STANDISH—Bonny Eagle opened their season with a tough loss to Scarborough on Thursday morning, April 18: The Scots added a run in the fifth and two runs in the seventh, but already trailed their guests distantly and ultimately stumbled 13-3 into defeat.
“I knew Scarborough was going to be tough,” Bonny Eagle head coach Jan Corliss said, asked about her expectations for the bout, “because they have an incredible program, plus had the opportunity to get eight games under their belts at spring training in Florida.”
Mistakes in the field cost Bonny Eagle a great deal vs. the Storm: The Scots piled up a baker’s dozen of errors in the outing. Part of that, though, can be pinned on early-season rust.
“Yesterday was the first time we had been on our field,” Corliss said. “and it was only our second time outdoors – we practiced on the JV field the day before. So I fully expected some errors. I didn’t expect 13 of them!”
Scarborough put up three runs to kick off the contest. Bonny Eagler Mackenzie Emery walked onto base in the bottom of the first, hoping to chip away at the Storm’s early advantage; Emery advanced to second on a Sydney Gillingham bunt, but the inning would end when Makala Greene then grounded out to third.
“My team played up to my expectations,” Corliss said. “The key will be how fast my pitchers adjust to varsity ball. I was extremely pleased that the were aggressive with the bat—jumping on good pitches rather than watching them go by. We put the bat on the ball, but mostly at people. I was very happy with their heads-up baserunning.”
Kailee Cummings and Emma Burnham split pitching duties for the Scots on Thursday; Morgan Drinkwater is also listed on the team’s roster at that position.
Scarborough notched a couple more in their second ups: Jenna Giguere and Bella Dickinson both rounded to home for the team, the former scoring from second when the latter blasted a two-run homer over the left-field fence.
Alas, the Scots couldn’t match the Storm’s rhythm, and suffered two strikeouts separated by a groundout in the bottom of the second. No, Bonny Eagle never got on the board until the fifth, by which time they were down 8-0. Hannah Kaspereen scored for the Scots in the stretch, walking to first, stealing second and then rounding to home when Mackenzie Emery clubbed a shot into right.
Kaspereen scored again in the seventh, as did Burnham, but Scarborough had simply dashed too far out front. 13-3 the final.
In the end, Dickinson – hurling for the Storm – held the Scots to just four hits, while wringing seven Ks from them. For their part, Scarborough heaped up 12 hits.
“I was very pleased with Emma Burnham’s performance at the plate, on the bases, in the field and on the mound,” Corliss said, asked who played particularly well for her. She continued: “Sydney Gillingham, Makala Greene, Sam Averill – who turned a double play – and Mackenzie Emery all had very good at bats.”
Above and beyond those girls’ strong performances, the entire team, collectively, demonstrated great mental resilience. Despite falling behind – and despite seeing little hope of coming back – the Scots refused to let discouragement overwhelm them.
“My players never got down on themselves, as was evident in their scoring late in the game,” Corliss said. “We won’t ever give up – and I’m sure you heard the loud cheers from the bench when we did some positive things, even though it was late in the game.”
Bonny Eagle begins the spring at 0-1. The Scots saw their second game of the year – slated for Saturday, April 20 – postponed due to weather. They traveled on Monday the 22nd to South Portland for another shot at the win column, but were rained out again shortly after getting underway
“Moving forward, we need to keep doing the ‘little things; well, like proper footwork, quickness getting rid of the ball and communicating with each other,” Corliss said. “Performance-wise, we are ahead of the last two years, and I am confident we will be in the hunt at playoff time. We have 15 games left, and we will win our share.”
Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CurrentSportsME.
Kailee Cummings hurls a ball toward home early in the Scots bout vs. Scarborough.
Makala Greene womans first base for the Scots.
Morgan Drinkwater takes a cut at the ball.
Arianna Mejias fires the ball inward.
Sam Averill reels slides beneath an infield pop-up.
Mackenzie Emery leads off second base.
Hannah Kaspereen would eventually score for the Scots.
Emma Steinbuchel battles at the plate.
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