Raiders team up, top Medomak

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BREWER – For much of this season, Fryeburg Academy’s varsity softball squad has been known primarily as Hannah Hill’s team.

It wasn’t so much an indictment of her Raiders teammates as a testament to the talent and sheer dominance of Fryeburg’s fireballing junior pitcher, who won 18 of 19 games coming into Saturday afternoon’s Class B state final.

On a brilliant and balmy first day of summer at Coffin Field, the Raiders showed they’re not just a one-woman team as they defeated Medomak Valley of Waldoboro 6-2.

“A lot of people read the headlines about Hill does this or Hill does that, but these girls make it happen,” said Hill, who improved her record to 19-1 with a complete-game effort featuring 13 strikeouts.

Junior catcher Heather Tripp made it happen with one out in the seventh, courtesy of a three-run double that broke open a tight game and gave the 19-1 Raiders their first state softball crown.

“I was just swinging for contact, not necessarily a big hit, just a base hit,” Tripp said. “It’s all about timing and figuring out her strides and how she pitches.”

Tripp’s bases-loaded double was the highlight of a four-run seventh that broke open a tie game in a big way. The other run came via a dropped ball on a force play at home plate.

Ironically it was errors, not Hill that proved to be Medomak Valley’s undoing Saturday. In all, the Panthers committed five errors.

“My girls can hit. Obviously errors kill and that’s what was what killed us today,” said MV coach Glenn Barbour, whose Panthers finish 15-6. “We ripped the ball offensively as well as anyone can against her, but errors hurt us.”

Medomak had five hits against Hill, who had previously given up just four hits in one game and no more than two in any other this season.

“They made me work and made it interesting,” said Hill, who also issued two walks. “I knew they were good because they beat Hermon and Winslow, so I knew I’d have to work hard, but with the girls behind me, I knew we could get it done.”

Fryeburg broke on top early with a run in the first. Brylie Walker reached on an error, went to third on another error, and scored on a groundout.

Medomak tied it in the third via Rachel Keefe’s leadoff walk, a sacrifice, and Melissa Ambridge’s two-out RBI infield single to the left side. The Panthers took a 2-1 lead in the fourth as Kayla Santheson hit the first of her two singles to lead off and scored on Tessa Dodge’s triple to the fence in right center.

Fryeburg tied it 2-2 in the fifth on Tanya Randall’s leadoff single, an error, a sacrifice, and a one-out RBI groundout by Kaela Mitchell.

“We held them awhile in a back-and-forth game. I couldn’t ask for anything more out of these girls,” said Barbour.

Medomak pitcher Kayla Vannah had a solid outing, allowing six hits and no walks while striking out four hitters.

Barbour said his team didn’t do anything different to prepare his team for the hard-throwing Hill.

“Basically, my girls have been pulling the trigger on first-strike throwers all year, especially if we know it,” he explained. “She’s fast enough that we were a little bit behind her today, but we made contact and hit opposite field.”

As far as the notion that Fryeburg is Hill’s team… Well, you won’t hear anyone on the team say that.

“It’s a whole team effort, is what it is,” said Tripp.

“I couldn’t ask for a better team,” said Hill. “These girls are amazing.”

aneff@bangordailynews.net

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RAIDERS 6, PANTHERS 2

Fryeburg Academy (19-1) Medomak Valley (15-6)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Walker, cf 3 2 0 0 Ambridge, 1b 3 0 1

Hill, p 4 1 0 0 Jameson, rf 4 0 0

Tripp, c 4 0 2 3 Santheson, lf 3 1 0

Lewis, pr 0 0 0 0 Dodge, 3b 3 0 1

Humphrey, 3b 3 0 0 1 Hunt, c 3 0 1 0

Bell, rf 4 0 1 0 Davis, pr 0 0 0

McConkey, 2b 3 0 0 0 Kent, ss 2 0 0

Randall, dh 3 0 1 0 Keefe, cf 2 1 0

Sheehan, pr 0 1 0 0 Lee, 2b 2 0 0 0

Head, ss 2 1 1 0 Vannah, p 3 0 0

Mitchell, lf 3 1 1 1

Totals 29 6 6 5 Totals 25 2 5 2

Fryeburg 100 010 4 – 6

Medomak 001 100 0 – 2

E-McConkey, Mitchell; Dodge 3, Hunt, Kent; LOB-Fryeburg 5; Medomak 6; 2B-Tripp; 3B-Dodge; DP-Medomak 1; S-Walker, Hill, Head, Humphrey; Lee, Kent; SB-Walker, Bell

Fryeburg Academy IP H R ER BB SO

Hill (W,19-1) 7 5 2 2 2 13

Medomak Valley IP H R ER BB SO

Vannah (L,11-5) 7 6 6 4 0 4

WP-Vannah; T-1:19; ATT-300 (est.)