BREWER, Maine — It didn’t take long for the Stearns High School softball team to find itself trailing 2-0 in its first Eastern Maine championship game appearance since 1988.
Defending Eastern Maine Class D champion Limestone Community School/Maine School of Science and Mathematics, making its third appearance in the regional title game in the last four years, scored a pair of first-inning runs, but the resilient Lady Minutemen scored seven of the next eight runs and captured their first-ever regional championship 12-7 last Tuesday at Coffin Field.
Sophomore shortstop Audrey Dunstan drove in four runs with a three-run homer and two singles, and sophomore center fielder Hannah Brooker highlighted a tie-breaking four-run fifth-inning rally with a two-run double as Stearns improved to 14-6.
Stearns went on to fall to Richmond in the state final Saturday.
The Eagles wound up 16-3.
Junior right-hander Jessicca Girsa pitched a complete game to pick up the win. She gave up 12 hits and walked three while striking out one.
“We’ve been known for our comebacks this year,” said Girsa. “We don’t worry about what has happened before. We just go on to the next play.”
Stearns began its comeback with two runs in the third on Emma Alley’s infield single, two walks, Cassidy McLeod’s run-producing fielder’s choice and Dunstan’s RBI single to center.
Stearns took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on Alley’s bunt single and Girsa’s double, but Jackie Peers’ RBI triple tied it in the bottom of the fourth.
Stearns took the lead for good in the fifth when Dunstan walked, moved to third on a groundout and a wild pitch and scored on a wild pitch.
Two walks later, Brooker lined her double to left to make it 6-3 and eventually scored on a sacrifice pop-up to second by Alley.
Limestone answered with two in the bottom of the fifth on consecutive two-out singles by Maddy Williams, Morganne Emery and Annie Sinclair (RBI) and a catcher’s throwing error.
But the Lady Minutemen broke the game open with five seventh-inning runs, all coming with two outs.
Morrison hit a leadoff single and went to second on an outfield error.
Two outs later, Girsa ripped an RBI single to center. She continued to second on the throw to the plate and scored on a sharp single by Lauren Jamo.
A double-error later, Dunstan launched her second homer of the season over the center field fence.
Limestone committed five errors and pitcher Elly Bencivenga, who suffered a back injury making a play early in the game, issued seven walks.
“I dove for a line drive and something happened to my back. After that, I knew something wasn’t right,” said Bencivenga, who felt she didn’t have much zip on her ball after that.
“This was not the game we expected,” said Eagles coach Jamie Albert. “We didn’t play well defensively, and we didn’t get timely hits. The better team won today.”
“We didn’t play a great game today,” said junior second baseman Peers, who paced her team with a triple, double, two singles and an RBI.
“We beat ourselves. We had an off day. I don’t think they’re better than us, but Stearns is definitely a good team,” said Bencivenga.
Girsa doubled and singled and drove in a pair for the winners.
Williams and Emery each doubled and singled for the Eagles, Sinclair singled twice, and Kassee Albert doubled.
