KENNEBUNK — A little hitting can go a long way. Especially when there is a big pinch of pitching and fielding to back it up.
Kennebunk used those essentials to carve out a 5-3 triumph over Biddeford, in a clash of SMAA softball neighbors, Monday.
The Rams (4-1) pushed across two runs in the bottom of the sixth to snap what had been a hard-fought 3-3 deadlock.
“We all worked as a team today,” said Rams’ freshman catcher Janelle Bouchard. “That was nice to see.”
Bouchard played no small part in Kennebunk’s success, by singling in two runs in the first, then scoring another in the decisive sixth.
Not to be overlooked was her work behind the plate while catching offerings from hurler Hannah King, another of Kennebunk’s four freshmen starters.
“It’s unbelievable to see them work together,” said Rams coach Steph Coleman.
King shrugged off a rocky first inning, during which Biddeford grabbed a 2-0 lead by using hits from Aimee Mortensen, Amethyst Hersom and Sarah Gilblair.
The Rams responded in their half of the first to knot the score, 2-2.
Bouchard provided the big blow, a single up the middle that scored both Rachel Magalski and Katie Lang.
“I was just hoping to put the ball in play,” said Bouchard. “Drive it somewhere so we could score a couple of runs.”
King, who finished with eight strikeouts, followed with four spotless innings while her mates scratched out a third-inning run off Gilblair, the Biddeford hurler who allowed just four hits.
“I just told her,” said Bouchard, “that she needed to go out there with the mentality that she’s the best pitcher out there. And she showed that. She did a very good job.”
Biddeford (5-1) scratched out the tying run in the top of the sixth, when Hersom singled in Erin Grover, who had legged out a two-out triple.
However, Kennebunk answered back in the bottom of the sixth with two runs, after Lang doubled and Bouchard reached on a fielder’s choice.
Lang later scored on a wild pitch, while Bouchard made it home on Kelly King’s sacrifice fly.
“We didn’t play the defense we usually play,” said Tigers coach Leon Paquin, “and they played good solid defense.”‚
“They did to us what we usually do to other teams.”
Both teams will be back in action Wednesday, with Biddeford set to host Deering at Doran Field while the Rams will visit Portland at Payson Park.
— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535 ext. 318 or dhickling@gwi.net.
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