WINDHAM — This was the game everyone in Class A South was waiting for – especially, it seems, the players and coaches at perennial softball power Scarborough High.
In a showdown between unbeaten teams Tuesday, the Red Storm left little doubt that the gap between them and the rest of the region is still pretty significant.
With Abbie Murrell pitching and hitting, Scarborough routed Windham 15-0 in a game stopped after five innings because of softball’s 12-run rule. Murrell allowed one hit in four innings, and drove in five runs with a homer and two singles.
“I’m just really pleased with the way my kids responded today. They were ready,” said Scarborough Coach Tom Griffin. “This was a good opportunity to see what we have.
“Basically we said we wanted to send a message here to everybody that this is what we have. And (his players) wanted to play the game hard, play it all-out and see what happens, try to win all phases of the game. We went out and dominated from the get-go.”
Scarborough (10-0) has pretty much dominated everyone this season, outscoring opponents 137-4. Windham (10-1) had scored 148 runs coming in.
“We were just kind of waiting for this game,” said center fielder Laura Powell. “Playing another undefeated team can only happen once or twice a season. We were really motivated to win this game.”
“We wanted to separate ourselves from everybody else,” said Murrell.
The Red Storm scored three times in the first inning and the Eagles (10-1) never recovered.
It was a tough first inning for Windham, which allowed an infield pop-up to drop untouched next to the pitcher’s circle and let in another run while throwing the ball around the infield to try to get a Scarborough runner who was already out.
“I think we just came out kind of sleepwalking from the get-go,” said Windham Coach Travis Demmons. “You can’t do that against a team like Scarborough. They’ll take full advantage of it as they did today.”
Scarborough broke it open with a 10-run third inning, sending 15 batters to the plate.
After a walk and a single to open it, Murrell hit a line-drive home run that cleared the left-field fence in about two seconds.
“I was on (second) base when it happened,” said Powell. “And right when she hit it I just knew that’s going to set the tone for the rest of the game. I knew that was going to hype everyone up.”
By the end of the top of the third, Courtney Brochu and Bella Dickinson had RBI singles, Powell drew a bases-loaded walk and Murrell hit a scorching RBI single that ricocheted off the chest of a Windham infielder, allowing another runner to score as the ball rolled away. Two other runs came in on an error.
While pitching, Murrell allowed only a double by Olivia Mora in the fourth and struck out five.
“Abbie Murrell is a phenomenal player,” said Demmons. “I can’t say enough good things about her. She’s been great ever since she pulled on that Scarborough jersey.”
As good as the Red Storm played against the Eagles, they expect more.
“We haven’t peaked yet,” said Powell. “We weren’t perfect. We’ve still got some stuff to work on.”
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