STANDISH — Throughout this season, the Thornton Academy softball team had to make comeback after comeback as the Golden Trojans won 16 games and reached the Western Maine Class A finals.

Their luck ran out on Wednesday night as the No. 2 Trojans fell behind early and were unable to make another comeback in a 7-3 loss to No. 1 Scarborough in the regional final at Saint Joseph’s College.

“At the end of the day it doesn’t matter,” said Thornton coach John Provost of his team giving up three runs early. “We’ve been behind all year, this is how we’ve played all year. We’ve been behind in every single game and, it’s a weird thing to say, but I think they feel more comfortable when they are behind. They feel they can come back at any time.”

Scarborough used an RBI single from Kaleigh Scoville, an RBI groundout from Sophie Burnham and a run-scoring hit from Chloe Griffin to take a 3-0 lead after one.

The Red Storm added another run in the second and that would be all the run support sophomore pitcher Lilly Volk would need.

“Holy Lilly Volk,” said Provost of the Red Storm starter, who finished with 10 strikeouts. “Lilly did a tremendous job today ”¦ She was deep in counts a lot of times, but she fought her way out of them.”

Down 5-0 heading into the fourth, the Trojans would finally get to Volk. Kaylee Burns smacked a two-run double and Maizie Lee followed with an RBI double to cut the lead to 5-3.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, Scarborough did what every championship team does after taking a hit ”“ respond.

Scarborough (19-0) scored two runs in the bottom of the frame, as Scoville tripled and scored on an overthrow to third and Abbie Murrell doubled, got to third on a passed ball and scored on a groundout.

“They bounced back real quick. If we would have had a shut-down inning there, it could have been a little different,” said Provost.

Volk then settled down after the rough fourth inning and shut down the Trojans the rest of the way.

“We put some pressure on them in the fourth inning, we stranded a couple runners, but again, Lilly did a tremendous job today,” said Provost.

Provost explained that one problem was his offense not attacking early in the count.

“That first pitch was a first pitch strike almost every time, consistently ”¦ we just weren’t as aggressive as we should have been with the first pitch,” said Provost.

Thornton ace Bailey Tremblay battled throughout her six innings of work, but was unable to hold down the potent Red Storm attack.

“This was not a Bailey day. She struggled from right out of the gate and struggled for a while,” said Provost.

Despite her struggles, Provost said he wouldn’t have wanted anyone else in the circle with the game on the line.

“This wasn’t her best performance, but there is no quit in that kid. I would have thrown her for the next 20 innings,” said Provost.

Tremblay ends her high school career ”“ along with fellow seniors Brooke Cross and Keira Fitzgerald ”“ as the winningest class in school history.

“I just told my three seniors, this is the most successful four-year run in Thornton Academy history,” said Provost. “(Thornton Academy) had never been to the Western Maine (finals) in school history, over 200 years, and they were here two years in a row.”

NOTES: Scarborough will play Messalonskee (16-3) for the Class A state championship at noon on Saturday in Augusta ”¦ The regional championship was the fifth since 2007 for the Red Storm, who have played in nine straight regional finals.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.