Olivia Whittaker puts a ball in play during Biddeford’s 6-3 win over the Sanford Spartans on the Tigers’ Senior Night. Whittaker was one of six seniors who celebrated their final regular season game with a win. (MAUREEN GRANDMAISON PHOTOGRAPHY)
BIDDEFORD – Mike Fecteau doesn’t have a favorite memory with the six seniors on this year’s Biddeford softball team. That’s because “every day is a great moment being around them” for the Tigers’ coach.
Lexi Matteau, Taylor Wildes, Olivia Whittaker, Harmonie Coolbroth, Chantel Perreault and Makayla Jean-Paul went out victorious on their Senior Night as Biddeford (10-6) beat the Sanford Spartans (4-11) 6-3.
“They are great kids. They represent the name on the front of the jersey very well,” Fecteau said. “They play with a lot of grit – they play with ‘Tiger Pride’ – and they’re very proud of wearing the black and orange … As a coach, you can’t ask for more.”
Matteau tossed a complete game and earned the win despite not having her best stuff on the mound. The senior had pitched 8 ⅓ innings the previous day in an extra-innings loss to No. 1 Scarborough, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her from taking the ball her last time at home. Matteau struck out four and allowed 10 hits and four walks. She stranded a dozen Spartan baserunners, including leaving the bases loaded in the fourth and sixth innings.
Biddeford starter Lexi Matteau fires a pitch to home plate against Sanford Friday. (MAUREEN GRANDMAISON PHOTOGRAPHY)
Matteau also helped her cause with a pair of singles, with one coming on an attempted sacrifice bunt in the fourth that was laid in the perfect spot and moved teammate Hannah Gosselin to third base. The next batter, Renee Dutremble, scored Gosselin on a sacrifice fly. Chantelle Bouchard followed Dutremble’s sac fly with one of her own and the Tigers led 4-0 after four.
Sanford starter Hannah Crosby allowed 10 hits and three walks, striking out a pair. Despite taking the loss, Crosby kept Biddeford from breaking the game open, stranding seven Tigers on the basepaths. Crosby’s defense betrayed her on several occasions, including two passed balls that led to a pair of Biddeford runs in the sixth inning.
“When you have a good team like (Biddeford) and you give them extra outs, they’re going to capitalize on that,” said Sanford Coach Mike Bailey. “The girls battled hard today, and we’ve been doing that all season. It’s been a play here, a play there, whether it be a fielding error or girls left on base. We’re young and we’re going to continue to battle.”
On an afternoon where Biddeford celebrated six seniors, Sanford didn’t have a senior on its roster.
The Spartans made a charge in their half of the sixth, scoring two runs to cut the margin to 4-3, but the Tigers extended their advantage right away.
Sanford concludes its regular season Tuesday at Westbrook. Biddeford gets to rest until June 4. Fecteau hopes he gets a few more weeks with this group of players. If they have anything to say about it, there’ll still be a few games left to play.
“These girls are going to give it everything they’ve got,” Fecteau said. “They’re going to go down fighting. They’ve battled all year. When we’re down and out, they come back and find a way.
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