BREWER – When both starting pitchers are piling up strikeouts at the rate of almost five total per inning, runners – let alone runs – are going to be hard to come by.

That was the case in Saturday afternoon’s Class D state championship game as Bangor Christian’s Jillian French and Buckfield’s Kasey Farrington hooked up in a duel that more than lived up to the hype.

Farrington struck out 15 batters, walked two, and allowed just two hits to help lead Buckfield to its second straight state title with a 2-1 softball victory over the Patriots on a bright and balmy day at Coffin Field.

Bangor Christian’s Jillian French also threw a gem, but took the tough-luck loss despite piling up 18 strikeouts and issuing no walks.

“We haven’t seen anything like her, other than a couple of scrimmages with Class C and B teams,” said Farrington, who improved her record to 9-2. “She has a really good curveball and it looked like she had a rise that was catching us. Finally, we started getting our timing down at the end and were able to come back.”

It took all seven innings to do it, though, and then with the aid of a couple Patriots miscues in the seventh.

After retiring the first two batters on a groundout and strikeout, French’s first pitch to LeAnn Abbott hit the Buckfield center fielder in the leg. Brittany Wiley followed with a first-pitch infield single to the left side that left runners at first and third. After Wiley stole second, No. 9 hitter Amy Reuter hit a bloop to the right side that scored Abbott. She beat out the throw to first, which got away from the first baseman and allowed Wiley to score what would be the winning run.

“I think we’re just kind of the comeback queens,” said Kasey Farrington. “It seems like our momentum comes at the end of games.”

The Patriots wind up 16-4.

“It came down to a one-run game and that’s what you want in a state championship,” said Bangor Christian head coach Robert Leathers. “They didn’t hang their heads when the got behind and capitalized on our mistakes.”

Perhaps that was due to Buckfield’s veteran leadership.

“My seniors did it for me today. I don’t know if [catcher Alyssa Henderson] broke her thumb or what, but she was hurting today and still played a great game. Kasey pitched a great game and Amy came through for us big,” said Ken Farrington, coach of the 11-6 Bucks. “We don’t give up and they all work so well together.”

Reuter, who singled twice, said as good as French was, the Bucks knew they could hit her and started catching up with her at the end of the game.

“On that last one, I just looked at first base the whole time,” she said. “I didn’t look at the ball or know where it went. I just knew I had to beat it out.”

She did, much to the relief of her teammates.

“During the seventh, I had tears in my eyes thinking it was done. Then Amy got that hit and I started bawling my eyes out,” Kasey Farrington said. “This is big for us seniors and I’m so glad it was Amy who got that hit because she’s a huge part of this team, even if she doesn’t think it.”

The loss closed out a stellar run by French, who went 14-3 this season.

“That girl is an excellent pitcher. I can’t even say how good I think she is,” said Ken Farrington.

The Patriots scored their lone run in the fourth as Moriah Bach drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored on Monica Alexander’s one-out, RBI single. They threatened again in the sixth as Bach reached on an error and advanced to third on a wild pitch and passed ball with one out, but Farrington escaped with a strikeout and infield groundout.

aneff@bangordailynews.net

990-8205

BUCKS 2, PANTHERS 1

Buckfield (11-6) Bangor Christian (16-4)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Taylor, lf 4 0 0 0 Smith, 2b 4 0 0

Hammann, ss 3 0 1 0 Brasslett, c 2 0 0

Henderson, c 3 0 1 0 LeVasseur, pr 0 0 0

Gillis, pr 0 0 0 0 Pelletier, 3b 3 0 0

Farrington, p 3 0 0 0 French, p 3 0

Patrie, 1b 3 0 1 0 Bach, ss 1 1 0

Martin, 3b 3 0 0 0 Robinson, 1b 3 0 0

Abbott, cf 2 1 0 0 Alexander, cf 2 0 1

Wiley, 2b 3 1 1 0 Long, lf 3 0 0

Reuter, rf 3 0 2 1 Holmes, rf 3 0 0

Totals 27 2 6 1 Totals 24 1 2 1

Buckfield 000 000 2 – 2

Bangor Christian 000 100 0 – 1

E-Farrington; Robinson; LOB-Buckfield 5; Bangor Christian 6; SB-Patrie, Reuter, Gillis, Wiley

Buckfield IP H R ER BB SO

Farrington (W,9-2) 7 2 1 0 4 15

Bangor Christian IP H R ER BB SO

French (L,14-3) 7 6 2 1 0 18

HBP-Abbott by French; WP-Farrington 2; PB-Henderson 2; T-1:31; ATT-200 (est.)