BY GARY HAWKINS
AUGUSTA — On a wild and windy Saturday, the Messalonskee and Cony softball teams each showed why they may return to contention in Class A North this season.
Messalonskee withstood two late rallies from the Rams to preserve an 8-7 victory that featured seven runs in the final inning. This was the season opener for the Rams while the Eagles are 2-0.
“That was crazy,” said Messalonskee sophomore Danielle Hall, who earned the win and belted a two-run triple in the top of the seventh.
The Eagles took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth where the Rams scored three to tie the game on an error, a wild pitch and an RBI single from Jaden Bowley.
Messalonskee rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh on a pair of wind-blown pop-ups that fell for hits, an obstruction call that wiped out a nice play at the plate and Hall’s triple.
“We made a few key mistakes that cost us,” Cony coach Al Brochu said. “This is really our first time out. We’ll make a few adjustments here and there.”
The game was played at Buker Field, which is much more wide open and windier that Cony’s home field, which is still wet. It played a factor as Leah Smith opened the seventh with a high pop-up behind third base that tipped off Cony shortstop Carly Lettre’s glove on the left-field line for a double. Sarah Labbe followed with a pop-up toward right that fell between the second baseman and right fielder for another hit.
The Rams elected to walk Hannah Cummings to load the bases and got an out on a foul pop-up. Taylor Baker’s single to left made it 5-4, and it looked as if the Rams had cut down a run at the plate when Gabby McGuire made a nice throw and Cony catcher Alexis Couverette followed with an even better tag to nail a sliding Labbe at the plate. But the play was waived off by the base umpire, who called obstruction on Cony third baseman Brooklyn Belanger for interfering with Labbe’s path around the base.
“There was no contact made but he said (the runner) had to change her angle and re-adjust and slow down,” Brochu said.
Hall, who had fanned twice against Cony pitcher Cari Hopkins, followed with a two-run triple down the left-field line.
“I sort of had a second when they called time to talk to the coach,” Hall said. “It was like ‘Wait on it, wait on the pitch that I can hit.’ It was sort of trial and error.”
The Rams were far from dead. After an out in the bottom of the seventh, Hopkins drew a walk and Couverette followed with a single. Both moved into scoring position on a passed ball and then with two out, Angelica Velasquez bunted for a base hit to make it 8-5. Bowley followed with her third hit of the game, a single to right center, to score two runs and bring the Rams to within one.
“It had me nervous,” Messalonskee coach Samantha Moore said. “It definitely had me nervous.”
Hall walked Emily Houston but escaped the inning with a groundout. She allowed nine hits, including two each to Belanger and Couverette, while striking out four and walking six. Hopkins allowed 14 hits, walked three and struck out five.
“We’ve got drive, we’ve got talent, we’ve got the bats,” said Labbe, who doubled and singled twice. “I don’t think we have a weak spot in our batting lineup.”
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