BREWER – Katie Mainville knows from experience that in a championship softball game, there’s little margin for error.

Erskine Academy’s senior righthander scarcely afforded her teammates a chance to make any mistakes, or any plays, Friday afternoon.

Mainville pitched a masterful no-hitter, allowing only two baserunners while striking out 21 Bucksport batters, as the Eagles from South China claimed their third consecutive Eastern Maine Class B softball championship with a 2-1 victory at Coffin Field.

Coach Carl Gartley’s 17-3 Erskine team faces Western Maine champion Greely of Cumberland Center (18-2) in today’s 5 p.m. state title contest, also at Coffin Field.

The 17-3 Golden Bucks lost in the regional final for the seventh straight year, including the second time in a row to Mainville (12-2), who was the main story in outdueling Bucksport’s Kelly White (13-2).

It was an agonizing wait for the Eagles, who hadn’t played since last Saturday because of this week’s wet weather.

“The anticipation, the no sleep; thinking about the game, the excitement…” Mainville said of the layoff. “We just wanted it today. We were excited.”

The poised windmiller kept the Bucks guessing with a variety of well-placed fastballs and a tantalizing rise pitch. She struck out the first 14 batters she faced, including four in the second inning, when a runner reached via a passed ball.

Three Bucks players struck out three times, while each of the six other starters fanned twice.

“She was constantly playing with our minds,” said White, who allowed only one hit and two unearned runs. “She’d throw a low strike and then she’d come right up around your chest. It’s hard to stay focused.”

Bucksport put the ball in play once, when Leah Page popped up a bunt to the catcher to lead off the fifth inning.

“When Katie’s on, she’s pretty tough to hit, and I would say today that she was about as on as I’ve seen here,” Gartley said of his pitcher, who will attend the University of Southern Maine.

“I don’t think any batter saw two pitches alike,” he added.

The Eagles’ Karla Emerson managed the only hit of the game, lining a single off the glove of diving Bucks shortstop Jill Richards with two out in the fifth inning.

White struck out nine and walked one, but was victimized by three errors.

“I wasn’t too disappointed with my throwing performance,” White said.

Erskine scored both of its runs without benefit of a hit. The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the third when Brittany Oxley drew a leadoff walk, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and raced home when Emerson reached on a two-out fielding error.

The Eagles made it 2-0 in the fourth as Linda Horak took second on a one-out throwing error, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on another miscue.

“When you’re going against a pitcher like White – she’s absolutely fantastic – we knew we had to scratch out a couple runs,” Gartley said. “They made a couple key mistakes and we capitalized on them.”

Bucksport made it interesting in the seventh when Jana Richards worked Mainville for a walk. With two out, catcher Beth Angell tried to pick off pinch runner Alice Andrews at first base, but threw wide of the bag.

Andrews hustled all the way to third and was held by Carrier, but wound up scoring when the cutoff player mishandled the throw from the right fielder.

Mainville ended the suspense by striking out Page for the final out.

EAGLES 2, GOLDEN BUCKS 1

Erskine Acad. (17-3) Bucksport (17-3)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Emerson, cf 3 0 1 0 Taylor, 2b 3 0 0

Angell, c 3 0 0 0 Ji. Richards, ss 3 0

Mainville, p 3 0 0 0 Ja. Richards, c 2 0

Horak, ss 3 1 0 0 a-Andrews 0 1 0

Thomas, 1b 3 0 0 0 Gordon, 3b 3 0 0

Gerrard, rf 3 0 0 0 Page, 1b 3 0 0

Oxley, 2b 2 1 0 0 Tweedie, cf 2 0 0

St. Amand, 3b 2 0 0 0 White, p 2 0

Cloutier, lf 2 0 0 0 Damon, rf 2 0 0

McAllian, lf 2 0 0 0

Totals 24 2 1 0 Totals 22 1 0 0

a-ran for Ji. Richards in the seventh

Erskine Acad. 001 100 0 ? 2

Bucksport 000 000 1 ? 1

E?Angell, Oxley; Ji. Richard, Taylor, Gordon; LOB?Erskine 2; Bucksport 1; SB?Oxley, Emerson 2

Erskine IP H R ER BB SO

Mainville (W,12-2) 7 0 1 0 1 21

Bucksport IP H R ER BB SO

White (L,13-2) 7 1 2 0 1 9

WP?White 2; PB?Angell; T?1:07; ATT?300 (est.)