BANGOR – If the Brewer softball team has proved one thing this season, it has been that experience counts. With five seniors in the infield and another in the outfield, the Witches have learned to make teams work to get on base.

Another stellar defensive effort – plus another fine outing for pitcher Tami Corey – helped undefeated Brewer earn its ninth win of the season, a 3-0 victory over cross-river rival Bangor at the high school field Saturday.

“It’s taken four years to get to this point,” Brewer coach Kelly Cookson said. “It’s night and day from last year… Our defense is very solid. We’d get people on but we were confident that we could make the plays and get out of the innings.”

Corey, who has started all but one game for the Witches, is now 8-0. She allowed three hits, had no strikeouts and walked one.

Brewer’s defense was almost perfect Saturday. The Witches recorded 21 putouts, and held Bangor runners in scoring position three times.

Stellar defensive plays abounded. Corey and shortstop Allison Wing both snared hard line drives. Sophomore centerfielder Sandra DeFilipp had to run forward to grab a towering shot by Jen Jimmo in the fifth inning. First baseman Sarah Smith ended the game with a runner on second when she dove to snag a foul ball.

“We’ve played together, we have confidence,” Corey said. “We know we couldn’t have a bad inning, especially with the score so low.”

The solo catches were thrilling, but the Witches showed off their teamwork in the fourth inning, when they picked off the lead runner twice.

While the Witches defense shined, their offense wasn’t as potent as it can be, thanks to Jen Jimmo’s effort. The Bangor pitcher struck out one and walked one, and allowed just one extra base hit while keeping most of the balls in the infield.

“She is a really good pitcher, and I think she caught us off guard a little bit,” DeFilipp said.

Brewer scored two runs in the second inning. Sarah Smith drew a leadoff walk, stole second, reached third on a Sarah Agouab single and scored on Cara McEwen’s single. DeFilipp singled to plate Agouab.

Corey added another run in the third when she singled, advanced to third on an error and scored on a Katie LaChance groundout.

The Witches managed just two hits in the last four innings, including a leadoff double by Wing in the sixth. She got as far third base on a groundout but the Rams held her for the final two outs.

Bangor, now 6-3, also turned two double plays. Coach Lisa Richards was pleased with the Rams’ defense, especially after the Rams committed several errors in Friday’s loss to Bucksport.

“Jimmo does a good job of keeping the ball on the ground, and we played good defense today,” Richards said. “The runs they scored were legitimate.”

Witches 3, Rams 0

Brewer girls (9-0) Bangor (6-3)

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

Corey, p 3 1 1 0 Tuck, 3b 3 0 0 0

Wing, ss 3 0 1 0 Strout, lf 2 0 0 0

LaChance, 3b 3 0 0 1 Dube, c 3 0 1 0

Smith, 1b 2 1 0 0 Spellman, rf 0 0 0 0

Agouab, 2b 3 1 1 0 Huckins, dh 3 0 0 0

Higgins, rf 3 0 1 0 Pinkerton, 1b 3 0 0 0

McEwen, c 3 0 1 1 Warner, cf 3 0 1 0

Brooks, lf 3 0 0 0 Holland, 2b 3 0 0 0

DeFillip, cf 2 0 1 1 Jimmo, p 3 0 1 0

Tower, ss 1 0 0 0

Totals 25 3 6 3 Totals 24 0 3 0

Brewer 021 000 0 – 3

Bangor 000 000 0 – 0

E – Corey; Pinkerton 2B – Wing LOB – Brewer 1, Bangor 5 DP – Holland-Tuck, Dube-Holland SB – Smith, Agouab, Wing S – Strout

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Brewer

Corey (W, 8-0) 7 3 0 0 1 0

Bangor

Jimmo (L, 3-3) 7 6 3 2 1 1

WP – Corey PB – McEwen TIME – 1:07 ATTENDANCE – 100 (est.)