Rams nip Witches in seventh Steph Chase strokes game-winning single

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BANGOR – Lisa Richards has always been able to depend on the senior members of her Bangor softball team, but Thursday’s game against Brewer may have been a turning point for the younger players.

Some of those less experienced Rams, Richards said after Bangor edged the Witches 1-0 at the high school field here, may have grown up.

Senior Megan Huckins got the Rams started in the bottom of the seventh inning of a scoreless game with a triple, but sophomore Steph Chase finished it with an RBI single that plated Huckins and lifted Bangor to its ninth win of the season.

“The younger kids came through for us today,” Richards said. “That was a good sign. As we start heading down the stretch we want these kids to realize they’re not rookies any more. They have to contribute.”

The matchup between the two Eastern Maine Class A rivals aside, fine pitching and defense from both squads made for a playoff-like atmosphere. The Rams topped the Witches (7-2) in their first game this season but since then Brewer has beaten Old Town, which holds a slim lead over Bangor and Brewer in the Heal Point standings.

The Rams used two sacrifice bunts to move runners, but in the end two big hits made the difference. Huckins led off the seventh with a line drive to left-center. She beat a throw to third base.

After an error and a stolen base put another runner at second base, and a Capponi strikeout, Chase launched the first pitch she saw over the head of the Brewer left fielder. Huckins scored easily.

“It was a perfect pitch,” Chase said. “I just knew I had to get it out there and get a fly ball so that I could get Huck in.”

Not only did Chase drive in the winning run, she went 3-for-3 in the game, including a double in the third inning. She moved to third on an Ashley Tower sacrifice bunt but Brewer pitcher Sherri Capponi got a strikeout to end the inning.

Chase was the only repeat hitter of the game.

Bangor’s Jen Jimmo threw a four-hitter with four strikeouts and no walks for her fifth win.

“It was a pitchers’ duel,” Richards said. “She battled hard.”

The defense behind Jimmo was flawless. The young players looked great on the field in the top of the seventh: sophomore second baseman Jen Wright caught a fly ball for the first out and freshman Hannah Whitney, who had been at third base for just two days, fielded a ground ball and threw to first for the second out. After Brewer’s Jessica Whalen singled, right fielder Megan Chase made a running catch to end the threat.

The end result shouldn’t obscure Capponi’s effort in the circle. She struck out seven and had no walks, staying ahead in the counts and showing off excellent control.

“Capponi pitched a great game,” Huckins said. “I know to me, she’d try and squeeze me, then try and get me back off the plate, then she’d go outside. She did excellent.”

But the Witches faltered at the plate, managing just four singles and no baserunners past second base.

RAMS 1, WITCHES 0

Brewer (7-2) Bangor (5-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

San. DeFilipp, cf 3 0 0 0 M. Chase, rf 3 0

A. Freeman, 2b 3 0 1 0 Jimmo, p 3 0

Capponi, p 3 0 0 0 Dube, c 3 0 1 0

McAvoy, ss 3 0 0 0 Huckins, 1b 3 1 0

K. Freeman, lf 3 0 1 0 Soohey, dh 3 0

a-Godley 0 0 0 0 Whitney, 3b 0 0 0

Whalen, dh 3 0 1 0 b-Kowalski 0 0 0

Wing, c 0 0 0 0 Smith, cf 3 0 0

McLaughlin, rf 3 0 1 0 S. Chase, lf 3 1

Coutts, 1b 2 0 0 0 Wright, 2b 1 0 0

Sar. DeFilipp, 3b 2 0 0 0 Tower, ss 1 0

Totals 25 0 4 0 Totals 23 1 5 1

a-ran for K. Freeman in the fifth; b-ran for Soohey in the seventh

Brewer 000 000 0 ? 0

Bangor 000 000 1 ? 1

E?San. DeFilipp; LOB?Brewer 4, Bangor 3; 2B?S. Chase; 3B?Huckins; S?Wright, Tower; SB?Kowalski

Brewer IP H R ER BB SO

Capponi (L,7-2) 7 5 1 1 0 7

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Jimmo (W,5-1) 7 4 0 0 0 4

T?1:13; ATT?100 (est.)