KENTS HILL — The Maranacook and Sacopee Valley softball teams split a doubleheader earlier this season.
On Thursday, the final, deciding blow of the series came from Sacopee Valley, which beat Maranacook 7-2 in a Class C South quarterfinal.
The Hawks (13-5) will play the winner of Oak Hill-Hall-Dale in the regional semifinals. The Black Bears finished 13-5.
Keira Greene led the way for Sacopee, with three singles and three RBIs. Teammate Lindsay Fox added three singles and two RBIs.
“It feels great,” Greene said. “It was really great to go back (against Maranacook) and really show them what we really are made of.”
“This is a very satisfying win,” Sacopee first-year head coach Chris Sanborn added. “We came here to play softball, we’re here to go for that state tournament (title).”
Up 2-1 entering the sixth inning, Sacopee broke things open, scoring five runs in the final two innings. The Hawks finished with 14 hits. Sacopee also proved dangerous on the base paths, with five steals.
Hawks pitcher Elyse Guptill kept Maranacook at bay, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out nine.
“(Guptill) is a rock solid pitcher,” Sanborn said.
Maranacook shortstop Shylah Woodford covers second as Sacopee baserunner Emma Boulanger slides in safely during a Class C South softball quarterfinal game Thursday at Kents Hill School. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
Due to inclement weather, the game was moved to Kents Hill, with both teams having to adjust to playing on an artificial surface.
“Defense was key, especially on turf,” Greene said. “We never played on turf before. Just to adapt, we did great. The bats were on and was great.”
Despite offensive struggles, Maranacook showed fight throughout. Down 2-0 in the fourth inning, Kaleigh Kubicki reached base on a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. She later stole third base and scored on an overthrow to cut Sacopee’s lead to 2-1.
Grace Dwyer plated Shylah Woodford on an RBI single in the sixth inning for Maranacook’s second run. Alyssa Michaud also had a hit for the Black Bears.
“(Sacopee) was the better team today,” Maranacook head coach Don Beckwith said. “They put a lot of pressure on us early. We didn’t hit the ball the way we’re capable of hitting. Give their pitcher credit, because she did a great job… We’ll move on and get better next year.”
Alexis Michaud went the distance in the circle for the Black Bears, striking out nine while walking four.
The Hawks and Black Bears faced each other in a doubleheader in Readfield on May 7. Maranacook dropped a 4-0 contest in the first game before coming back with a 4-3 victory.
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