GRAY — Alison Martell threw four innings of no-hit relief and struck out eight to lead Gray-New Gloucester to a 5-1 win over Lake Region in a high school softball game Monday.

The Patriots (2-0) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and led the rest of the way.

“I felt confident,” said Martell, who also singled and scored a run. “I had my team behind me and it worked out well.”

Gray-New Gloucester took the lead in the first on a walk, a pair of singles and an error. Sophomore Hannah Dixon then hit a two-out, two-run single to make it 3-0.

Lake Region starting pitcher Ashley Clark was solid after the first, striking out six in six innings. She allowed one more earned run.

The Lakers (0-1) scored their run in the top of the third when Kaylyn Lorrain scored on an RBI single by senior catcher Allison Morse.

Gray-New Gloucester starting pitcher Haley True, a sophomore, pitched three innings before Martell finished off the victory.

Gray-New Gloucester Coach Amanda Harmon was pleased with what she saw from her pitching staff.

“They were confident and determined, they came out focused and ready,” said Harmon. “(Martell) is a freshman, she came out with a couple of deep breaths and was ready to produce. She did what she had to do to win each inning.”

Gray-New Gloucester made it 4-1 when Nichole Lowell singled and scored on an error. Junior Kaelyn Woods added a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

The four-run cushion was plenty for Martell, who used a deceptive change-up and a fast-paced pitching rhythm to pick up the win. She struck out four of her last six batters.

“I’m really looking forward to playing more with the team and becoming more unified,” Martell said. “It’s a fun team to play with.”

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