WINDHAM — With a return trip to the Class A South final on the line, the usual suspects – plus one who had been missing – made sure the Windham High softball team got the job done.
Brooke Gerry pitched a two-hitter while striking out eight in front of an error-free defense, Stella Jarvais and Jadyn Kimball – in only her second game back from hip surgery – led the way at the plate, and second-seeded Windham defeated No. 3 Kennebunk/Sanford, 4-0, in an regional semifinal on Saturday.
The Eagles (16-2) next face a familiar foe: No. 1 Biddeford (17-1), which beat Gorham, 10-6, in the other semifinal. It’ll be the teams’ seventh showdown in three years, and second straight in the regional final.
“We motivated each other to get to where we are,” said Jarvais, who went 3 for 3 with an RBI. “Everyone’s goal is to get to the state game, and (at the) regional final, it’s so exciting to be playing for it.”
An Oakley McLeod RBI single in the second inning provided the only scoring until midway through the fifth. While Gerry was in command, she was having a tougher time putting away a Kennebunk/Sanford team that was determined to put the bat on the ball after striking out 18 times and being no-hit by Gerry in their first matchup of the season.
“We gave ourselves an opportunity to get some baserunners,” said Kennebunk/Sanford Coach Eddie Pike, whose team got two singles from Dakota Stone and eight strikeouts from pitcher Julia Pike. “It didn’t work out that way, but (with) our approach, the girls adjusted really well. I’m very proud of them, not necessarily just for today, I’m proud of them for the whole year.”
The Windham defense was stout, featuring a double play turned by second baseman Reilly Russell and a trio of impressive scoops on grounders by first baseman Kennedy Kimball. But Gerry knew the margin for error was slim.
“I couldn’t get comfortable,” she said. “Anything can happen in a softball game. I really trusted my defense.”
In the bottom of the fifth, Gerry started a rally with a walk. Addie Caiazzo singled, and Jarvais hit a grounder to second that took a sharp bounce over Talia Kellum’s head, driving in Gerry. Jadyn Kimball then hit a ball down the right-field line that eluded Kellum’s bid for a sprinting catch, falling for a double as two more runs scored.
Kimball, who was unsure if she’d be able to return from her injury this year, was 2 for 2 with two RBI.
“I was here all season for the girls, I love every single one of them,” said Kimball, a Varsity Maine All-State pick last season. “I couldn’t do it without any of them.”
It was a highlight for the Eagles, but far from the only one.
“They are just playing great softball right now,” said Coach Darcey Gardiner. “Great team softball.”
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