STANDISH — In her first at-bat, Aly LeBlanc struck out. In her second trip to the plate, Madison’s senior catcher popped out to second base.
But LeBlanc’s third at-bat – in the sixth inning – will be remembered by everybody who saw the Class C state championship game Saturday at St. Joseph’s College.
After receiving a reprieve when Bucksport catcher Mackenzie Smith dropped a pop foul, LeBlanc drove an outside pitch to the right-field wall for a triple that drove in Madeline Wood, snapping a 1-1 tie as Madison earned its second title in three years with a 3-1 victory.
The victory capped a 20-0 season for the Bulldogs. Bucksport finished 19-2.
Wood walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Madison Coach Chris LeBlanc, Aly’s father, debated having Wood steal second, but with his cleanup hitter coming up decided to let the action play out.
“I just figured, if Aly’s going to hit the ball, (Wood’s) going to at least get to third, and we have the opportunity to do some bunting with her at third,” Coach LeBlanc said.
LeBlanc was unhappy with her first two plate appearances. When Smith dropped the pop-up that would have been the inning’s first out, LeBlanc knew she had been given the opportunity the Bulldogs needed.
“That was a huge sense of relief because that would have been very disappointing for me. I knew that I needed to make up for that,” she said. “I was very disappointed in myself and I knew I needed to do better for my team and just put the ball in play and move the runner around.”
LeBlanc drove an outside pitch down the line.
“I saw it go over (right fielder Kaylee Grindle) head so I was really pumped,” she said.
The play was reminiscent of the inside-the-park home run to right field hit by Wood to win the 2014 state championship.
“I just told (Aly) to relax, do what she needs to do and hit the ball. We talked to them outside before the game and just told them it doesn’t matter what you do the at-bats before. When you get up there, you’re 0-0 every time you get up to bat. It was great for her to hit that ball,” Coach LeBlanc said.
Added Bucksport Coach Michael Carrier: “Aly’s a great player and that pitch she hit was kind of sick. It was way outside and she went with it.”
LeBlanc scored easily on Erin Whalen’s sacrifice fly to left to make it 3-1. Wood, who had just commented to teammates in the dugout that a two-run cushion going into the top of the seventh would put her at ease, retired the Golden Bucks in order to set off Madison’s celebration.
“We just needed to get three quick outs. I was shaking. I was nervous,” Wood said.
Wood gave up four hits and one walk while striking out seven. Behind the plate, LeBlanc thought Wood’s best pitch was her change-up. Wood thought her fastball was the key.
“I hit my locations pretty good. My change-up was on but I think my (fastball) location is what did the job,” Wood said.
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Aishah Malloy led off with a triple and scored on a groundout to short by Kayla Bess. Malloy worked her way into the starting lineup during the season. Coach LeBlanc and his staff asked her to focus on playing strong defense in right field.
“When (Malloy) does it at the plate, it’s a bonus, and it was certainly a bonus today,” LeBlanc said.
Bucksport, the defending state champion, answered with a run in the top of the fourth. Eliza Hosford led off with an infield single and Darian Jellison followed with a bunt single. After getting two outs, Wood gave up an RBI single to Katelin Saunders. Bucksport had the go-ahead run at third base, but Wood picked up a strikeout to limit the damage to one run.
“I think her and Aly have a great rapport. As I’ve always said, you’ve got to be mentally tough to play that position, and Madeline Wood is. And we’ve got one more year with her,” Coach LeBlanc said.
Jellison had two of Bucksport’s four hits, both bunt singles. Saunders took the loss, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out five.
“(We were) a little excited. I don’t know why because of all them were here last year,” Carrier said.
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