Seldom in this era of Class A softball do the Brewer Witches and Bangor Rams meet three times in a season, especially with the parity the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference has featured the last few seasons.

This year is the exception.

The Witches and Rams are two of the hottest teams in Class A, so perhaps it is fitting the top-seeded Witches and No. 2 Rams meet for the Eastern Maine title today at 3 p.m.

What’s even better for these two rivals, who split during the regular season, each winning at home, is the game has been moved from Augusta to Brewer’s Coffin Field.

“It’s just easier for both teams since they don’t have to travel … this year with high gas prices, that’s a factor too,” said Brewer coach Harry “Skip” Estes.

It has been awhile since either of these teams made an appearance in the EM final. Bangor has never reached a state championship game.

The Rams last reached this step in 1999, when they fell to Medomak Valley. Brewer won the EM crown in 2004.

The Witches come in riding a 13-game win streak. Melanie Judkins has allowed one earned run on four hits combined in playoff wins over Oxford Hills of South Paris and Skowhegan.

The Witches’ offense has been clicking as well, as they’ve scored seven runs in both games. That included a decisive six-run second inning against Skowhegan in Saturday’s semi.

“I feel very confident because we’ve seen both Bangor pitchers before,” said Witches sophomore Allie DeFilipp.

Judkins has been mowing down batters left and right this postseason, as she has struck out 28 in two games, including 17 against Oxford Hills.

The surging Witches, who feature a blend of veterans and underclassmen, are feeling confident and relaxed.

“We’re very excited, we’ve been working to get here all year,” said senior infielder Sarah Risser.

“They’re not a very cocky group but they’re also very confident. The senior leadership is good,” Estes added.

The two teams mirror each other quite a bit, as they both feature formidable pitching, power up and down the lineup, and speed atop it.

“There’s no secrets between us, [it’ll] just [come down to] whoever goes out and executes and plays the game,” Estes said.

Bangor sophomore righthander Sam Bedore has been lights out in postseason play, and she’s coming off a stellar, three-hit outing in the semifinal against Cony.

Bedore also outdueled Nokomis of Newport’s Patrice Cianchette in a 1-0, 10-inning quarterfinal victory.

The sophomore has allowed only eight hits in two games.

Bangor also features another one of the region’s top pitchers in Amy Wadleigh, who got the win in the first meeting between these two teams.

“We’ve gone with a steady rotation all season long with both pitchers,” Bangor coach Don Stanhope said.

What this game could come down to pitching and taking advantage of scoring opportunities for big innings.

The Rams put together one such inning and held on for a 4-2 victory May 2 while the Witches strung together 12 hits in a 7-5 May 27 triumph.

“It’s been two different games,” Stanhope said. “They’re a very talented team, quite a few of those kids I coached through middle school. Skip does a wonderful job.”

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

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