BREWER — The Winslow High School softball team didn’t make many mistakes in the Class B North championship game Wednesday afternoon. But when the Black Raiders slipped, Old Town made sure to capitalize.
Old Town scored a pair of runs on wild pitches, including one in the top of the seventh inning, to take a 2-1 victory in the Class B North softball championship game at Coffin Field.
No. 4 Old Town, now 16-3, will return to Coffin to take on York in the state championship game Saturday. No. 3 Winslow ends the season 17-2.
“When two great teams play, and one makes a few mistakes and the other one doesn’t … They played great. They deserved to win,” Winslow coach Steve Bodge said.
The Coyotes scored the winning run when Mikayla Richards — who led off the seventh with a double — came home on a wild pitch with one out. Old Town’s first run also came via wild pitch, when Olivia Albert scored with two outs in the first.
“We knew we had to get the next base and then we’re home,” Albert said.
Winslow tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Paige Veilleux scored on Natalie Greene’s single.
Albert earned the victory for Old Town, striking out six while allowing seven hits and two walks. The freshman said the big stage of the regional final wasn’t added pressure.
“It’s just like any other game and I knew my team would have my back so I had really no worries,” Albert said.
The Black Raiders put at least one runner on base in every inning except the seventh but stranded seven on base. Winslow ran into three outs on the bases, making the third out in the second, fifth and sixth innings.
“We’re a super aggressive baserunning team. We have (been) all year, and we’re not going to change the way we play. If we change the way we play then I’m not doing my job,” Bodge said. “We run. We run a lot and we hit a lot. Usually more, but when you face good pitching, sometimes you don’t hit as much as you want to.”
Albert thought her best pitch was a curveball she was able to throw for strikes using the entire plate.
“They’re a very good team. They have very good hitters and their pitcher is phenomenal. We just played our game,” Albert said.
Hillary Libby took the tough loss for the Black Raiders, giving up just two hits while fanning eight and walking one. Libby gave up a single to Caitlyn King in the first inning and she didn’t allow another hit until Richards’ leadoff double in the seventh. Libby retired 10 consecutive Coyotes between the third and sixth innings.
“Obviously a great performance by (Libby). She was focused. She was ready to go,” Bodge said.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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