WATERVILLE — It was by no means a dominant performance for the Skowhegan softball team, but some strong pitching and defense mixed with timely hitting moved the River Hawks along in the Class A North playoffs.
Junior pitcher Lillian Noyes tossed a two-hit shutout to lead No. 3 Skowhegan to a 4-0 win over No. 6 Hampden Academy on Friday afternoon at Colby College. The River Hawks (15-2) move on to play No. 2 Messalonskee in the semifinal round on Saturday at 10 a.m., also at Colby.
“It’s very good (to win),” Noyes said. “I think we needed this, obviously to win (and move on), but also to come together (as a team).”
The Broncos finished 9-8.
Noyes didn’t overpower Hampden hitters during the game, striking out three. But she pitched to contact and let her defense do the work.
“I just wanted to execute my pitches,” Noyes said. “I believe in my defense. I know I can always believe that they can get everything. I can just go out there and just throw my stuff.”
Skowhegan’s biggest defensive highlight came in the sixth inning, when right fielder Arabel Linkletter made a near-diving catch on a hard line drive hit by Hampden Academy cleanup hitter Meg Delehanty.
“I was hoping (Linkletter) could make it a little bit easier, but it was a beautiful catch,” Skowhegan head coach Lee Johnson said. “It was a great effort. She always gives a great effort, anyway.”
Linkletter, a junior, proved valuable with the bat as well. With the River Hawks up 2-0 in the third inning, Linkletter cracked a Charlee Chute pitch to left field, plating Callaway LePage and Jackie Dodge for a two-run double to put Skowhegan up 4-0.
“I had two strikes on me, so I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, uh-oh,'” Linkletter said. “But my coach told me, ‘Hey, two strikes, relax. If you strike out, it’s fine.’ Then I was like, ‘What do I have to lose?’ And I just swung.”
The River Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, when Annabelle Morris scored from third base on a wild pitch. Dodge then plated Natalie Gilman from third base on an RBI groundout.
Skowhegan made it a clean sweep of Hampden Academy this season. The River Hawks beat the Broncos 8-6 on April 18 and 6-2 on May 10.
“(Hampden) is a good team; we’ve had a couple of close games with them throughout the season,” Johnson said. “Today was not any different. We had a couple of timely hits when we needed them, took advantage of some opportunities. We just found ways to get some outs and shut down the damage.”
The River Hawks will have to make a quick turnaround in preparation of the No. 2 Eagles (13-4), which split with Skowhegan during the regular season. The River Hawks beat Messalonskee 8-7 in extra innings on April 20. The Eagles then picked up a 4-0 win on May 19.
“We just have to tack down (offensively) and stay off the rise ball,” Linkletter said. “Come here and be ready to play.”
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