READFIELD — The Maranacook Community High School softball team scored one of its biggest victories of the season Monday, beating previously undefeated Oceanside.
Coach Don Beckwith said he was concerned about a letdown Wednesday when the Black Bears welcomed Waterville to town.
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“I didn’t know how we were going to do,” he said.
It didn’t take long to find out.
Winning pitcher Sarah Boynton hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning and the Black Bears never looked back en route to a 5-1 victory on a dreary afternoon.
“I was excited because it’s my first home run of the season,” said Boynton, who struck out seven and allowed just two hits. “When we went ahead, I definitely felt more comfortable on the mound.”
Boynton went 2 for 3 and Kaitlyn Chick drove in her 18th RBI of the season, a team-high. Chick doubled and had an RBI single in the third.
Junior Jessie Smith also went 2 for 3 with an RBI for Maranacook (6-2), which has won four straight.
“I think we were pretty focused,” Smith said. “We played great defense and we had everything covered. It was also good to get up early. We just had to keep pounding away.”
Maranacook scored two in the third and another in the fourth to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Smith had an RBI single in the fourth inning.
“When we score five runs we’ll be in most games,” Beckwith said.
Waterville (4-5), which dropped its third consecutive game, broke through with a run in the seventh.
Jenna Gagnon had a leadoff double to center field and later came home on an Allie Forkey groundout.
“It was nice to get that run in the end,” Waterville coach Matt Madore said. “That gave us a boost. But Sarah (Boynton) did a wonderful job pitching.”
Boynton got the Bears rolling when she smacked a hard liner to left that Marisa Jolicoeur couldn’t track down.
With no fences on the middle school field — the high school field was too wet to play on — the ball kept rolling and Boynton kept running.
“Coach (Beckwith) kept waving his arms and I just kept running,” she said. “I just wanted to get Jessie (Smith) in. It was exciting.”
Boynton retired 14 of the first 16 hitters she faced. She struck out a hitter in every inning.
“She came up big,” Beckwith said. “Let’s face it, she’s a softball player. She truly is a player. I’m just glad we didn’t have a letdown. We had talked about it (Tuesday) night. That was good to see.”
Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com
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