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STANDISH – The members of the Richmond softball team had more than a simple title defense on their minds coming into Saturday’s Class D state championship game against Lee Academy.
Not only did the Bobcats want a repeat of last year’s title, but they were trying to become the first Richmond program to win back-to-back state titles.
With Sarah Coonradt in the circle, the ‘Cats made school history.
Coonradt scattered four hits and struck out nine with no walks while scoring two runs and driving in another to power Richmond to a 7-3 victory over the Pandas.
“This means a lot to us,” said Richmond’s Kasey Hughes, who hit three singles and drove in a run. “It was really important to win this and make history.”
It was the third state title for coach Rick Coughlin’s Bobcats (17-2), who took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and added three runs in the third, two in the second and the final run in the sixth.
Lee Academy (15-4) was trying to make a little school history, too. The Pandas had never won a state softball championship in two tries, and had never even scored a run against a Western Maine champion.
The Pandas were shut out a combined 25-0 in 2002 and 2003.
Lee’s three runs broke that streak and the Pandas almost made a game of it in the seventh, which meant Heather Martin’s RBI single in the sixth could have been key for Richmond.
Lee led off the top of the seventh with Amanda Gifford reaching on an error. Brooke Harris followed with a groundball single but the hall hit Gifford as it rolled between first and second for the first out. Harris was stranded at first as a Lee batter flied out and then Coonradt struck out the final batter of the game on two fastballs and a changeup, the only one she threw all afternoon.
Hughes went 3-for-4, including an RBI single in the first inning. Katie Cray had an RBI single and the Bobcats took advantage of an error and a wild pitch in the third.
“Overall we haven’t fielded the ball poorly all year but we’ve had a couple of games where we have and I’d add to it this one,” Lee coach Ron Weatherbee said. “According to our calculations at least six of their runs were unearned and you can’t give up that many unearned runs and expect to win.”
Richmond’s 11 singles also helped.
“Our offense really pulled it out today,” Hughes said. “We’re actually not a very good offense team but this was an exception.”
Richmond’s defense was perfect through five innings but struggled in the sixth, allowing three Lee runs. Karin Bird led off with a single, followed by a flyout, and then an error put Shelby Pickering at first and Bird and third. Aarika Ritchie also reached on an error, scoring Bird for the Pandas’ first run.
With Pickering at third and Ritchie at second after a stolen base, Liz Read hit a groundball to right-center, plating the two baserunners and cutting the lead to 6-3. But Martin’s RBI in the bottom of the sixth provided more insurance for Richmond.
Coonradt said she was pleased with the defense held up, even late.
“I thought we did awesome,” she said. “I know I wasn’t flawless. I struggled and [the defense] did too. I think that’s natural.”
Pickering singled in the first but Coonradt retired 12 straight until a fielding error in the fifth. Three of Lee’s four hits came in the sixth.
“I think I got a little squeezed on the outside corner as we got farther into the game but they deserve the credit for being good hitters,” Coonradt said. “They’re a good team.”
BOBCATS 7, PANDAS 3
Lee (14-5) Richmond (17-2)
Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI
K. Harris, lf 4 0 0 0 Russell, lf 4 0
Pickering, ss 3 1 1 0 Leonard, cf 3 0
Ritchie, c 3 1 0 0 Coonradt, p 3 2 1
M. Moors, dh 3 0 0 0 Hughes, ss 4 1 3
Houghton, 2b 0 0 0 0 Cray, 3b 3 0 1
Read, rf 3 0 1 2 Martin, 2b 4 0 1
Ham, pr 0 0 0 0 Trott, c 2 0 0
J. Moors, 3b 3 0 0 0 Tuttle, 1b 3 0 0
Gifford, 1b 3 0 0 0 Schanck, pr 0 1 0
B. Harris, p 3 0 1 0 Miller, rf 3 1 0
Bird, cf 3 1 1 0
Totals 28 3 4 2 Totals 29 7 11 6
Lee 000 003 0 – 3
Richmond 103 201 x – 7
E-Pickering, J. Moors, B. Harris; Hughes 2, Tuttle 2; LOB-Lee 4, Richmond 9; S-Coonradt; SB-Ham; Cray
Lee IP H R ER BB SO
B. Harris (L, 14-5) 6 11 7 2 4 2
Richmond IP H R ER BB SO
Coonradt (W, 13-2) 7 4 3 0 0 9
WP-B. Harris; PB-Ritchie; T-1:43; ATT-200 (est.)
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