HNW juniors triumph; earn spot in semifinals

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Hampden-Newburgh-Winterport Junior League softball team won its fourth game of the East Regional tournament Monday, guaranteeing the team a spot in the four-team playoffs Wednesday.

HNW, now 4-0 in pool play, beat New Jersey 7-5 thanks to two singles apiece from Mikki Libbey and Eva Shannon and a complete-game effort from Michelle Wells, who scattered six hits, struck out six and walked one.

Wells, Amanda Palmer, Kasey Belcher and Lacey Littlefield each chipped in with a single.

HNW, which won the state tournament to advance to the regional, will face New York Tuesday. The Maine team will play in the semifinal round regardless of the outcome against New York.

There are two pools of six teams at the East Regional. The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinal round. The regional winner will advance to next week’s Junior League World Series in Kirkland, Wash.