SCARBOROUGH – It always seems this way with the Scarborough High softball program. One star graduates, another is found almost immediately.

Alyssa Williamson is just a freshman right fielder for the Red Storm. “A lot of people don’t know about her yet,” said Tom Griffin, her coach.

They’re quickly finding out.

Williamson continued her hot hitting with three hits Saturday, including an RBI double and two-run home run, to help Scarborough remain unbeaten with a 5-0 victory over previously undefeated Thornton Academy.

“This was a good win for us,” said pitcher Mo Hannan. “Coach told us before the game that this was the start of our season. It meant a lot.”

Both teams are in a crucial stretch. Scarborough (7-0), ranked third in the Saturday Western Class A Heal points, plays at No. 2 Biddeford on Wednesday and at No. 1 South Portland on May 16. Thornton (5-1), seeded fifth, has Biddeford at home Monday and South Portland at home Thursday.

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“All the top teams are playing each other,” said Griffin. “This is where all the (Heal) points are going to be made.”

Hannan was her usual dominating self. She allowed just three hits, a walk and a hit batter in six shutout innings, striking out 11.

“She’s just a dominating pitcher,” said Trojans Coach John Provost. “We talked about staying off her rise ball. But the kids couldn’t do it.”

She was backed by strong hitting led by Williamson, and steady defense led by shortstop Marissa O’Toole.

It was scoreless going into the bottom of the third, when Scarborough got three runs off Julia Geaumont, who had four strikeouts in the first two innings, three on called third strikes.

“We told the kids to protect the plate better,” said Griffin. “(Geaumont’s) a great pitcher but a batter is always going to have one pitch to swing at in every at-bat. The kids needed to make sure they were ready.”

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They were in the third. With one out, Abby Rutt hit a liner that sailed over left fielder Kristen Duross’ head for a double. Erin Giles followed with a bloop hit that center fielder Michelle Cote couldn’t hold as she attempted a sliding catch. Rutt was safe at third on a close play. O’Toole then laced a double into the left-field corner to knock in two. Williamson followed with a double to right for a 3-0 lead.

It stayed that way until the fifth when Williamson turned on an inside pitch and hit a two-run home run to center.

“She is a freshman beast,” said Rutt.

Williamson said she isn’t trying to do anything special. “It just kind of happens,” she said.

The Red Storm didn’t commit any errors, and turned a dazzling double play. Thornton had runners on first and third with no outs in the sixth. But Rutt threw out Cote attempting to steal second, and then O’Toole, who put the tag on, threw out a runner at home.

“That’s what I’m most excited about,” said Griffin. “That’s what we need most.”

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Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com

 


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