Georges Valley strikes early, tips Calais

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STANDISH – When the Georges Valley Buccaneers of Thomaston set sail for Saturday’s Class C state championship game, it was clear that their goal was to bring home the bounty also known as their second consecutive state championship.

The Buccaneers got their bounty, pushing across two first-inning runs and riding the formidable pitching of sophomore Danielle Frye to a 2-0 victory over Eastern Maine winner Calais on a warm first day of summer at Saint Joseph’s College.

Frye was just about unhittable, as she pitched a two-hitter while striking out 14 Blue Devils.

“She’s a special one, she’s very focused and composed on the mound, the ball comes out of her hand very well,” said Bucs coach Russell “Rusty” Worcester, whose club finishes 19-0.

Georges Valley didn’t wait around against Calais righthander Tessa Clark, as leadoff hitter Desiree Smith lined the first pitch she saw into left field where it was misplayed, allowing her to reach second.

Two pitches later, Brittany Worcester singled home Smith to give Frye the only run she’d need. Three batters later, Liz Hall slapped an RBI double on the second pitch of her at-bat for a 2-0 lead.

“My dad told us to just jump on the first pitches,” said Brittany Worcester, the coach’s daughter.

Georges Valley had multiple chances to put the game away but stranded four baserunners in the first four innings, largely thanks to the pitching of Calais’s Clark.

“She moved the ball around well, hitting the corners, making them swing at bad pitches,” said Blue Devils coach Greg Smith, whose club wraps up a stellar campaign 16-4.

“I’m very proud of my girls, coming down here we were definitely the underdog … our defense held up and they played right until the end.”

The Blue Devils don’t have any seniors on their squad.

Despite being held to two hits, the Devils had a couple of chances against Frye, with the best coming in the fifth.

Macey Gillespie drew a one-out walk, stole second and reached third on a throwing error, but Frye induced a strikeout and groundout to third to end that threat.

“Our defense is awesome, I have a great defense behind me, I don’t have to worry about anything,” said Frye. “All I have to worry about is each strike.”

Frye was in control right from the get-go, striking out the side in the first and second innings and in the seventh to wrap up the title.

“I was a little disappointed with three walks, but there’s always room for improvement no matter how well you do,” she said.

Repeating was the Buccaneers’ mind-set from the first day of preseason practices.

“They’re very focused, our six seniors are very composed,” said coach Worcester. “Right from the first practice they were off on their own, working out on their own in the batting cage.”

Frye added, “this was definitely the goal, that was all we talked about all season long. We accomplished what we wanted to so I’m pretty happy.”

Nicole Osborne singled in the fourth while Toni Cole singled in the second for the Blue Devils’ lone hits.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8193

BUCCANEERS 2, BLUE DEVILS 0

Calais (16-4) Georges Valley (19-0)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Hill, 2b 3 0 0 0 Smith, c 3 1 0

McVicar, ss 3 0 0 0 Worcester, 2b 3 0 1

Clark, p 3 0 0 0 Geel, 1b 3 0 0

Wilkinson, c 1 0 0 0 Keating, 3b 3 1 0

Remington, pr 0 0 0 0 Hall, lf 3 1

Cole, 3b 3 0 1 0 Watts, ss 3 0 0

Osborne, 1b 3 0 1 0 Judkins, dh 2 0 0

Brown, lf 3 0 0 0 Snow, rf 2 0 0

Ross, rf 1 0 0 0 Poland, cf 2 0 0

Marshall, rf 2 0 0 0 Frye, p 0 0 0 0

Gillespie, cf 2 0 0 0

Totals 24 0 2 0 Totals 24 2 5 2

Calais 000 000 0 – 0

Georges Valley 200 000 x – 2

E-Brown, Ross; Smith, Watts; LOB-Calais 6, Georges Valley 4; 2B-Hall; S-Judkins; SB-Hill, Gillespie; Geel

Calais IP H R ER BB SO

Clark (L, 14-2) 6 5 2 0 0 5

Georges Valley IP H R ER BB SO

Frye (W, 19-0) 7 2 0 0 3 14

T-1:15; ATT-300 (est.)