Kylie Lavelle slides across the plate just before she’s tagged to score an inside-the-park home run in Thornton Academy’s 12-3 victory over South Portland Friday. The Golden Trojans moved to 14-0 on the season with the win. (ANTHONY LOMBARDI)
SOUTH PORTLAND – Olivia Howe pitched a complete game and Thornton Academy’s offense backed their ace in a 12-3 win over South Portland Friday.
Howe gave up three runs and six hits to guide the Golden Trojans to their 14th straight victory. Kylie Lavallee hit an inside-the-park home run. Abby Miner and Howe each had two RBIs.
“We have a lot of fun,” Howe said. “This is probably the best team chemistry we’ve had in my four years … We’ve played together for a long time.”
South Portland (6-5) starter Mia Micucci held down the Thornton Academy (14-0) offense in the first, but the Golden Trojans got to the freshman in the second on Sarah Casey and Jenica Botting RBI singles. Miner knocked in her first RBI in the third on a sacrifice fly to give Thornton Academy a 3-0.
Thornton Academy coach John Provost said the top half of his lineup sets the tone for the rest of the group, passing along information to one another on what they are seeing from the opposing pitcher at any given time.
The Golden Trojans connected on 15 hits as a team. Howe and Hannah Collins led Thornton with three hits. Botting, Paradis, Casey and Lavallee, whose home run came on a bullet that got past a diving center fielder, each had two hits.
“We knew, when we came around the (batting order) the second time, we were going to have to make some adjustments,” said South Portland coach Ralph Aceto. “We made adjustments, but they made better ones.”
The Golden Trojans took advantage of a young Red Riots squad who starts four freshmen and is still learning what it means to “bring it every day,” according to Aceto. The way Thornton applies relentless pressure on their opponent is just a part of the Trojans’ gameplan.
“From No. 1 through No. 9, we’ve got girls who can bash the ball, we’ve got girls who can bunt and we’ve got girls who can run,” Provost said. “When we get contributions one through nine, we’re a really tough team.”
Howe struck out 11 and walked one. She mixed in a changeup and a curveball to offset her pinpoint fastball. Provost joked that he gives Howe the ball and lets her and Botting, the team’s catcher, take over.
Monday, Thornton Academy puts its perfect record on the line against a team in Scarborough that won its 100th consecutive regular-season contest earlier this week. The last time the teams met was in last year’s Class A Regional Semifinal. Scarborough beat Thornton, 3-2, in extra innings.
“We’ve been rolling,” Howe said. “(Scarborough) is a good team. So we need to go in with the mentality that they’re going to be good and that they’re going to come out to play. It’s huge if we beat them.”
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