Gorhamites Shayla Harris, Noelle Dibiase and Michelle Rowe strung together three crucial hits in the bottom of the sixth versus visiting Deering on Monday afternoon, April 25, completing a gritty comeback and setting up a 5-3 W.

“We battled,” said Gorham head coach Renee Thibodeau. “The runs that we had, coming back, the girls just started hitting the ball, connecting and finding the holes. We kind of had a never-give-up attitude.”

Gorham opens the season at 2-0. The team opened the season on Friday the 22nd with an impressive, 8-6 win at Thornton. Deering slips to 1-1. 

Deering posted all three of their runs in their initial ups. Kaylee Helmick, Siobhan Densmore and Sidney Giroux, the top of the team’s order, all rounded the bases in the top of the first in what could have been the start of a brutal rout.

“Especially after that first inning,” said Thibodeau, “I knew Deering was ready to go. They swung the bat, they laid down some bunts. I knew they won the other day, so I knew what we were up against was a tough team. Everyone that we see in this league – it’s not an easy league, the SMAA. We’re ready for a battle every time we go out there.”

But then Gorham settled down, and in particular Grace McGouldrick found her mojo in the circle. McGouldrick began by leading her girls out of their early troubles, then hurled K after K as the game progressed. 

On the attack, Gorham turned consistent contact and gradually came from behind. Dibiase and Rowe both crossed home in the second to slice Deering’s lead to 3-2; then, with two out in the fifth, Kali Perry lined a triple into deep center to spark a tying rally. Lindsey Wilcox followed Perry to the plate and singled to bring her home and balance the scoreboard at three apiece.

“Kali subbed in for a girl, she pinch-hit,” said Thibodeau, “and she came up huge.”

Gorham charged ahead in the bottom of the sixth. Harris launched the assault, doubling to the centerfield fence; she scored when Dibiase immediately served up another double, this one to deep left-center. Rowe blasted a shot to wide right, and the throw home wasn’t in time to catch Dibiase, who tagged up and put Gorham ahead 5-3.

McGouldrick knicked the first Deering batter she faced in the top of the seventh, but quickly redeemed herself, closing the game with three straight strikeouts.

“She came through big for us,” said Thibodeau of McGouldrick. “She, going into it, I think she was a little nervous, a little tired, but she battled hard, and once she got in her groove, man, she was hard to stop. She did awesome.”

Thibodeau praised the other half of her battery as well – her catcher, Harris. “Shay, behind the plate, those two work so well together. They know how to read each other.”

Gorham hit the road on Wednesday, April 27, for a bout at Cheverus, after the American Journal’s print deadline. They host Westbrook on Friday the 29th and Bonny Eagle on Monday, May 2.

Gorhamite Kathryn Bertin leads off third base in her team’s come-from-behind victory over Deering on Monday.

Grace McGouldrick pitched an outstanding game against Deering on Monday.

Lindsey Wilcox takes a turn at the plate for Gorham.

Kali Perry skids into third vs. Deering on Monday.

Noelle Dibiase drops into her slide for home on Monday; Dibiase scored Gorham’s final run.