GORHAM – Nine games into the season, Gray-New Gloucester softball coach John Moody was forced to sit his team down for a good, long talk.

Sloppy defense had been a problem as the Patriots struggled to a 4-5 record. The meeting wound up being a turning point and defense turned out to be a staple of the team’s success.

Gray-New Gloucester turned in a few defensive gems Monday and made most of the routine plays while claiming the state Class B softball championship with a 3-1 victory over Bucksport at Robie Field.

“Three weeks into the season we were 4-5 and I never would have guessed we’d be back here again,” Moody admitted. “We were just killing ourselves with errors. We all had a little heart-to-heart talk and we haven’t lost a game since that point.”

Junior righthander Kelly Bregman scattered three hits and was backed by outstanding defense as the 16-5 Patriots won their second title in three years. She struck out three and walked one.

Bregman, who was the left fielder on G-NG’s 2001 championship squad, said the Patriots have played well in all facets of the game.

“It’s defense and the offense pulls through in the clutch as well,” Bregman said. “Usually I go for strikeouts, but today I let them hit. I knew my defense was ready.”

Eastern Maine champ Bucksport wound up 18-2. The Golden Bucks received a three-hitter from junior Nicole Smith, who struck out four and walked one, but were unable to generate much offense.

“When we got people on base, we hit at them or they made great plays,” said Bucks coach Mike Carrier, whose team averaged almost eight runs per game this season. “It was a great defensive team with a real good pitcher.”

Bucksport was charged with four errors, though only one led to a run. The Bucks turned two double plays.

The Patriots’ efforts included a first-inning pickoff throw to first base by catcher Emily Baker, a running catch by right fielder Kate Skilling in the second, and a diving grab by center fielder Kristy Morrison in the fourth.

“We hit the ball to them and they made some spectacular plays, diving and stuff like that,” said Bucksport senior Jessica Taylor. “They outplayed us… but we’re happy. We played as well as we could.”

Gray-NG got all the runs it would need in the first inning, courtesy of a two-out rally. Skilling walked and Bregman grounded a single to center field, setting the stage for Cait Mason’s two-run triple over the head of Bucksport right fielder Brittany Damon.

“We want to get ahead, so then we don’t have to play catch-up the rest of the game,” Mason said. “I didn’t really see the hit, I just kind of ran after I hit it.”

The Patriots made it 3-0 in the third when Dawn Ross led off with a pretty bunt single and scored two outs later when center fielder Tara Tweedie was unable to come up with a liner to center.

“You’ve got to jump out early,” Moody said. “You never know when you’re going to get your chances.”

Bucksport managed only two baserunners through five innings before breaking the scoring ice in the sixth. Smith drew a one-out walk and rode home when Alice Andrews doubled over the head of left fielder Allison Gallant.

Bregman then retired four of the last five batters to clinch the victory.

“She wasn’t anything special, but she threw strikes and she had a good defensive behind her. That’s going to win games,” Taylor said.

PATRIOTS 3, GOLDEN BUCKS 1

Bucksport (18-2) Gray-NG (16-5)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Taylor, 2b 3 0 1 0 Ross, ss 3 1 0

Andrews, c 3 0 1 1 Baker, c 3 0 0

Tweedie, cf 3 0 0 0 Skilling, rf 2 1 0

Gordon, 3b 3 0 0 0 Bregman, p 3 0 0

Damon, rf 2 0 0 0 a-Goldstein-Walsh 0 0

Murauckas, 1b 3 0 0 0 Mason, 3b 3 2

Richards, ss 3 0 0 0 Beebe, 2b 3 0 0

McAllian, lf 2 0 1 0 Morrison, cf 2 0 0

N.M. Smith, p 1 0 0 0 Gallant, lf 2 0

b-MacDonald 0 1 0 0 Blanchard, 1b 2 0 0

Totals 23 1 3 1 Totals 23 3 3 2

a-ran for Bregman in 1st and 3rd, b-ran for Smith in 6th

Bucksport 000 001 0 ? 1

Gray-NG 201 000 x ? 3

E?Taylor 2, Tweedie, Smith; Ross; LOB?Bucksport 2, Gray-NG 3; 2B?Andrews; 3B?Mason; DP?Andrews-Murauckas-Gordon, Taylor-Murauckas; S?Damon

Bucksport IP H R ER BB SO

Smith (L, 16-2) 6 3 3 2 1 4

Gray-NG IP H R ER BB SO

Bregman (W, 16-5) 7 3 1 1 1 3

T?1:10; ATT?350 (est.)