BANGOR – It’s a good thing the Bangor High softball team got to Nokomis early in Tuesday’s Big East Conference Class A matchup, because the Warriors of Newport didn’t go down easily.

The Rams scored three runs in the first inning, and pitcher Kelly White and the Bangor defense shut down Nokomis in a 3-0 win at the high school field.

It was the season-opener for both teams, as well as the debut of several key freshmen for both squads.

“The [Bangor] freshmen class is awesome,” junior White said. “Not only are they typical contributors on the field but they help the older players too because we see the younger kids step it up and so we have to step it up as well.”

Bangor freshman Amy Hackett led off the game with a double off Nokomis freshman Patrice Cianchette, who had a fine opener despite the loss.

She only struggled in the first inning. Hackett eventually scored on a fielding error, and freshman Alex Fahey hit a two-out groundball single to drive in two more runs.

“You get the early lead and you get a lot of confidence,” Fahey said. “You’re more comfortable in the field and that just helps a lot.”

Jumping out to the early lead was key because Cianchette only gave up two hits after the first inning. She also walked one and struck out five in her five scoreless innings.

“It was her first varsity game and nothing was breaking at first but after she got over that she got into the flow of it,” Nokomis coach John McLellan said.

Her changeup was especially effective.

“I think she realized it because she kept throwing it,” White said. “She did a good job with that.”

White scattered six hits while walking one and striking out four. She got out bases-loaded jams in the sixth and seventh.

In the sixth, Nokomis had its Nos. 3 and 4 batters up to try to push across a run with one out, but White struck out both batters. In the seventh she ended the game when she induced a groundout by dangerous leadoff hitter Michelle Barden.

“It was like a pitcher’s worst nightmare,” White said. “You just hope something good comes out of it. It’s like a test.”

The Ram defense recorded a double play and catcher Erin Porter threw out two baserunners at second.

Tatum Welch led the Warriors with a triple and Barden singled twice. Nokomis batters had 12 groundouts.

RAMS 3, WARRIORS 0

Nokomis (0-1) Bangor (1-0)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Barden, 3b 4 0 2 0 Hackett, 3b 3 1 0

Carroll, 2b 3 0 0 0 Heath, ss 3 0 0

Al. Bragdon, ss 3 0 0 0 Godinez, rf 2 0

White, cf 3 0 0 0 Rivera, rf 1 0 0

Welch, 1b 3 0 2 0 White, p 2 1 0

Bates, rf 3 0 0 0 E. Gray, cf 1 0 0

D. Gray, rf 0 0 0 0 Webb, cf 1 0 0

Ciancette, p 2 0 0 0 Fahey, 2b 2 0 2

Cossar, c 3 0 1 0 Stevenson, 2b 1 0 0

Easler, pr 0 0 0 0 Angst, 1b 2 0 0

Pushor, lf 2 0 1 0 Turner, 1b 1 0 0

Tweedie, lf 2 0 0 0

Strout, lf 1 0 0 0

Porter, c 1 0 0 0

MacDonald, ph 1 0 0 0

Totals 26 0 6 0 Totals 24 3 5 2

Nokomis 000 000 0 – 0

Bangor 300 000 x – 3

E-Al. Bragdon, Ciancette; Hackett, Heath; LOB-Nokomis 7, Bangor 6; 2B-Hackett; 3B-Welch; DP-White-Angst-Porter; S-E. Gray; SB-Stevenson, Strout

Nokomis IP H R ER BB SO

Ciancette (L, 0-1) 6 5 3 2 2 5

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

White (W, 1-0) 7 6 0 0 1 4

HBP-Pushor by White; T-1:32; ATT-75 (est.)