HODGDON, Maine — Second-year Hodgdon High School softball coach Sarah Williams didn’t know what to expect from her relatively young team as the Hawks hosted their first playoff game in a number of years June 7, 2016.
After all, the Hawks have just two seniors, three juniors and a bundle of sophomores on the roster this year, none of whom had any postseason softball experience.
No. 8 Hodgdon responded nicely as the team collected 12 hits, including a walk-off home run by sophomore Megan Russell in the bottom of the fifth inning, as the Hawks soared past No. 9 Shead, 17-3, in a Class D North prelim game shortened via the mercy rule. The Tigerettes of Eastport finish 7-10.
With the victory, Hodgdon (7-8) advanced to the quarterfinals for a trip to No. 1 Stearns of Millinocket last Thursday (See related story).
“We have been working on this game all week,” Williams said. “Staying mentally focused is a big thing for us, and we did that today. We were also aggressive on the bases today, which puts the other team on their toes and helps keep us focused.”
Russell bashed a pair of home runs in the game and also added a single with three runs scored and six RBIs. Kora Lambert, Lexi McGuire and Sydney Crane each had two singles for the Hawks. McGuire and Lambert also scored three times.
Brooke Robinson had two singles and scored a run to pace Shead.
Taylor Desrosier pitched the win for Hodgdon as she scattered three runs on six hits and one walk, with two strikeouts. Taylor Kilby took the loss for Shead as she yielded eight hits and five walks with three strikeouts before being relieved by Robinson midway through the fourth inning. Robinson gave up two hits and one walk with no strikeouts.
The Hawks ran on Shead, stealing 10 bases.
Russell picked a good time to have a breakout game at the plate, according to her coach.
“Megan had been struggling a bit lately, so it was really great to see her swing the bat so well today,” Williams said. “I am so proud of her.”
“We worked hard all season to get to this point, and it’s starting to pay off now,” Russell said. “The key for us today was heart. Sometimes our attitudes are off, or we just aren’t in the game, but today it was great. We played with heart.”
Shead 111 00 — 3 6 3
Hodgdon 161 63 — 17 12 1
