AUGUSTA — Scarborough senior Lilly Volk had been on the wrong end of playoff history three times entering Saturday’s Class A state championship softball game against Skowhegan.

Despite a regular-season win streak of 74 games, the Red Storm had come up empty twice in the Southern Maine tournament as well as the 2015 state title game in which Volk lost a one-hitter.

The University of Maine bound Volk wasn’t about to let it happen again. She held the Indians to two hits, walked one and struck out 12 in a 3-0 victory to give the Red Storm (20-0) their first state title since 2013 and their fifth overall.

“Ending this game just brought tears to my eyes, (knowing) all the blood, sweat and tears we’ve put in the last four years,” Volk said.

The state title appearance was the second straight for the Indians (17-3), who won the title in 2014. Four of the Red Storm’s state championships have come at the expense of the Indians.

“They’ve got their record for a reason,” Skowhegan coach Lee Johnson said. “They’re a darn good club.”

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Junior Ashley Alward pitched well in taking the loss, allowing eight hits while striking out nine. The three runs she allowed — two in the fourth and one in the seventh — were unearned.

“I think I pitched pretty well given that they’re a good team,” Alward said. “It’s always good to get to the state game. It hurts a little bit but it’s good to have something to build on next year. It’s good to know that we’re all coming back. We have no seniors.”

Alward allowed base runners in each of the first three innings but escaped damage in large part to five strikeouts. A dropped fly ball opened the door for two runs in the fourth as Lindsey Kelley followed with a bunt single, and an out later, Hannah Ricker dumped a base hit over Lindsey Warren’s head at third to load the bases. With two outs, lead-off hitter Chloe Griffin drilled a base hit up the middle to score two runs.

“Before the inning started I calculated it and I knew my opportunity might come up,” Griffin said. “I was super excited about it. I actually love big moments like that. As a hitter, they’re my favorites.”

The Red Storm collected seven of their eight hits over the final four innings, changing their approach at the same time.

“I just tried to lighten up the swings a little bit,” Scarborough coach Tom Griffin said. “We haven’t really seen that type of quality pitcher all year. She was bringing it pretty well.”

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The Indians could do little with Volk, who featured a rise ball that found the corners.

“We just couldn’t square enough stuff up,” Johnson said. “She did a good job with changing things up and spinning the ball. We couldn’t put enough things together.”

Annie Cooke narrowly beat out a bunt in the third inning for Skowhegan’s first hit. Warren was hit by a pitch in the fourth and walked in the seventh but was stranded at first both times. Alyssa Everett singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and was the Indians’ only other base-runner.

“She finds a way to separate herself from other kids just emotionally,” Coach Griffin said of Volk. “She’s such a strong, strong, mature young lady who knows how to handle these type of situations. She knows how to have fun in these moments. She doesn’t get uptight, she just stays focused and enjoys the whole experience.”

The Red Storm added a run in the seventh when Isabella Dickinson tripled off the fence in right and scored on a throwing error in the same play. Volk and Ricker, two of the team’s three seniors, each finished with a pair of hits.

The Red Storm also played errorless defense, despite a new infield this season. In the third inning, second baseman Courtney Brochu robbed Warren of a hit with a diving stop in the hole. And Volk followed by spearing Julie Steeves’ line drive.


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