BANGOR – In a softball game where two top-notch pitchers are on their game, capitalizing on an opportunity can determine the winner.

That was the case during Friday’s KVAC Class A showdown between Hampden Academy and Bangor. HA’s Lacey Littlefield and Bangor’s Sam Bedore were virtually unhittable, but it was the Rams who responded to an early opportunity.

Kim Jordan scampered home from third base on a fielding error in the bottom of the first inning, and that’s all Bedore would need as the Rams avenged their only loss of the spring with a 1-0 victory.

Jordan led off the inning with a double down the left-field line, one of only two hits Littlefield (8-2) would give up. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Eliza Estabrook reached on an infield error.

Bedore took care of the rest, striking out 11 Broncos and walking none while surrendering only four hits and going to only two three-ball counts.

“I think I did pretty good. I mean, I pitched where I needed to pitch and it turned out good,” said Bedore, who baffled Hampden’s hitters with effective changeups and curveballs to go with the fastball and dropball.

“I just threw out the whole [pitching] lineup, just all of that stuff,” said Bedore, who improved to 6-1 and lowered her earned run average to 0.55.

The 9-3 Broncos made only two serious threats against Bedore, one in the first and one in the fifth.

Michelle Wells laced a one-out single in the first and moved to second and third on back-to-back passed balls but was stranded when Bedore got the next two batters to strikeout and pop out, respectively.

In the fifth, Hampden’s Jill Carlisle led off with a double and moved to third on Kate Plowman’s sacrifice. Bedore wiggled her way out again, ending that threat the same way she got out of the first, with a strikeout and popup.

“She pitched very well. She doesn’t show herself like a sophomore,” said Bangor coach Don Stanhope, whose club improves to 12-1.

Stanhope was quick to point out the solid game called by catcher Erin Dean, who had Bangor’s other hit with a single.

“Erin Dean was the real difference maker tonight behind the plate, not letting a lot of those riseballs and curveballs get away from her,” said Stanhope.

“[Bedore’s] got great confidence in her catcher.”

HA’s Littlefield was just as effective, allowing the one unearned run on two hits while walking one and striking out 10.

“She gets you off balance, she’s a very good pitcher,” said Bangor shortstop Amy Hackett.

With this being the beginning of a tough stretch for the Rams – they face Brewer Tuesday night – this win should provide momentum.

“This is huge, I mean its always nice to beat Hampden,” said Hackett. “It’s definitely a confidence booster.”

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8193

RAMS 1, BRONCOS 0

Hampden (9-3) Bangor (12-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Littlefield, p 2 0 0 0 Jordan, cf 3 0

Lamberton, ph 1 0 0 0 Dean, c 3 0 0

Wells, 2b 3 0 1 0 Hackett, ss 3 0 0

Gott, c 3 0 1 0 Estabrook, 2b 3 0 0

Shannon, cf 3 0 0 0 Stairs, lf 3 0 0

Luetjen, rf 3 0 0 0 Cosgrove, dh 1 0 0

Carlisle, lf 3 0 2 0 Wadleigh, 1b 2 0 0

Plowman, 3b 2 0 0 0 Bedore, p 2 0 0

Belcher, 1b 2 0 0 0 Tweedie, rf 2 0 0

Haase, ss 1 0 0 0 Stevenson, 3b 0 0 0

Doyon, ph 1 0 0 0

Totals 24 0 4 0 Totals 22 1 2 0

Hampden 000 000 0 – 0

Bangor 100 000 x – 1

E-Plowman, Belcher; LOB-Hampden 4, Bangor 4; 2B-Carlisle; Jordan; S-Plowman; Stairs; SB-Dean

Hampden IP H R ER BB SO

Littlefield (L, 8-2) 6 2 1 0 1 10

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Bedore (W, 6-1) 7 4 0 0 0 11

WP-Littlefield; PB-Dean 2; T-1:12; ATT-100 (est.)