Wing lifts Witches to win over rival Rams Brewer rallies with four-run 6th

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BREWER – It certainly helped the Brewer softball team to face Bangor pitcher Kelly White for three late innings in a game between the cross-river rivals Monday.

Brewer senior Rachel Wing must have been watching White carefully, because what she noticed in Monday’s game became key for Thursday evening’s matchup at Coffin Field.

Wing slammed the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the sixth inning for a two-run triple as the Witches rallied from a one-run deficit to a 5-2 victory over Bangor Thursday evening at Coffin Field.

Brewer’s win was its second of the week against the Rams, but Thursday’s outcome was much closer than Monday’s 7-1 victory.

The teams were knotted at 1-1 when Bangor scored a run in the top of the sixth. White walked, reached second on a Jennifer Wright groundout, moved to third on a Steph Chase single, and came home on a Katharine Turner sacrifice fly.

Brewer didn’t waste any time regaining the lead as Carolyn McAvoy led off with a triple. After a groundout and an infield hit by Christine Thoms, McAvoy scored on an Emily McLaughlin single.

Wing stepped in with Thoms at second and McLaughlin at first and slammed the first pitch she saw into right field. The ball took a bounce and rolled, allowing both Thoms and McLaughlin to score and the Witches to take a 4-2 lead.

Wing said she knew what to expect from White for the first pitch of the at-bat.

“She seemed to be throwing her drop for a strike,” Wing said. “Being a catcher, I guess I noticed that. … We had to get those runs in because we hadn’t been doing that earlier in the game.”

Wing came in later on a fielder’s choice. Kate Hanlon singled to keep the inning going, but was caught stealing at second base.

Wing had an RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the second inning that gave Brewer a 1-0 lead. Bangor tied it in the third on a Meghan Chase RBI groundout.

Thoms and McLaughlin finished with two singles apiece. McAvoy and Wing each had a single to go with their triples.

Sophomore Sarah DeFilipp picked up her third win, scattering three hits, striking out two, and walking one. Bangor freshman Kelly White was strong in defeat, striking out two and inducing 14 putouts and flyouts.

“Unfortunately, somebody had to take the loss,” Bangor coach Nancy Snowdeal said. “Sarah pitched well again. She did what she had to do.”

Snowdeal was pleased with the Rams’ effort, especially compared to Monday’s game. This time the Rams forced Brewer’s defense to make tough plays, moved runners around with infield hits and sacrifices, and looked sharper defensively.

“It’s definitely a confidence booster,” Snowdeal said. “We hit the ball, and we didn’t do that in the first game. We know we can play with a team like Brewer.”

WITCHES 5, RAMS 2

Bangor (3-3) Brewer (5-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

McCrum, 1b 4 0 1 0 A. Freeman, 2b 2 0 0

M. Chase, cf 3 0 0 1 DeFilipp, p 3 0 0

White, p 2 1 0 0 McAvoy, ss 2 1 0

Baker, c 3 0 0 0 Michaud, dh 3 0 0

S. Chase, lf 3 0 1 0 Whalen, lf 0 0 0

Turner, 3b 2 0 0 1 Thoms, 3b 3 2 0

Wright, 2b 3 1 0 0 McLaughlin, cf 3 1 1

Weymouth, rf 3 0 0 0 Wing, c 2 1 2 3

Kowalski, ss 2 0 1 0 Corey, rf 3 0 0

Hanlon, 1b 2 0 1 0

a-Gomm 1 0 0 0

Totals 25 2 3 2 Totals 24 5 9 4

a-grounded out for Hanlon in 5th

Bangor 001 001 0 ? 2

Brewer 010 004 x ? 5

E?M. Chase; Thoms 2, DeFilipp; LOB?Bangor 2, Brewer 4; 3B?McAvoy, Wing; S?Kowalski; Wing; SF?Turner; SB?S. Chase

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

White (L, 2-2) 6 9 5 4 0 2

Brewer IP H R ER BB SO

DeFilipp (W, 3-1) 7 3 2 1 1 3

HBP?McAvoy, Freeman by White; WP?White; T?1:15; ATT?100 (est.)