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 for No. 3 Thornton Academy as the Golden Trojans’ offense exploded for 20 hits — including four home runs — in a 21-1, five-inning win over No. 6 Kennebunk in the Class A South quarterfinals on Thursday.
“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 TA coach John Provost.
Hannah Collins led the way for the Trojans as she 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 for the Trojans, who scored two in the first inning and four runs in both the second and third.
TA’s Amanda Bogardus went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a triple, while Olivia Howe and Jenica Botting had three hits each. Olivia Paradis also had two hits for the Trojans.
“That was a good showing,” said Provost of the 20-hit, four-home run effort. “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 Saturday’s semifinal.
“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 would actually strike first on Thursday as Christine Jarowicz ripped a triple down the right field line and would score on a bad throw to third.

The Rams would also get a hit from Lindsey Gregoire in the first, but TA pitcher Louisa Colucci settled down and 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 on getting out of the first-inning jam. “The bats were really alive today so it kept me relaxed the whole game.”
Colucci would scatter just three Kennebunk hits the rest of the way, but the senior also had to deal with several illegal pitch calls against her for “a little hop,” in her motion.
“She’s got a little hop. It’s not even a hop, her back foot is not dragging all the time,” said Provost, who said Colucci doesn’t let the calls bother her. “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.”
“I just fix it. I don’t know how to explain it,” said Colucci, who helped herself with a single and three runs scored.
The Rams, who were unable to throw their top pitcher (Lydia Howarth) due to an injury, will finish the season with an 11-7 record. Kennebunk will have to replace a ton of talent next season as Britney Gregoire, Lindsey Gregoire, Kylie DeFoe, Sydney Waitt and Samantha Henry will all graduate this weekend.
“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.
“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 of Waitt, who got the start in the circle on Thursday. “The fact that we still have her to come and pitch after being diagnosed with cancer, I don’t care what the score is..”
Nedeau praised DeFeo for going in to pitch late in Thursday’s game and staying on the field with the younger players, who replaced the other seniors.
“Coming in and staying on with the underclassmen. Clearly I made the switch there to get them all in the game and that’s not an easy position for her to be in, to be down (19-1) and staying out there with her team,” said Nedeau.
Thornton Academy will head into Saturday’s regional semifinal showdown looking to avenge a 5-3 loss to Noble 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.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.

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