BREWER – The Richmond High softball team is filled with confident young players.

So as a five-run lead evaporated in the Class D state final Saturday against Deer Isle-Stonington, the Bobcats, who start four freshmen and three sophomores, never wavered.

“We don’t get nervous,” freshman Ciarra Lancaster said. “We just know what we can do and what we’re capable of. We didn’t even get our heads down.”

Two innings later, Richmond pieced together a six-run rally and this time held on for a 14-12 victory at Coffin Field.

It was the first softball state title for Richmond since winning back-to-back in 2004 and 2005.

Both teams had the momentum at least twice in a wild game. A home run to center by Britnie Jones gave Deer Isle-Stongington a 2-0 lead in the first.

Brianna Snedeker reached to start the top of the second on a dropped fly ball. The Mariners committed five more errors, leading to 12 unearned runs.

“We don’t normally commit this many errors,” Coach Terry Siebert said. “We just committed too many errors that we usually don’t do. I think they just let the nerves get a little bit of the best of them.”

After Richmond (16-1) loaded the bases on a walk and a bunt single, another error brought home a run. Lancaster then gave Richmond a 3-2 lead with a sharp single to left. After a bunt single by Danica Hurley and a bases-loaded walk to Tara Hurley, Lindsy Hoopingarner singled home two to make it 6-2.

The Mariners (17-3) had 17 hits. Four of those, including two doubles, were by Erika Hutchins, whose three-run double in the fourth made it 7-7.

“They can hit the ball,” Richmond Coach Rick Coughlin said. “Wow.”

But in the sixth, Tara Hurley hit a two-run single, a three-base error on a bunt and a two-run single by Payton Johnson gave the Bobcats a 13-7 lead.

Richmond led 14-9 heading into the bottom of the seventh when, with one out, Hannah Siebert singled. After the second out, Janelle Ciomei and Jones singled to bring home a run. Hutchins delivered another single, and it was 14-12 before a fly to left ended it.