TOPSHAM — Mt. Ararat High School softball pitcher Alana Weaver and Hampden Academy hurler Julia Sicard pitched their best when runners advanced into scoring position. Figure, the Broncos were 2-for-11 in those situations, while the Eagles finished 3-of-13.
In the end, it was a key two-run double by Mt. Ararat’s Katelyn Cox in the sixth inning that gave the Eagles some breathing room in a 5-2 Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference victory on Monday.
Mt. Ararat, which came in one spot out of a playoff position in Eastern Maine Class A, improved to 4-7, while Hampden dropped to 2-9.
“That has sort have been, offensively and defensively, our pattern lately,” said Mt. Ararat co-coach Al Graffam of his Eagles. “We have been playing pretty good defense despite a couple hiccups today. It would be nice to start stringing some hits together. But, we went from Erika Brochu of Cony throwing 65 mile per hour riseballs (a 5-1 loss on Friday) to what we saw today. We were able to get enough when we needed them. We have been close, so hopefully today is a start.”
“That is the way it goes, and we just couldn’t seem to square one up when it really counted,” said Hampden coach Rodney Wells, whose Broncos hit the road for Lewiston on Wednesday. “We try to focus on the positive. Negative brings negative.”
Hampden strung a single together each from Sicard and Brooklin Scott (2-for-4) with one out in the first inning, but Weaver picked up her first strikeout and a ground ball to escape unscathed.
Sicard wasn’t as fortunate in the Mt. Ararat first. Kayleigh Temple walked and moved to third on a double by Cox. After a walk to Sara Lamb loaded the bases, a Kate Guerin grounder was misplayed for an error and a 1-0 Eagles lead. With two outs, Sam Gonyea dropped a single into left field for a 2-0 Eagles lead.
The Broncos cut their deficit in half in the second as Cassandra McKay (2-for-3) singled to score Courtney Dunton, who had doubled with one out.
But, the Eagles answered right back in their second at-bat, with Weaver doubling, moving to third on a wild pitch and to home when a Sicard offering bounced to the backstop.
A double by Scott with one out in the Broncos third went for naught, and Hampden put runners at the corners with one out in the fourth. But, a line drive caught by Weaver and a nice running catch by center-fielder Belle Benner ended the threat.
“Belle did an amazing job,” said Weaver after watching Benner haul in six fly balls. “Everyone did so well. (Catcher) Kayleigh (Temple) calls my pitches, so I just listen to her.”
Hampden drew to 3-2 in the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Emily Dysart (2-for-3). With runners at second and third later in the frame, a grounder to Mt. Ararat third baseman Zoe Stilphen turned into a close play at the plate, with Temple making the tag on Paige Yost to end the frame.
Mt. Ararat gained some insurance in the sixth. Rhiannon Hersey, who was 2-for-2 after entering the game in the fourth inning, singled and was sacrificed 60 feet by Stilphen. Weaver walked, and one out later Cox drove a Sicard offering to the fence in right-center field for a 5-2 lead.
“Katelyn Cox may be leading the league in line drives hit right at people,” said Graffam after watching his No. 3 hitter go 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. “She is just scalding the ball. She lined right back to the pitcher today, and if she doesn’t catch it, it takes her head off.”
Weaver closed things out with her only 1-2-3 frame of the contest. She struck out five, walked one and permitted nine Hampden Academy hits.
“It was good to get Alana some confidence,” said Graffam, whose squad hosts Edward Little on Wednesday at 4 p.m. “She is a smart pitcher and has some control.”
Sicard pitched well in defeat, surrendering nine hits, walking four and picking up three strikeouts. Broncos catcher Lindie Fogg threw a Mt. Ararat runner out attempting to steal.
Hampden — 010 010 0 — 2-9-1
Mt. Ararat — 210 002 X — 5-9-2
Julia Sicard and Lindie Fogg; Alana Weaver and Kayleigh Temple.
Doubles — (H) Courtney Dunton, Brooklin Scott; (MtA) Katelyn Cox 2, Alana Weaver.
Repeat hitters — (H) Brooklin Scott, Cassandra McKay, Emily Dysart; (MtA) Alana Weaver, Rhiannon Hersey, Katelyn Cox.
Records — Mt. Ararat 4-7, Hampden Academy 2-9.