The championship season in Eastern Maine softball begins today with two games at Coffin Field in Bangor.

Tuesday’s matchups feature top-ranked Sumner of East Sullivan and No. 2 Calais meeting for the Class C crown at 7 p.m., while No. 2 Bangor and top-ranked Brewer square off in the Class A contest at 3 p.m.

Wednesday night’s EM Class D softball final between top-ranked Ashland and No. 3 Bangor Christian will feature a duel between two of the region’s top pitchers in Whitney Flint and Jillian French.

The Hornets and Patriots square off at 7 o’clock. It will be preceded by the 3 p.m. Class B matchup between third-ranked Winslow and No. 8 Medomak Valley of Waldoboro.

Regional winners will move on to Saturday’s state finals. The Class D and B games are both at Coffin Field and the Class A and C games are at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.

In Class C, Calais and Sumner come in having avenged two regular-season losses to their semifinal opponents.

Washington Academy of East Machias defeated the top-ranked Tigers twice in the regular season, including the season finale in East Sullivan, but the reigning Eastern Maine champs’ offense roared to life in a 14-run, nine-hit attack.

Sumner features one of Class C’s top pitchers in Tashia Daley, while Morgan Traxler, Lona Sargent and Kayla Higgins spearhead one of the region’s toughest and most consistent lineups.

The Calais Blue Devils avenged two regular-season losses to Houlton, holding off the stubborn Shiretowners to earn a date with the Tigers.

Tessa Clark has been solid in the pitching circle for Calais, and she scattered five runs on only four hits against Houlton in the semis.

As could be the case in Class D, timely hitting and sound pitching will prevail in this contest.

In Class D, both Flint and French were outstanding in last weekend’s semifinals.

Flint improved her seasonal record to 17-0 with a two-hit shutout of Woodland, and the Hornets clawed out a run despite being no-hit by the Dragons’ Shelby Bassett.

BC’s French held one of Class D’s top offenses in Limestone/Maine School of Science and Mathematics in check in the Patriots’ 14-2, six-inning semifinal victory.

She struck out 14 while allowing two runs on four hits, so this game could come down to whichever team can string together a big inning.

In Class B, defending Eastern Maine champion Winslow faces a Medomak Valley team that defeated two of Eastern Maine’s top pitchers in Ashley Kelley of Hermon and Devin Richard of John Bapst of Bangor to reach the regional final.

Winslow survived an upset bid by 14th-ranked Belfast in the prelims and outscored Old Town and Erskine Academy of South China 23-4 in the quarters and semis.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

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