STANDISH — The Biddeford High School softball team put together two big offensive innings in the Class A state championship game Saturday. As it turned out, that’s all the Tigers needed.
Biddeford scored six runs in the third inning and added six more runs in the fifth to take a 12-7 win over Skowhegan. It was the Tigers (15-4) first state championship since 2006. Skowhegan ends the season 12-8.
“It couldn’t have been easy. It hasn’t been that type of year. Everything has been a classic. Every game has been a great game,” Biddeford coach Ray Magnant said. “We knew coming in that Skowhegan was young but very scrappy.”
Down 1-0, Biddeford scored six runs in the third with just three hits. The Tigers took advantage of a hit batter, a walk and a Skowhegan error. The inning started when Aibhlin O’Connor, the No. 8 hitter, dropped a bloop single into center field. Amber Magnant was hit by a pitch, and Erin Martin hit an infield single to load the bases. Pitcher Kirsten Lebreux singled to tie the game, and the Tigers took the lead on an error.
“When you put yourselves in those situations, good teams will make you pay. We knew they’re a good team,” Skowhegan coach Lee Johnson said. “They’re a team that puts a lot of pressure on you. Their lineup’s pretty deep.”
The Indians rallied with four runs in the top of the fifth to cut Biddeford’s lead to 6-5. Eliza Bedard hit a two-run single for Skowhegan and Wylie Bedard hit a two-run triple with two outs to pull the Indians within a run.
“They’re a very good hitting team. We just tried to stay calm and not let the pressure affect us,” Lebreux said.
“I think this is what we do best. We like to come back.”
The Tigers answered Skowhegan’s big inning with their second six-run inning of the game. Like Biddeford’s first big inning, this one was the result of the Tigers taking advantage of Skowhegan mistakes. Biddeford had just two hits in the fifth, but Skowhegan had two more errors.
“We kept telling them, every time they give us extra outs, take advantage of it. We stayed aggressive early. We keep putting the ball in play and making them play defense,” coach Magnant said.
Skowhegan rallied again, this time for two runs in the top of the sixth. It appeared Biddeford had ended the inning when center fielder Jocelyn Moody caught a line drive and threw to second for a force out, but the umpires huddled and ruled Skowhegan’s Eliza Bedard was safe at second. No matter, Lebreux got a strikeout to end the threat with the bases loaded.
“I’m really proud of our kids, the way they never gave up. That’s a young group of kids we’ve got, and they didn’t let up one bit. They played hard the whole time,” Johnson said.
Annie Worthen had three hits for Skowhegan.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
<URL destination=””>tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
</URL>Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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