The Scarborough softball team utilized a four-run sixth inning to defeat Biddeford by a 6-1 score on Saturday at Doran Field in Biddeford. Kelsey Griffin struck out 13 batters and allowed just two hits to pick up the victory.

“We were all anticipating this one,” said Griffin. “It was a big game. They’re the team we lost to last year (in the playoffs). It was a big game for us. We just wanted to come out with a win.”

With the game tied at 1-1 in the top of the sixth, the Red Storm bats came to life against Biddeford pitcher Erin Grover. Meaghan Myers started the inning off when she reached first on an error by the shortstop. Catie Funk drove Myers in with a towering double to the left field corner to give Scarborough a 2-1 lead and plate what proved to be the game-winning run. Victoria Joyce then singled and Heather Carrier added an RBI single for a 3-1 advantage.

The next hitter, Sarah Bonenfant laid down a sacrifice bunt to put Joyce at third and Carrier at second. Grace Ledoux smashed a single that scored Joyce and Carrier stopped at third. Griffin helped herself out with an RBI single that made it a 5-1 game. Grover finally got out of the inning with two straight ground balls. But the damage had been done.

“I think we just adjusted a little bit,” said Scarborough coach Tom Griffin. “Maybe (Grover) got a little tired and made mistakes. But we started capitalizing on those mistakes. The third time around is going to be difficult against my team. I have offense on this team. You can’t make mistakes against this lineup. My six, seven, eight and nine hitters will hurt you.”

Scarborough actually scored in their first at-bat. Kelsey Griffin swung at the first pitch of the game and reached on an error. Kira Gordon laid down a bunt to move Griffin over but the throw was wild and the runners tried to advance. Gordon was tagged out while Griffin scored.

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The Tigers answered in th ehome half of the first. With one out Katie Gagnon singled and she soon tried to steal second. Myers’ throw to second base was low and rolled into centerfield. Gagnon scampered home and the tying run scored.

“We gave up a run with a couple mistakes,” said Biddeford coach Leon Paquin. “I told the kids ‘you get three swing so you better swing against the best pitcher in the state.’ This will help us down the road. We went all the way to the sixth against the best team.”

After the first both Griffin and Grover settled in. Grover picked up two strikeouts in the second inning and in the fourth she sat the Red Storm down in order. In the fifth she pitched around a two-out single.

As for Griffin, she allowed just the one run in the first. She struck out two batters in the second to get around a leadoff single. Following that leadoff single, Griffin retired the final 18 Biddeford batters in a row. She struck out two batters in the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings.

“I think the kids understand all you have to do is play good defense with Kelsey on the mound,” said Coach Griffin. “It will take an enormous effort to score three or four runs with her on the mound. Caitlin LeBorgne is tough too. So it’s going to be tough for people to hit against us. We know that part of the game is there but we need to hit the ball. So far the kids have shown that they can do that.”

After three games against some tough teams the Tigers are 2-1. They were scheduled to play Massabesic on Wednesday.

“As a team we showed a lot of composure,” said Paquin. “We were behind in the first two games late in the game and we had to make plays to keep it 2-0. If we let up and made mistakes we would have let up more runs. I was concerned since we are young we would make mistakes but we stayed in them. If we come to play softball with that kind of mentality I like our chances in any game. Hopefully by playoff time we’re more experienced and ready to go.”

Prior to Scarborough’s win over Biddeford, the Red Storm picked up a 5-0 win against Portland. Caitlin LeBorgne threw a no-hitter and struck out four batters.


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