Scarborough’s Lilly Volk pitched a perfect game as the No. 1 Red Storm bludgeoned visiting Portland 12-0 in six innings on Thursday, June 9. 

“It feels really good. I’ve worked really hard to – that’s my goal. That’s any pitcher’s goal, honestly; they want to throw perfect, and that doesn’t happen a lot,” said Volk. “I’ve been going all season throwing one-hitters, two-hitters, and it’s great, but it’s like, ‘So close!’ So to finally hit my goal, I know my coach will be proud of me, and that feels good.”

Scarborough head coach Tom Griffin indeed expressed pride in Volk: “That’s what we expect of Lily; that’s kind of what she expects of herself,” he said. “She works really hard, she’s a very talented kid. It’s always nice; it’s very rare to have a perfect game. 

“If you ask her, she probably wouldn’t even know it was happening. And she loves to play; you can see the joy and the love that she has for the game; she smiles – she’s focused, but she really enjoys the whole experience.”

“It’s a pleasure to be able to coach kids like that,” said Griffin, “and fortunately, I have a whole bunch of them.”

Scarborough posted three runs in the second, two more in the fifth and seven in the sixth to complete the shutout. Maggie Murphy and Chloe Griffin both logged multiple hits in the outing, and both scored runs. Laura Powell, Kaleigh Scoville, Courtney Brochu, Lindsey Kelley and Felicia O’Reilly also crossed home, as did Katie Verreault – twice. 

Griffin and Powell earned RBIs, as did Abbie Murrell, Emily Jefferds and Hannah Ricker, who drove in two. Griffin, Volk and Hunter Greenleaf all posted doubles, and Brochu, O’Reilly and Verreault all stole bases.  (Verreault stole two, in fact.) 

“We watched Portland the other day, and they really have had a great season,” said Griffin. “Coming from where they were a few years ago to where they are today, I give Robbie (Ferrante, Bulldogs head coach) a lot of credit … They’re playing really good softball, and their pitcher (Jessica Brown) is having a really good season.”

 “I knew they were going to come in on fire,” said Volk of the Bulldogs. “We knew they were going to bring the energy, and we just had to go on top of it, and build it, from it, and play like it’s a zero-zero game the whole way.”

“You’ve really just got to take it one pitch at a time, play every pitch like it’s the state championship game,” Volk said. “That’s my mindset: It only takes one. One ball, if I leave up the middle, high, it could be out and that could be the game. That’s my mindset. It’s harsh, but I have to get the job done.”

Volk, who’s now 7-0 on the year, threw 10 Ks. Her change-up was her tool of choice, as both she and Griffin noted. “My change-up was coming in nice today, so that was fun to play around with.”

“She established her change-up early in the game,” Griffin said. “They came out swinging pretty aggressively right in the first inning, and I think she recognized that. One you establish that change-up, that makes things difficult. But she was working all of her pitches today.”

The quarterfinals victory extended Scarborough’s unbeaten streak to 17-0; Volk and Co. haven’t lost since last year’s state final, and are eager for another shot at the crown.

“You have no idea,” Volk said of the Storm’s drive to recapture the title. “There’s not a day goes by that we don’t think of it; me, personally, maybe even hours. It is what we eat, drink, sleep. That’s our goal, and we’re going to do everything it takes to get it.”

Scarborough moved one step closer to their goal the following Saturday, when they upended No. 5 Windham 2-0. The Storm faced longtime rivals Biddeford in the A South Regional Final at St. Joe’s on Tuesday the 14th, after Current Publishing’s print deadline.

For more photos, visit www.keepmecurrent.com/category/sports

Scarborough’s Chloe Griffin arrives home late in the Storm’s 12-0, six-inning smashing of Portland.

Maggie Murphy tallies a run for Scarborough in their 12-0 win over Portland last Thursday.

Scarborough shortstop Laura Powell hurls a 6-3 throw for a Bulldogs out last Thursday.

Scarborough catcher Hannah Ricker reels in a throw by her battery partner, ace Lilly Volker.

Scarborough ace Lilly Volk pitched a perfect game against Portland.

Scarborough’s Kaleigh Scoville watches a low ball slither by.

Scarboroughite Katie Verreault makes for first after connecting with the ball in last Thursday’s matchup with the visiting Bulldogs.

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