Team chemistry helps Bangor junior softball succeed

When the Bangor Junior League softball team won its first state title last week and earned a spot in the regional tournament, right fielder Laura Clarke wasn’t surprised.

The eighth-grader-to-be at the Cohen Middle School said she expected success from her teammates, many of whom have been playing together for several years.

What surprised her the most was the important role she played in the tournament, particularly in Bangor’s 8-6 victory over Portland North in the championship game. Clarke, batting ninth, went 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored two runs.

“I’m just happy I got to play,” she said, explaining that she only took up the game last spring.

The regional tournament is set for Aug. 8-11 in Syracuse, N.Y., and includes teams from Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The winner of the regional tournament advances to the Junior League World Series, scheduled for Aug. 14-21 in Kirkland, Wash.

Junior League players are ages 13 or 14.

Bangor coach Neal McCrum said it is the first time a Little League softball team from Bangor has ever won a state title, in any age division.

“This is a real big deal and it’s important for this area since it’s the first time. It’s special for these kids,” he said.

This is McCrum’s fourth year coaching Little League softball. He spent his last three years in the younger age divisions with his daughter, Megan. She is the first baseman on this year’s championship team. He has enjoyed watching Megan and the other girls play together over the years.

“Most of these girls have played sports together five or six years. If one [girl] gets down, someone else pulls together. They’re just a great bunch of kids,” he said.

Clarke said it was difficult being a newcomer in the midst of veterans, but her teammates helped her gain confidence as the state tournament progressed. McCrum said the result was a noticeable rise in Clarke’s level of play.

“She’s a great athlete, and just learning to play. She’s like a sponge, absorbing [everything we tell her],” he said.

McCrum said the team is going to Syracuse with modest goals, and that he would be happy if his team won one game there. He added that many of the teams the girls will be facing have played more games during the summer than his team.

Even so, Bangor has plenty of experience – especially on the mound.

Bangor’s ace is Jenny Jimmo. As a freshman this spring, Jimmo pitched the Bangor High varsity to the Eastern Maine final. The Rams lost 3-2 to Medomak Valley of Waldoboro.

Jimmo has been pitching four years and has attended pitching clinics at the University of Maine. She also has a pitching coach, Barry Feeney of Hampden. The result of those years of work is a repertoire that includes a lively fastball, a dropball and a changeup.

Bangor’s No. 2 starter is Megan Clifford, who got the victory in the championship game. McCrum said Clifford’s effort “was as key as anything” in Bangor’s title run.

Jimmo is 5-1 and Clifford 4-1.

Jimmo said the Junior League season was more relaxing than playing varsity ball – until Bangor made it to the state level. Then, the experience she gained during the school year started to pay off.

“[Bangor High catcher] Jamie Kenny helped me a lot because she knew what pitches I should throw, and I hadn’t had that much experience [choosing pitches]. That helped get a lot of strikeouts,” she said.

McCrum said his team will be at a disadvantage in Syracuse since Jimmo and Clifford are his only pitches who used the windmill motion. The girls are not allowed to throw more than four innings on consecutive days, and depending on where Bangor falls in the bracket, that could mean McCrum will have to revert to girls who haven’t been on the mound as often as his top two.

But for now, his biggest worry is raising money for the trip. McCrum said it will cost approximately $6,000 for the bus and the hotel accomodations. He has already begun soliciting donations.

The team will leave Bangor on Friday. McCrum said he and his assistant coaches, Bill Clifford and Ron Chase, will also take the girls sightseeing. One point of interest is the Carrier Dome.

Contributions may be sent to the Bangor West Side Little League, P.O. Box 2274, Bangor 04401. Checks should be made payable to Bangor West Side Little League. For more information, call McCrum at work (947-0321) or home (947-8565).