Lawrence softball breaks open close game late to roll past Maranacook

READFIELD — The Lawrence softball team needed some confidence before the start of the Class B North playoffs.

The Bulldogs got it Wednesday.

Lawrence broke through for nine runs over two innings en route to a 9-3 victory over Maranacook in a Class B/C crossover game.

Maranacook third baseman Allie Labelle, left, tags out Lawrence baserunner Kaylee Elkins during a softball game Wednesday in Readfield. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Lawrence, which entered the day as the fifth seed in B North, finished the regular season 12-4. The Black Bears, which entered the game as the No. 4 seed in Class C South, finished the regular season 12-4.

“We came out not really knowing what to expect and it felt really good to know that we could pull through,” said Lawrence pitcher Sage Reed, who struck out 14 and walked two to earn the victory.

Down 1-0, the Bulldogs scored four runs on four hits in the third inning, highlighted by an RBI double by Reed. Lawrence would add five more runs to take a 9-1 lead in the fourth, led by a two-run single from shortstop Taylor Wilkie.

“It was really nice to see,” Lawrence head coach Joey Marcoux said. “The first couple of innings, we were just popping everything up. We hit the ball hard, but way up in the air. Those are outs. Then they focused, hit the line drives and that was nice to see.”

Outfielder Gabbie Nickerson led the Bulldogs with three hits, including two doubles, while Wilkie had two hits and three RBIs.

Maranacook third baseman Allie Labelle, left, tags out Lawrence baserunner Kaylee Elkins during a softball game Wednesday in Readfield. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

That was all that was needed for Reed, who struck out 10 batters in the first four innings alone. Reed did most of her work with her fastball, but kept batters guessing by occasionally mixing in a changeup.

“I kind of tone people out (while pitching),” Reed said. “I just focus on the catcher and I barely see the batter, unless they’re right on the plate.”

Despite two rough innings, which included four errors, Maranacook never quit, battling back at the plate by scoring two runs in the sixth inning. Allie Labelle had an RBI groundout in the inning for the Black Bears.

Maranacook head coach Don Beckwith was happy with his team’s resolve.

“We didn’t quit, that’s important this time of the year,” Beckwith said. “We’ve got some things to work on. We need to do a better job hitting. We’re not going to stay in games if we don’t hit. We’re just not.”

Grace Dwyer had two of Maranacook’s six hits, including a double.