BANGOR – On a squad where the pitcher is capable of 14 strikeouts in a game and the offense can pound out hits by the dozen, Lucy Beal was an unlikely heroine for the Jonesport-Beals softball team in its matchup against Bangor Christian Monday morning.

Beal batted eighth in the order but gave a cleanup hitter-like performance, driving in two of the Royals’ three runs as Jonesport-Beals went on to win 3-0 to boost its record to 13-0.

“She doesn’t hit that well against fast pitchers but she just came through,” Royals coach Diane Clark said. “It’s great for her. She’s actually one of my weaker hitters but she really came through today.”

Beal was most critical in the seventh inning, when she popped up to left field. Bangor Christian’s Rachel Sobey made the catch for the out but couldn’t get the ball to home in time as Carrie Woodward scored the Royals’ third run and Beal got credit for a sacrifice fly.

In the second inning, Beal had singled into left-center to drive in Lillian Durkee.

“I’ve been having trouble this season getting a bat on the ball but I guess it all just came together for me,” Beal said. “[Patriots pitcher Stephanie Regan] was throwing really well today but I think I was just concentrating today. I’ve been working hard all week on keeping the ball down.”

Durkee scored the Royals’ second run when she reached first on an error, stole second and came home on an error.

While Jonesport-Beals’ standout pitcher Tricia Carver wasn’t as dominating as she can be – using a fast ball/changeup combination the sophomore struck out three and walked none – she was backed by a near-perfect defense.

“I just wanted to keep them off balance,” Carver said. “My team does a great job of backing me up if I get behind in the count. It’s a lot easier to play if I have a team like mine to back me up. They do a stupendous job.”

Regan finished the game with five strikeouts and one walk.

Although Bangor Christian didn’t score on Carver, the Patriots managed a double each from Regan, Rachel Sage and Lari Sobey.

“I got the batting machine out and threw fast pitches to [the Patriots in warm-up],” Bangor Christian coach Tom Obey said. “The girls were ready to hit. We knew the defense was going to be good and the errors weren’t going to be there today. They hit the ball better and that was the key. We had our scoring chances but we didn’t get them in.”

While the game didn’t have postseason significance, with Jonesport-Beals first in Heal Points for Eastern Maine Class D and 8-6 Bangor Christian assured of a playoff spot, Obey said the well-played loss to the undefeated Royals may help boost the Patriots’ confidence.

“It was three-up, three-down most of the time and that was very, very good,” Obey added. “We’re ready for the playoffs. Chances are we might have to play Jonesport again. Now we know we can get at them.”

Royals 3, Patriots 0

Jonesport-Beals (13-0) Bangor Christian (8-6)

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

Merchant, rf 3 0 0 0 Sage, 2b 3 0 2 0

T. Carver, p 3 0 1 0 Mick, 1b 3 0 0 0

Davis, 1b 3 0 1 0 Niles, c 3 0 0 0

T. Beal, 3b 3 0 0 0 Regan, p 3 0 1 0

Durkee, 2b 2 1 1 0 L. Sobey, ss 3 0 1 0

a-Emerson 0 1 0 0 R. Sobey, lf 3 0 0 0

Stewart, c 2 0 0 0 Moores, 3b 2 0 0 0

Woodward, ss 0 1 0 0 Haverlock, cf 2 0 0 0

Faulknghm,dh 3 0 1 0 b-Greeley 1 0 1 0

L. Beal, lf 2 0 1 2 Carmichael, rf 3 0 0 0

Alley, cf 1 0 0 0

C. Carver, cf 2 0 0 0

Totals 24 3 5 2 Totals 26 0 5 0

a-scored for Durkee in seventh

b-singled for Haverlock in fifth

Jonesport-Beals 010 000 2 – 3

Bangor Christian 000 000 0 – 0

E – C. Carver; Niles, Moores 2B – Sage, Regan, L. Sobey LOB – Jonesport-Beals 3, Bangor Christian 6 SB – Woodward 3, T. Carver, Emerson, Durkee; Sage SF – L. Beal

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Jonesport-Beals

T. Carver (W,13-0) 7 5 0 0 0 3

Bangor Christian

Regan (L, 7-5) 7 5 3 1 1 6

HBP – Moores by T. Carver TIME – 1:12 ATTENDANCE – 53