MILLINOCKET, Maine — On the road June 9, 2016 in a Class D North quarterfinal, the No. 8 Hodgdon softball squad proved no match for top-ranked Stearns in a 21-3 loss.
“Stearns is a very good team,” Hodgdon coach Sarah Williams said. “They had it all together both defensively and offensively and their pitching was awesome.”
Stearns blasted 17 hits and ace pitcher Jess Girsa tossed a four-hitter, with eight strikeouts to end the game in the fifth inning via the mercy rule. Girsa, Lauren Jamo and Abby Russell had three hits apiece for 15-2 Stearns and Jamo and Russell each drove in three runs.
Cassidy McLeod, Emma Alley, Audrey Dunstan, Grace Farrington and Peighton Ingersoll had two hits each for Stearns.
“Offensively they were patient, but struck the ball very well when they did hit,” coach Williams said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game but the girls showed up with focus and determination and played them the best they could. We scored the first run of the game so that was a highlight for us. Coming into the dugout after the second inning Sidney Crane commented, ‘they are just a really good team.’ That comment sparked the attitudes for the rest of the game and the girls continued to play their best, keep a light attitude about it, and even managed to have a little fun.”
Hodgdon’s Taylor Desrosiers scored the first run of the game. She reached first on a dropped third strike to start the game, stole second, and made it home on a Tianna McEwen RBI. Grace Graham and Tianna McEwen both singled.
“It was an incredible season,” coach Williams said. “At the beginning of the season we set two goals as a team. One goal was geared toward scoring lots of runs for our ‘#runsforAddie’ fundraiser and the other goal was to earn a home playoff game. Both of those goals were accomplished as we ended the season with 173 runs, and not only did we earn a home playoff, but made it one game further. I am very proud of the team and look forward to continuing success next season.”
The Hawks finished with a 7-8 record.
