Young Witches begin with win Brewer battles past Bucksport

BREWER – Carolyn McAvoy stood at her post near third base, a game-ending third out in her glove, her Brewer softball teammates jumping around her in excitement. It was as if the Witches had won a playoff game instead of the season-opener.

But there was good reason for excitement. Brewer’s 3-2 victory over Bucksport at Coffin Field Saturday may have answered some questions for this young team with little varsity experience.

The defense, almost completely overhauled from the senior-heavy group that advanced to the regional championship game last season, remained calm under pressure. A new pitcher had a steady game. And the offense responded at the right time.

Overall, the Witches were pleased to get the win over one of the state’s top all-around squads.

“I think this brought us together as a team,” said Brewer junior Sandra DeFilipp, the offensive catalyst Saturday. “We know we can play with anybody. Bucksport has excellent pitching and they’re really good, and we knew that if we got this win it would be big for us.”

Center fielder DeFilipp, the only player who returned to her defensive position from last season, went 3-for-3 with three singles, drove in two of Brewer’s three runs and scored the first run of the game.

The junior knocked in the game-winning run in the fourth inning as pitcher Sherri Capponi scored from third base. The story of how Capponi got around the bases was another good sign for the Witches.

Capponi reached on an error at first base, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Emily McLaughlin, went to third on a Rachel Wing single, and scored on DeFilipp’s long single into center field.

“A lot of these kids haven’t faced this kind of pitching before,” Brewer coach Kelly Cookson said. “We just have to take advantage of the chances we get and move people around by bunting or keeping the ball on the ground. It worked to our advantage today.”

Capponi’s run gave Brewer a 3-1 lead. Bucksport came roaring back in the fourth with four singles, including an Elissa Gordon hit that allowed Jessica Taylor to score from third base. Jana Richards, Gordon and Leah Page hit consecutive singles to load the bases with two outs, but Capponi got a groundout to end the threat.

Capponi pitched a fine opener, relying on a fastball and throwing mostly strikes. She induced 11 ground-ball outs and nine fly-outs.

“I was a little nervous in the beginning but once we got out there and started playing we lost all our nerves and started playing like we know how,” she said.

The junior, who pitched behind standout Tami Corey last year, did give up 10 hits, but Bucksport stranded nine base runners.

“Things just didn’t go,” Bucksport coach Michael Carrier said. “When we got things headed in the right direction, [Brewer] made a great play. They played very well, and there’s nothing you can do about that.”

DeFilipp gained her first RBI in the second inning, when Caitlin Coutts scored from second base on a single to left-center.

Pitcher Jamie Freeman started for the Bucks Saturday – in place of injured starter Annette Caswell – and gave up just five hits in 4? innings. Kelly White relieved her in the fifth and allowed one hit while earning the only two strikeouts of the game.

Tara Tweedie picked up Bucksport’s first RBI when she singled to score Page in the second inning.