BANGOR – After the John Bapst softball team fell behind 6-2 to Presque Isle 21/2 innings into its Eastern Maine Class B preliminary game at Union Street Field, it could’ve easily packed it in.

Even though the fourth-ranked Crusaders were frustrated, they steadily chipped away at the deficit while senior righthander Devan Richard kept the No. 13 Wildcats’ bats quiet as Bapst rallied for an 8-6 victory on a hot and steamy Tuesday afternoon.

“It was kind of difficult when we had that one inning full of errors. We all got down on ourselves but I knew we’d fight through it,” said Richard, whose 10-7 Crusaders will host fifth-ranked Ellsworth in Thursday’s quarterfinal.

Presque Isle finishes up 8-9.

After the Wildcats scored twice in the second and four times in the third, Richard allowed just two hits over the final four innings while the Crusaders slowly worked their way back.

They answered Presque Isle’s rally with two runs in the third, thanks to two stolen bases, a wild pitch, and an RBI groundout by Hilary Laferriere while they completed the comeback with two more in the fifth.

Ellen Umphrey reached on an error to lead it off and eventually scored on Richard’s two-out single, then Kacy Harvey capped a strong plate appearance with an RBI double to the gap to tie the game.

Harvey fouled off a number of tough pitches before smacking the eighth pitch of the at-bat to the deepest part of the park.

“I knew I really needed a hit and I was due,” said Harvey, who drove in Bapst’s first run with a single in the second.

“Kacy made a really crucial hit, she got in the tying run and that gave us the momentum,” second baseman Whitney Sinclair said.

Sinclair scored the winning run an inning later, reaching on an error, stealing second and scoring on another error. Ellen Umphrey was hit by a pitch and came around to score on another error to provide some insurance.

Coming in, Bapst coach Bill Baker knew Presque Isle was a lot better than its record and tourney seed indicated.

“We split with them up there, we have a funny league this year, anybody can win, anyone can lose,” said Baker. “I knew it was going to be a good game and they gave us a great game, credit to [their] girls.”

He challenged his defense to play error-free after the third inning, and they responded.

“I told the girls we’ve got to stop it right now, they get no more runs, and they didn’t,” Baker said. “[That] allowed us to creep back into it.”

Even though she was pitching from behind throughout the afternoon, Richard exhibited sound control, striking out nine and walking just one while allowing five hits.

“I try not to think about the lead. If we’re losing I’m not going to try and get down on myself, just one pitch at a time,” Richard said.

Richard had a solid output at the plate too, scoring two runs and knocking in another while stealing a base. Umphrey scored three runs.

Allisen Donovan doubled and scored two runs for Presque Isle while Jodie Buckley knocked home two runs with a single in the third, which capped the Wildcats’ four-run rally.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8193

CRUSADERS 8, WILDCATS 6

Presque Isle (8-9) John Bapst (10-7)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Young, c 3 0 0 0 Sinclair, 2b 4 1 0

Stephenson, 2b 2 1 0 0 Umphrey, lf 2 0

Coffin, p 4 0 1 0 Laferriere, 1b 4 0 1

Freeman, pr 0 1 0 0 Gilmore, pr 0 0 0

Donovan, 1b 4 2 1 0 Toomey, c 1 0 0

Currie, cf 3 1 0 0 Lawrence, rf 3 1 0

Legassie, lf 4 1 0 0 Richard, p 2 2 1

Buckley, rf 4 0 2 2 Ka. Harvey, ss 3 0 3

Martin, dh 3 0 1 1 Jordan, cf 3 0 1

LaPointe, ss 3 0 0 0 Perkins, rf-c 2 0 0

Grivois, 3b 0 0 0 0 Ky. Harvey, 3b 2 1 0

Totals 30 6 5 3 Totals 26 8 6 6

Presque Isle 024 000 0 – 6

John Bapst 022 022 x – 8

E-Donovan, LaPointe 2, Stephenson 2; Toomey, Laferriere, Ka. Harvey, Ky. Harvey; LOB-Presque Isle 8, John Bapst 4; 2B-Donovan; Ka. Harvey; DP-Presque Isle 1; S-Stephenson, Legassie; Lawrence; SB-Stephenson, Buckley; Sinclair, Umphrey, Toomey, Richard, Gilmore, Ka. Harvey, Perkins, Ky. Harvey

Presque Isle IP H R ER BB SO

Coffin (L, 8-9) 6 6 8 5 3 5

John Bapst IP H R ER BB SO

Richard (W, 6-4) 7 5 6 3 4 9

HBP-Laferriere (by Coffin); WP-Coffin 5; T-1:38; ATT-80 (est.)