SACO — Sometimes when a softball team is forced to wait 12 days for its next game, there can be a little rust on the bats.

That certainly wasn’t the case Thursday for Thornton Academy. The third-seeded Golden Trojans erupted for 20 hits, including four home runs, in a 21-1 win over No. 6 Kennebunk in a Class A South quarterfinal.

“First of all, we had a long layoff. We had 11 or 12 days off and that’s not a lot of fun … we spent a lot of time hitting (in practice),” said Thornton Coach John Provost.

Hannah Collins smacked a pair of home runs in an 11-run fourth inning.

“It was just nice to get back on the dirt. We haven’t been on the dirt in a while, so it was good just to show everyone that we can still hit like we know how,” Collins said.

Kaitlin Verreault had a two-run homer and two singles, and Madison Vachon added a home run and a double.

The Trojans scored two runs in the first inning and four in both the second and third.

Amanda Bogardus went 3 for 4 with a double and a triple, and Olivia Howe and Jenica Botting had three hits apiece. Olivia Paradis added two hits.

“That was a good showing,” Provost said. “I don’t think it’s anything we’re going to see moving forward.”

Provost knows a showdown with Noble and ace pitcher Raegan Kelly awaits his team in the semifinals on Saturday.

“That should be a good game. I told the girls they’re not going to see 20 runs on Saturday … it’s going to be a tight game,” Provost said.

Kennebunk actually struck first, as Christine Jarowicz ripped a triple down the right-field line and scored on a bad throw to third.

Thornton pitcher Louisa Colucci also gave up a hit to Lindsey Gregoire but recorded one of her six strikeouts to end the threat.

“I mean, I figured that I just needed to do my job and then my team would follow,” said Colucci. “The bats were really alive today, so it kept me relaxed the whole game.”

Colucci allowed just three hits the rest of the way, though she also had to deal with several illegal pitch calls.

“She’s got a little hop. It’s not even a hop; her back foot is not dragging all the time,” said Provost. “It used to be an issue, but now she just flows with it.

“We knew they were going to call it today. (Kennebunk’s) coach was on it before the game and it is what it is. She knows that she’s doing it. She needs to fix it, and she just hangs in there.”

The Rams (11-7) were unable to throw their top pitcher, Lydia Howarth, because of an injury. Kennebunk will have to replace a large group of seniors – Britney Gregoire, Lindsey Gregoire, Kylie DeFoe, Sydney Waitt and Samantha Henry.

“My seniors killed it (this season). You have the Gregoire twins, Britney and Lindsey, I mean they were just phenomenal staples on the field for four years. Absolutely unbelievable. I certainly couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Kennebunk Coach Kortney Nedeau.

Nedeau also had a ton of praise for Waitt, who had to battle more than just opposing pitchers and batters during her high school career. Waitt was Kennebunk’s starting pitcher against the Trojans.

“For me, it’s so much more about what we have happening (outside) the lines than between them. That kid was diagnosed with cancer freshman year,” said Nedeau. “The fact that we still have her to come and pitch after being diagnosed with cancer, I don’t care what the score is.”

Against Noble, Thornton will look to avenge a 5-3 loss from earlier in the season.

“I think it’s anyone’s game. A few runs different ways last game, we would have (pulled it out). It’s anyone’s game,” said Collins.

“I feel like it’s going to be a really good game. If we play how we did today, then it should be close. They are a really good team,” added Colucci.

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