BREWER – As she and her Brewer High School classmates enjoyed their Project Graduation recently, Sarah Risser was champing at the bit to play a little softball.

Risser and the Witches’ other seniors have experienced postseason frustration in their careers, but there was no such frustration this time around.

The Witches got another strong pitching performance from Melanie Judkins and a clutch two-run single by Meghan McLain as they punched their ticket to the Class A state championship game with a 2-1 victory over second-seeded Bangor at Coffin Field Tuesday afternoon.

“I’ve been ready to play this game for a long time, and the rest of my team felt the same way,” said Risser, whose Witches won their 13th consecutive game and improved to 18-1 on the season.

Bangor wraps up 15-4.

Brewer plays Biddeford in Saturday’s 4 p.m. state final at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

Both Judkins and Rams’ sophomore Sam Bedore lived up to their billing early, as Judkins set down the first 10 Bangor batters while Bedore allowed just two baserunners in the first two frames.

The Witches broke through against Bedore in the third, as No. 9 hitter Emily Fraser reached on an error, stole second, went to third on Risser’s single. Dominique DeFilipp walked to load the bases for McLain.

The junior shortstop delivered, smacking a 1-0 offering through the hole to plate Fraser and Risser and give Brewer a 2-0 lead and all the run support Judkins would need.

“I think we were up there taking good swings, once we started making contact we got enough runs to win the game,” said leadoff hitter Risser.

The Rams got on the board in the fifth on a Kate Freudenberger RBI single, and loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Judkins struck out Lindsey Stevenson to end it.

“I actually didn’t get too worried about it, I was just thinking that I need to throw how I know how and that’s what I did,” said Judkins, who improved to 11-1 on the spring.

“Even with bases loaded she just bears down and gets the job done … she usually comes through,” Brewer coach Harry “Skip” Estes added.

Judkins exhibited good velocity while striking out 12, including the game’s first three batters, and walking only two.

“She did a very good job hitting her spots,” Bangor coach Don Stanhope said. “I felt we put a good bat on the ball quite a few times, the kids did exactly what we asked them to do and more.”

However, the Rams couldn’t capitalize on some scoring opportunities, including the bases-loaded, two-out scenario in the seventh and a 1-4-5 inning-ending double play after a successful sacrifice bunt in the fifth in which Freudenberger was gunned down at third trying to take an extra base.

“That was a big play, I thought we could get there, she gave everything she had,” Stanhope said. “She gave 100 percent to get to that base, she did a good job.”

After some tough early-round playoff exits the last few years – the Witches lost in the preliminary round in 2006 and the semis a year ago – they were hungry to change their fortunes this year.

“We haven’t made it this far in a while, it feels great to just go out there and win it,” said senior outfielder Katie Kenney.

Risser added, “We have not done very well in the playoffs in recent years and it feels great to make it to the state game this year.”

Amy Wadleigh pitched three innings of no-hit relief while Bedore struck out seven in her three innings of work.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8193

WITCHES 2, RAMS 1

Bangor (15-4) Brewer (18-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Jordan, cf 3 0 0 0 Risser, 2b 3 1 0

Dean, c 3 0 1 0 D. DeFilipp, lf 2 0 0

Hackett, ss 2 0 0 0 McLain, ss 2 0 2

Estabrook, 2b 3 0 0 0 Jackson, c 3 0

Cosgrove, dh 2 0 1 0 A. DeFilipp, 3b 2 0 0

Stairs, pr 0 1 0 0 Judkins, p 3 0 0

Wadleigh, 1b-p 2 0 0 0 Liberatore, dh 2 0

Freudenberger, lf 3 0 1 1 Kenney, rf 1 0

Stevenson, 3b 3 0 0 0 Knowles, 1b 2 0

Tweedie, rf 2 0 0 0 Ryan, ph 1 0 0

Bedore, p 0 0 0 0 Fraser, cf 2 1 0

Comstock, 1b 0 0 0 0

Totals 23 1 3 1 Totals 23 2 3 2

Bangor 000 010 0 – 1

Brewer 002 000 x – 2

E-Estabrook, Hackett; McLain; LOB-Bangor 4, Brewer 7; DP-Brewer 1; S-Wadleigh; SB-Fraser 2, Risser; CS-Dean

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Bedore (L, 8-4) 3 3 2 2 4 7

Wadleigh 3 0 0 0 0 2

Brewer IP H R ER BB SO

Judkins (W, 11-1) 7 3 1 1 2 12

HBP-Cosgrove (by Judkins); WP-Judkins; PB-Dean; T-1:42; ATT-600 (est.)