RICHMOND

The uniforms are still red and yellow, and Ken Farrington, who announced he was retiring after last season, was back on the bench as the Buckfield High School softball team took the field against arch-nemesis Richmond in an East-West Conference showdown on Thursday.

That was about all the similarities between these two teams that have met in the past seven Western Maine Class D title games, as the Bobcats scored in every inning on the way to a sixinning, 13-1 Mercy Rule victory.

Richmond (2-0) ripped nine singles, walked 10 times and stole nine bases in a dominating performance from start to finish.

“I didn’t know if Ken was going to be there or not, and he is such a great coach, but it is still Richmond-Buckfield, and even though I heard they may be down a little bit, you still have to play and they are our rivals,” said Richmond coach Rick Coughlin, whose team hosts Rangeley on Saturday at noon.

“ You have to go into it thinking it will be a close game because they always come ready to play,” said Richmond pitcher Leandra Martin, who threw a nohitter with 10 strikeouts.

Ciarra Lancaster was 3- for- 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while lead-off hitter Danica Hurley reached base three times on two singles and a walk, scoring three runs. Lindsy Hoopingarner finished 2-for-4 and drove in a team- high three runs. In the field, Hurley made several solid plays at shortstop.

“We made just one move ( Brianna Snedeker from first base to second), and the defense is very solid, something I think will surprise a lot of the teams we face,” said Coughlin.

The scoring begins

Hurley began things for Richmond with a walk against Buckfield starter pitcher Brianna Darling. She advanced all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Snedeker and scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 Bobcats lead.

The lead doubled in the second thanks to two Buckfield (0-1) errors, and in the third, Richmond plated two more runs for a 4-0 edge. Hoopingarner drove in Hurley, and Alyssa Pearson plated Hoopingarner.

Andra Meagher got things going for Richmond in the fourth, walking to open the frame and stealing second. Jaime Plummer walked, with Hurley moving the runners up with a bunt. Snedeker singled to make it a 6-0 game.

Buckfield took advantage of a pair of Richmond errors to score its run in the fifth inning as Hannah Gallant came home, but the Bobcats got that run back in the home half of the frame when pinchrunner Marlena Carter scored on a wild pitch.

Martin struck out the final batter she faced in the sixth.

“ Leandra wants the ball every game and is doing well,” said Coughlin. “She just no-hit Buckfield! That is something that never happens.”

“I knew I had to mix it up because they are a good-hitting team,” said Martin. It is tough to stay warm with it being a little bit cold, so I throw in between innings. We beat Telstar and Monmouth in the preseason, which kept us fresh.”

Richmond put things away in the sixth, scoring six runs on four hits. Kelsie Obi singled to start the sixth, with Hurley, Hoopingarner and Lancaster adding a single each.

Darling allowed eight hits, walked six and struck out five before giving way to Amber Arsenault, who permitted one single and walked four.

Richmond 13, Buckfield 1

At Richmond High School
Buckfield — 000 010 — 1-0-2
Richmond — 112 216 — 13-9-3
Brianna Darling, Amber Arsenault (6) and
Abby Bragg; Leandra Martin and Lindsy
Hoopingarner.
Repeat hitters — (R) Danica Hurley,
Lindsy Hoopingarner, Ciarra Lancaster
(3).
Records — Richmond 2-0, Buckfield 0-1.
Next for the Bobcats — Saturday at home
against Rangeley, noon.