BANGOR, Maine — It was Seniors Day at Bangor High School for nine members of the Ram softball team Friday afternoon, and they were honored before their game against Cony High School of Augusta.
But Cony’s Arika Brochu was the only senior who went home happy.
Brochu scattered five hits and Bangor committed a season-high eight errors leading to six unearned runs as Cony snapped Bangor’s seven-game winning streak 7-5.
Junior shortstop Autumn Sudsbury drove in four runs with a pair of singles including a two-out two-run base hit in the sixth inning that snapped a 5-5 tie.
She also handled seven chances flawlessly.
Cony made just one error.
The visiting Rams, who had just three hits, improved to 13-3 with their fifth straight win while Bangor fell to 13-2 and was held under 10 runs for the first time in eight games.
“This was one of the best games of my career,” said Sudsbury. “I was proud that I didn’t make any errors.”
“[Sudsbury] got the game ball today. She was phenomenal defensively,” said Cony coach Rocky Gaslin. “Our girls had the will to win today.”
Brochu struck out six, walked two and hit two batters. She threw 112 pitches, 76 for strikes.
“I had been mentally preparing throughout the day because they’re probably the best hitting team we faced all year,” said Brochu. “I knew I had to really mix it up to keep them on their toes.”
Cony jumped out to a 4-0 lead but Bangor chipped away and took a 5-4 lead with three runs in the fifth on Cordelia Stewart’s RBI single and a pair of run-producing wild pitches.
But Cony rallied for three in the top of the sixth to take the lead for good and Brochu retired six of the last seven hitters.
Cony’s Haley Ward opened the sixth by getting hit by an Emily Reilly pitch and, one out and a wild pitch later, Brochu was walked intentionally for the fourth straight time.
Following a strikeout, Delaney Keithley put down a bunt that went for a hit and when a throwing error was made, the tying run crossed the plate.
Sudsbury followed by lining a two-run single into left center field.
“The pitch was a little high and I like the high ones,” said Sudsbury. “I just saw it and hit it. It felt good.”
“It was a mistake on my part,” said Reilly. “It was too much over the plate.”
“Defensively, we just had one of those days. Seniors Day is always the toughest day to play,” said Bangor coach Don Stanhope.
Cony scored three times in the first inning as Brochu started the rally by being intentionally walked with two outs and nobody on base.
Brochu, who had homered and singled in a 2-1 loss to Bangor on April 28, said she was surprised by the move.
“I wouldn’t want to put somebody on base just because of that. I’d make them [be] a hitter,” said Brochu, who was presented a rose by the Bangor girls before the game for being a senior. Brochu said the gesture was “very thoughtful.”
She stole second and scored on an infield throwing error.
A walk, a stolen base and another throwing error put runners on second and third, and Sudsbury delivered them with a ground ball single to center.
A walk, a sacrifice and another throwing error gave Cony another run in the second.
Sydni Cosgrove produced a third-inning run for Bangor by being hit by a pitch and eventually stealing home.
Sarah Bragg’s triple and Kylie Cunningham’s two-out single cut the lead to 4-2 in the fourth.
Sudsbury was Cony’s only repeat hitter while Emily Gilmore doubled and singled for Bangor.