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ORONO — The Medomak Valley softball team scored one run Saturday afternoon. It was all Sidney Nicholls needed.

Nicholls, a sophomore pitcher, tossed a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts to lead the Panthers to a 1-0 win over Hermon in the Class B state championship game at the University of Maine. It’s the second title in program history, and the first in Class B. The Panthers won the Class A championship in 1995.

“It feels great,” Nicholls said. “We really wanted it, and I think we did really well. I felt really confident. I knew we wanted it more than (Hermon) did, and (we got it done).”

Added Medomak Valley coach Richard Vannah: “It feels amazing, it’s a long time coming. There’s no words. It’s just a great group of kids. They never (say) die. We had a couple tough losses in the middle of the season, we made a couple of adjustments, and they just ran with it.”

Sophomore outfielder Grace Havener was 3 for 3 and drove in the only run, after a triple by junior third baseman Kendall Simmons.

Mikelle Verrill was 1 for 3 for Hermon (17-3), with a double in the sixth inning. Braelynn Wilcox, a senior, allowed a run on six hits and no walks, striking out nine.

Wilcox and Nicholls combined to strike out 14 batters in the first four innings. Medomak Valley finally broke through in the fifth after Simmons smacked a leadoff triple to right field. Havener followed with an RBI single.

“People have really been stepping up in the bottom of our lineup,” said Medomak Valley catcher Arianna Sproul, who was 1 for 3 with a double. “They’ve really helped us through the playoffs.”

Nicholls stayed stoic in the circle, mixing a hard fastball with a curveball. The lone inning she ran into trouble was in the sixth. With one out, Addy Waning walked, and Verrill followed with a double to left field, putting runners at second and third.

Nicholls got out of the jam, forcing Wilcox to fly out to center and striking out Becca Balmas.

“The fastball was working, and the curve. Everything was working, honestly,” Nicholls said.

Sproul added: “Her spin is amazing. She’s amazing to catch for. She’s really good. She always stays calm. Sometimes I get a little frustrated, but she always stays calm, she’s very level-headed.”

Hermon finished 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

“We left some runners on base, we just couldn’t scratch one (run) across the plate,” Hermon coach Stephanie Biberstein said. “(Medomak) took away our short game a bit by bringing the (infielders in). But I tip my hat to Medomak Valley, they played well.

Biberstein added: “It was a good game, played by both teams. Both pitchers did a nice job. (Medomak) got a couple of timely hits.”

Nicholls left nothing to chance in the seventh inning, striking out pinch hitter Taylor Sherrard, forcing a groundout from Kenzie Gallant, and then finishing with her 12 strikeout.

“She has incredible poise, and she’s had it all season,” Vannah said. “Nothing rattles her. That’s why her (earned-run average) is so low, it’s like 0.40. I’ve never seen it that low.”