall, scoring Livermore, Cable and Rachel Magalski to bring the score to 10-0.

Beyond the offensive output by Burns and Bouchard, Livermore led the Rams with three hits on the afternoon.

The Redskins (4-3) scored its lone run on a solo homer in the seventh, as Christine Tovey took a pitch over the center field wall to make the score 10-1. Heather LeBlanc led the Redskins offensively, collecting two of its four hits in the contest.

Though she took the loss, Sanford pitcher Samantha Adams struck out eight batters in five innings of work.

The Rams don’t have much time to enjoy the win, as the team hosts Westbrook today. The Redskins will try to get back on track hosting Windham, also scheduled for today.

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