Telstar senior blanks Central for state crown

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STANDISH – Jessie Farrington has worked hard the last five years on her pitching skills – and spent most of her career as a shortstop.

During this, her senior season at Telstar High School, she finally established herself in the circle.

Farrington struck out eight of the first nine batters she faced Saturday on her way to a one-hitter, leading Telstar to a 1-0 victory over Central of Corinth in the Class C softball state championship game at Saint Joseph’s College.

Coach Jim Lunney’s Rebels, spearheaded by seven seniors, capped an undefeated season at 18-0 by edging the team that ended their state title hopes a year ago.

“These seniors are 62-7 in high school,” Lunney said. “They’ve set the bar at our school now; the first team to go through the whole thing and be undefeated.”

Coach Durice Washburn’s Red Devils, the 2005 state champions, closed out a superb season at 18-2.

“My kids played an excellent game today,” Washburn said. “I’m very proud of the way that they played and handled themselves.”

Farrington spent most of her first three years as Telstar’s shortstop while Jillian Kimball pitched. This spring, the classmates split the pitching duties.

Farrington went 7-0 during the regular season, then allowed only four hits in four postseason games.

“Jessie’s emerged. She’s our most effective pitcher,” Lunney said. “She’s had a great year coming through the playoffs.”

Farrington was overpowering early. She challenged Central batters with her fastball and mixed in offspeed pitches while fanning the first six batters she faced.

“I wasn’t expecting that at all in the first few innings,” said Farrington, who credited her offseason work with pitching guru Kim Lavoie with aiding her progress. “I was really happy that I was locating my balls where they wanted to go.”

As the game progressed, the righthander mixed her pitches more and moved the ball around effectively. Kristie Collins’ fifth-inning single was the only hit the Red Devils could muster off Farrington, who struck out 13 and walked three.

“We don’t face girls like her during our regular season,” said Central senior pitcher Alyssa Libby. “It’s hard to adjust to that fast-paced pitching, and she was coming at us with different pitches, too.”

Libby, the winner in last year’s title game, was outstanding in a losing cause. The senior retired the first 13 Telstar batters she faced and finished with a three-hitter.

Libby struck out four and walked one, allowing only two runners to reach second base.

“It’s one of those things where you can pitch your heart out, but it just doesn’t work out,” Libby said. “The first five innings I felt like I was in control. They were a good hitting team, too.”

The Rebels scored the game’s only run in the fifth. Liz Rosenberg was the first batter to reach base against Libby, grounding a one-out single to right field.

Rosenberg moved to second on Libby’s next pitch, which was low and went to the backstop. After Kayla Mills popped out, Abby Hutchins grounded a single to right field.

Central’s Sami Morin, who was playing shallow in right, tried to throw out the speedy Hutchins at first base. That prompted Lunney to wave Rosenberg home.

“We do practice that,” Lunney said. “If they throw to first base, we’re going to run.”

The throw was too late.

The Red Devils mounted two scoring threats. In the fifth, Collins pulled a soft liner over third base for a single. Libby tried to bunt her over but popped up the sacrifice attempt. Rosenberg caught the ball in foul territory, then threw to first to double off Collins.

Central got a runner in scoring position in the seventh when Kara Voisine drew a one-out walk and advanced on a wild pitch. However, Farrington struck out Collins and got Libby on a flyout to center field to clinch the victory.

REBELS 1, RED DEVILS 0

Central (18-2) Telstar (18-0)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Haney, lf 2 0 0 0 Reiss, cf 3 0 0

Underhill, ss 3 0 0 0 Jordan, 2b 3 0

Randall, c 3 0 0 0 Kimball, ss 2 0 0

Voisine, 3b 2 0 0 0 Farrington, p 3 0 0

Collins, 1b 3 0 1 0 Rosenberg, c 2 1 0

Libby, p 3 0 0 0 Mills, cf 2 0 0

Brownell, cf 1 0 0 0 Hutchins, lf 2 0 1

Washburn, 2b 2 0 0 0 Cozzolino, 1b 2 0 0

Morin, rf 2 0 0 0 Tripp, 3b 2 0 0

Totals 21 0 1 0 Totals 21 1 3 1

Central 000 000 0 – 0

Telstar 000 010 x – 1

LOB-Central 3; Telstar 3; DP-Rosenberg-Cozzolino

Central IP H R ER BB SO

Libby (L, 18-2) 6 3 1 1 1 4

Telstar IP H R ER BB SO

Farrington (W, 11-0) 7 1 0 0 3 13

WP-Libby; Farrington; T-1:14; ATT-400 (est.)