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The next four days certainly will be entertaining in the Eastern Maine Class A softball ranks.
The top three teams in the latest Heal point standings, Brewer, Bangor and Hampden Academy, will face each other in what should be some very well-played games as the season heads into its stretch run to determine final seeds with playoffs beginning June 10.
Coach Rodney Wells’ Hampden Academy Broncos visit Bangor today at 4:15 p.m. and Don Stanhope’s Rams hope to avenge their only loss of the spring.
The Broncs face top-ranked Brewer at Coffin Field at 11 a.m. Saturday in a game originally scheduled for Thursday. The Witches then will host Bangor, the only team that has defeated them all season, Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“A lot of good softball is going to be played,” said Wells.
If today’s Hampden-Bangor showdown is anything like their first meeting, then fans surely will be treated to a top-notch pitching duel.
The Broncos’ Lacey Littlefield outdueled Bangor’s Sam Bedore in a 1-0, nine-inning Hampden victory on April 30 in a battle of two of Eastern Maine’s top hurlers.
The two righthanders combined for 26 strikeouts in that contest.
Like the Witches and Rams, the Broncos have been spearheaded by their pitching, with the duo of Littlefield and Michelle Wells baffling opponents all spring.
“We have confidence in both our pitchers, any time and any situation. They’ve played enough softball to know the situation and how to get the job done,” Rodney Wells said.
Eight of Hampden’s nine victories this season have come via shutout.
The Broncos also have been consistent at the plate, and Rodney Wells noted that the lineup is clicking from top to bottom.
“It’s kind of all over the place for us. You never know one night to the next who’s going to get it done,” he said.
Coach Harry “Skip” Estes’ Brewer team has reeled off five consecutive victories since their loss to the rival Rams May 2, including impressive wins over Cony of Augusta, defending Eastern Maine champ Skowhegan and Messalonskee of Oakland.
Melanie Judkins has been solid in the circle for Brewer, and she one-hit Messalonskee last week.
The Witches are also solid defensively, averaging less than an error per game this season.
The Rams have not only been solid in the circle but have been swinging the bats well, as was the case in a recent 16-1 thumping of Mt. Blue of Farmington.
The combination of Amy Wadleigh and Bedore has been mowing down opponents as of late, and Bedore was outstanding in a shutout of Nokomis of Newport last week.
After allowing a hit to the first batter in that game, Bedore set down the next 21 in order while striking out nine.
Bangor has won six in a row.
rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net
990-8193
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