Pitchers spark Witches McLain, DeFilipp give 1-2 punch

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It didn’t take long for Brewer’s Sarah DeFilipp to realize her young pitching counterpart was something special.

DeFilipp was the starting pitcher for a May 1 game against rival Bangor. The Witches were struggling late, so coach Kelly Cookson moved freshman Jordan McLain from right field to the circle.

McLain threw two innings of relief, earning the second win of her high school career. Oh, she also had a game-winning, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh.

“She really stepped up,” DeFilipp said during a break from practice Monday. “She wasn’t scared. She went in there and did really good.”

DeFilipp and McLain have become one of the best 1-2 pitching punches in the state. DeFilipp, a junior, is 9-1 while rookie McLain is 7-1. Either one could start for the Witches when they face Brunswick for the Eastern Maine Class A title at 3 p.m. today at Coffin Field.

In the other EM final, No. 1 Central (17-1) will battle No. 2 Houlton (14-2) for the Class C title.

On Wednesday at 3 p.m., No. 2 Winslow (16-2) will play No. 8 Erskine Academy (9-10) of South China to decide the EM Class B champ while No. 3 Ashland (14-2) will take on No. 9 Hodgdon (8-9) in the Class D final.

Cookson declined to name a starter before practice Monday and neither girl had any clue about who would be in the circle Tuesday. And neither seemed to care, which is a big reason things have gone so smoothly for the Witches.

DeFilipp, who was the team ace last year, said McLain’s emergence hasn’t bothered her.

“I figured that we would both pitch equal time,” DeFilipp said. “I knew we were going to share the time and do what was best for the team. It wasn’t like I was mad.”

McLain’s ERA after Saturday’s game is 0.92 while DeFilipp is at 1.24 after she earned a win over Skowhegan in the quarterfinals last week.

The two have similar strikeout and walk totals – DeFilipp has fanned 48 and walked nine in 10 appearances; McLain has struck out 45 and walked 10 in seven appearances.

McLain didn’t know she’d be called upon so often. She said she usually feels nervous before games, but it’s easy to shake off.

“After a few innings I get a lot of nerves out,” she said.

Both girls played soccer and basketball for the Witches this year and both work with pitching coaches – McLain with Bob Mercer, DeFilipp with Larry Seaney. Both girls sport sunglasses during games, which gives them an intimidating look.

McLain’s development has been a huge key for the Witches, and she relies on DeFilipp for help occasionally.

“It’s nice to have Sarah here,” McLain said. “She’s worked with a lot of these umpires so she know what they like and things like that. It’s nice to have someone who knows what you’re going through.”

Look in at WA

Mike Look has been hired to replace Frank Johnson as the Washington Academy girls basketball coach.

Look is actually returning to the East Machias school after a 13-season stint from 1980-92. He also served as the girls junior varsity coach under Johnson, who has taken a principalship in Ellsworth.

Look had a 77-111 record with the Raiders.

“He was in the system already, so obviously that was a big plus,” WA athletic director Blaine Steeves said. “We had a lot of other qualified candidates, but he was our choice.”

Look also coached the Woodland boys for three seasons, compiling a 28-26 record and earning Downeast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2003.

Look, who is retired but keeps busy umpiring baseball and softball in the spring, steps into a good situation. The Raiders made it to the Eastern Maine Class C tournament and return everyone but one senior from last year’s team.

“We’re really looking for our girls basketball program to turn around,” Steeves said.

Pepper off to Merrimack

Clarice Pepper is hoping the success she had at the high school level will translate into college achievement.

Pepper, a Messalonskee of Oakland standout who led the Eagles to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference title, is heading to Division II Merrimack (Mass.) College where she has a full scholarship to pitch for the Warriors.

“[The scholarship] is pretty awesome,” she said Saturday after the Eagles suffered a 2-1 loss to Brewer in an Eastern Maine Class A semifinal. “I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s awesome.”

Pepper was hoping to attend Division II Bentley, but things didn’t work out with that school, she said. Merrimack kept calling, and Pepper went down to the North Andover, Mass., school for a visit. Warriors coach Michele DeGregorio came up to watch Pepper, too.

Messalonskee, the No. 5 seed, knocked off No. 4 Bangor 4-0 in the Eastern Maine Class A quarterfinals. Pepper allowed two runs in three postseason games.

Merrimack went 35-18 this year and made it to the championship game of the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional tournament, where the Warriors fell to Caldwell College 3-2 in nine innings.

Two of the four pitchers listed on the Merrimack roster were seniors this season.

“I think I’ll see some time next year, hopefully,” Pepper said.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.