Edward Little softball edges Skowhegan in 10 innings

Edward Little’s Sophia Gerry races home to score the winning run in the 10th inning of the Red Eddies’ 6-5 victory over Skowhegan on Friday in Auburn.o (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image

AUBURN — The Edward Little softball team christened its new softball field in a memorable way on Friday.

A base hit to right field by Jayda Clark plated Sophia Gerry from third base and gave the Red Eddies a 6-5 victory over Skowhegan in a Class A North game.

Clark didn’t start Friday, but came off the bench to go 2 for 2 at the plate with an RBI. Her game-winning hit ensured a win for pitcher Chloe LeBlanc, who went all 10 innings for Edward Little (4-1), striking out 13 batters, while walking two.

“It felt good, knowing that we just won,” Clark said. “It was a team effort, and it’s just a good feeling to get this win.”

Skowhegan (4-1) was led by third baseman Maesyn Atherton, who went 2 for 5 with two triples and two RBI, while first baseman Harper Turner was 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI. Pitcher Abi Carey struck out six batters in 10 innings and smacked a double.

“Skowhegan has been a rival of ours for a long time,” LeBlanc said. “They’re such a good team, such a talented team, and it was such a team effort that we put in today.”

How did they do it?

Opportunistic hitting. Going into the 10th inning, tiebreaker rules were instituted, meaning the inning started with a runner on second base (like the Major League Baseball extra inning rules).

Skowhegan led off the top of the 10th with a sacrifice bunt by Jaiden Dodge that moved runner Gabby Austin to third base. But LeBlanc was able to clamp down in the circle, striking out Myah Dudley and forcing Laney Wentworth to fly out to right field to get out of the jam.

In the bottom of the inning, Gerry moved from second to third on a wild pitch, then Clark, a lefty hitter, smacked a pitch into right field.

“I was fine, I knew I just had to do what was asked,” Clark said. “I had to step up, and it worked.”

Austin, the right fielder, quickly collected the ball and fired home to Dodge, the catcher, but Gerry had already crossed home plate to end the game.

What does this mean?

Though it’s early in the season, Edward Little sits atop the Class A North standings entering the weekend. It’s a strong start to the new year for the Red Eddies, who won the regional title last season as the No. 7 seed, but returned just four starters this spring.

“We’re just trying to build off (last year),” Edward Little coach Elaine Derosby said. “They’ve played a lot of softball and have built off their skills. Now it’s our job to put those pieces together, from what they worked on in the offseason. We just have to keep building. It’s great to win in April and the beginning of May, but we want to play our best in June.”

It’s the first loss of the season for the River Hawks, who have earned victories over Brunswick, Messalonskee, Hampden Academy and Brewer. Though the River Hawks roster is young, several players who gained experience returned from the team that reached the A North playoffs as a No. 5 seed.

Home sweet (new) home

Friday was the debut of the Red Eddies’ new softball field, nestled to the immediate left of the high school, as well as the school’s new baseball field. Both programs previously played their games at the Auburn Suburban complex and then the Central Maine Community College fields . Construction of the fields began in 2024, soon after the new Edward Little High School opened.

Derosby especially appreciated getting the first victory on the new field against Skowhegan.

“(Skowhegan coach Lee Johnson) and I are really good friends,” Derosby said. “When this was going to be the game, and they were going to be the opponent, I knew he was going to appreciate the moment for us. It made it more fun, because it was against one of my really good coaching friends.”