Red Storm Softball

Biddeford knocks off undefeated Scarborough

STANDISH — Biddeford High’s softball team has come so close so many times against Scarborough only to lose in the final inning.

Tuesday afternoon, the Tigers made up for all those missed opportunities.

CLASS A TITLE GAME

WHO: Biddeford (15-4) vs. Skowhegan
WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: St. Joseph’s College
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Erin Martin singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning as third-ranked Biddeford turned back top-ranked and previously-unbeaten Scarborough 9-7 in a wild Class A South championship game at Bailey Field at St. Joseph’s College.

The Tigers saw a 7-2 lead evaporate in mere minutes as Scarborough struck for five runs in the bottom of the sixth. But Biddeford pulled together and scored twice in the seventh to win its first regional championship since 2008.

“Honestly, I don’t even feel this is real,” said Kirsten Lebreux, the winning pitcher. “It feels so great.”

Biddeford (15-4) will play Skowhegan in the Class A state championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Joe’s. Scarborough finished 18-1.

“We’re fearless,” said Brook Davis, Biddeford’s outstanding sophomore catcher. “We came to this game with nothing to lose.”

This was a stunning slugfest from the very first pitch, which was slammed into center field by Martin for an out. Biddeford got 15 hits off Lilly Volk and Abbie Murrell and scored almost as many runs in this game as Scarborough had given up all year (11).

“The game plan was to stay aggressive,” said Biddeford Coach Ray Magnant. “Lilly Volk doesn’t walk many batters, Scarborough’s pitchers don’t walk many batters. We need to stay aggressive, attack the ball. And they listened. We’re a great hitting team. And when we stay aggressive, we’re even better.”

Biddeford appeared to pull away with four runs in the top of the fifth to lead 7-2. Alex Chase drove in two for the Tigers with a single and Amber Magnant also had an RBI single. The fourth run scored on an overthrow.

But Scarborough didn’t get this far without a potent offense. And with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the thunder struck. Maggie Murphy laced a two-run double to make it 7-4. After a single by Chloe Gorey, sophomore Chloe Griffin hammered a long home run off the roof of the equipment shack behind the left-field fence to tie it.

“I wish we could have played a couple more innings,” said Scarborough Coach Tom Griffin. “It just wasn’t in the bag. The kids battled all year and give them credit, they battled to the end.”

But Biddeford didn’t fold. Chase led off with a single to left. After an out, Amber Magnant reached on a dribbler down the third-base line. Martin followed with a ground single into left and Chase scored to make it 8-7.

“I just stayed calm,” said Martin. “But everyone hit today. I’m so proud of them.”

Martin said no one got down after the Red Storm tied it.

“We’re teammates,” she said. “We all helped each other calm down. Next play. Next play, that’s what we talked about.”

Murrell led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. But Lebreux got a strikeout and two foul pops to Davis to end the game and set up a wild celebration at home plate.

“I grew up with this team,” said Chase. “This entire game, I had chills going through my body and I’m just so proud to be part of this team. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Batteries—Lebreux and Davis; Volk, Murrell (5) and Ricker.
WP—Lebreux (14-4). LP—Murrell (4-1).
2B—S, Murphy, Gorey, Murrell.
HR—S, Griffin.
Repeat hitters—B, Moody, 3, G. Martin, 3, E. Martin, Chase, Magnant; Gorey, Griffin, Murrell, Powell.

Date: June 14, 2016     Time: 3:30pm      Venue: St. Josephs College