STANDISH — There’s a perception that York High’s softball success is based solely on the right arm and bat of pitcher Stephanie Rundlett.

The Wildcats proved otherwise Wednesday afternoon on a very big stage.

Senior catcher Maeve Campbell laced an RBI double with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning as top-ranked York defeated No. 3 Greely 4-3 in the Class B South championship game at St. Joseph’s College’s Bailey Field.

Greely tied the game in the top of the seventh on a wild pitch with two outs. But Campbell, playing softball for the first time in four years after Rundlett convinced her to try out, drove an 0-2 pitch deep into center field to lift the Wildcats to their 18th consecutive victory and first regional championship since 1991.

“The smile on their faces says it all,” said York Coach Mona Blais. “We have a heck of a team and they have never given up on each other. We have a saying, softball is not a one-woman team. It takes all of you to do it. And … right there.”

York (18-1) will play Old Town in the state championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at Brewer High. Greely finished 15-4, with two of the losses to York – each by one run.

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“They’ve improved a lot since early in the year,” said Greely Coach Rob Hale said of the Wildcats. “They give (Rundlett) a lot more support. Give them a lot of credit.”

Rundlett allowed four hits and struck out 14. She had to work out of several jams, as Greely stranded 10 batters.

“She didn’t have all her best stuff, but she’s still good enough that she can pull off a game and get outs when we need it,” said Blais.

Greely scored twice in the first inning, on a wild pitch and an infield error. York tied it with two in the third on an RBI double by Rundlett and a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Sophia Stephens.

Then the Wildcats went ahead in the fourth when Rundlett worked a bases-loaded walk.

Greely immediately threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with one out. But Rundlett reared back and threw the next six pitches for strikes to end the threat.

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“I knew I couldn’t let the team down,” said Rundlett.

In the seventh, Greely’s Sarah Felkel was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a wild pitch with two outs. The Wildcats weren’t deterred.

“We had the drive, we had the motivation,” said Campbell. “We knew that inning was going to be ours, no matter what.”

Rundlett led off the bottom half with a single and went to second on a wild pitch, then was replaced by courtesy runner Alex York. After an out, Campbell fell behind 0-2 before driving the ball deep to center field to score York.

“I was really starting to feel the pressure inside,” said Campbell. “I was screaming a little bit. I just knew I had to go for it.”

And York is now headed to the state championship game.


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