YARMOUTH — It would have been easy for the Gray-New Gloucester softball team to fold after the top of the sixth inning Friday against Yarmouth.
Down 1-0, the Patriots looked poised to take the lead on a two-run, two-out single by Amelia Cobb. But a runner interference call ended the inning.
The Patriots didn’t get rattled, instead scoring five runs in the seventh to defeat Yarmouth, 5-1.
Gray-New Gloucester’s Alie Martell throws one across the plate.
“We knew we could only control what we could control in this type of game,” Gray-New Gloucester pitcher Alison Martell said. “It was going to be a close game no matter what. Then we had a spark of energy and hitting was contagious.”
Martell pitched a three-hitter, striking out nine and walking one, and went 3 for 4 with two doubles for the Patriots (9-4).
“She has the composure and focus that the girls feed off of,” Gray-New Gloucester Coach Amanda Harmon said. “They see, ‘Hey, she’s staying strong, she’s staying up, and I have to have her back.’ ”
With two outs and Alexa Thayer on first in the sixth, Lydia Espling reached base and advanced to second on an error before Chelsea Davis walked to load the bases for the Patriots.
Gray-New Gloucester’s Izzy Brindlay prepares to slide safely home as Yarmouth’s Cate Ralph makes the catch. The Patriots scored five runs in the seventh inning to win.
Then, on a single through the left side by Cobb, Espling collided with the Yarmouth shortstop, drawing the interference call on Gray-New Gloucester.
“It was a basic offensive interference call,” Yarmouth Coach Sandra Sanford said. “Our shortstop went to play the ball and their runner ran into her. It was kind of a basic play.”
“Definitely very questionable as the defensive player didn’t look like she was making the effort, and they didn’t call it a dead ball immediately,” Harmon said. “It definitely changes the momentum of the game, but our team was pretty resilient and came back that next inning firing.”
After allowing just a walk in the bottom of the sixth, Martell led off the seventh with a double to center. Mikaela Ryan then reached on a fielder’s choice, but the Clippers failed to throw out Martell at third.
Izzy Brindley drove in Martell with a single to make it 1-1, and Jordan Grant followed with a bunt single that led to throwing errors that allowed Ryan and Brindley to score while Grant reached third.
Gray-New Gloucester’s Lydia Espling slides into the tag by Yarmouth’s Margaret McNeil.
Following an infield fly, Thayer singled, then advanced to third on errors as Grant scored, before a single by Espling drove in Thayer.
The rally ended when Espling was caught stealing on a third strike to Chelsea Davis.
Sophia McGrath led off the bottom of the seventh with a single for Yarmouth (6-5), but a pop-up to the catcher, Thayer, followed by a double play ended the game.
Yarmouth scored its run in the bottom of the first after Cate Ralph reached on a dropped fly ball to right field. Ralph then stole second before scoring on a Tasha Powers single.
“We are just continuing to develop as a team,” Sanford said. “We just have to come out with a mentality to play to win rather than not to lose.”
Taylor Vortherms can be contacted at 791-6417 or
tvortherms@pressherald.com
Twitter: TaylorVortherms
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