HERMON, Maine — The undefeated Hermon High School softball team wasted little time building a healthy lead against rival Old Town on Tuesday afternoon.
The Hawks scored four first-inning runs and senior left-hander Karli Theberge tossed a tidy three-hitter as Hermon improved to 11-0 with a 9-0 victory.
Old Town fell to 8-3, with two of those losses coming at the hands of Hermon.
Hermon triumphed 9-1 on May 3.
Hermon has scored at least 10 runs in its other nine victories.
“Our goal is to come out strong in that first at-bat and put up runs,” said Hermon coach Megan McCrum. “We try to do that every game and we’ve done a pretty good job of it.”
Laura Zenk started the rally by pushing a thigh-high bunt past third baseman Lauren Gasaway for a base hit.
One out later, Theberge walked and Hailey Perry flaired a single into left to load the bases. Freshman Bre Oakes grounded a sharp two-run single to left and, one out later, Chloe Raymond ripped a two-run single through the pitching circle.
“We look for pitches to hit,” said Oakes. “We do a lot of hitting in practice and it pays off in the games.”
“We had solid at-bats,” said Theberge, who was backed by a 13-hit attack. “Everybody is doing very well.”
Hermon added a pair of runs in the second and three more in the third.
In the second, Katie Windsor walked and the speedy Zenk beat out an infield hit on which an error was made.
Deanna Phipps’ sacrifice fly delivered Windsor and Zenk scored on Theberge’s double into the left-center field gap.
Two hit batsmen opened the third-inning rally and Lexey MacManus singled to load the bases.
Zenk followed with a two-run single to center and Perry singled home the final run.
Theberge allowed just three singles with seven strikeouts and no walks. She threw 58 strikes among her 87 pitches while improving to 9-0.
“Karli was a beast on the mound today,” said McCrum.
“My defense was phenomenal,” said Theberge, whose mates made just one error behind her.
“They played very good defense,” said Old Town coach Jenn Plourde.
Theberge said she threw “everything” including a fastball, change-up, drop, drop curve, screwball and curve.
“She threw a lot of junk and she did a good job keeping it outside or inside,” said Old Town junior third baseman Gasaway. “She’s a good pitcher. She knows what to do.”
Zenk and Raymond each had three singles and two RBIs for the winners. Theberge doubled and singled and Oakes and Perry each had two singles.
Caitlin King, Natalie St. Louis and Gasaway each had a single for Old Town.
Freshman Olivia Albert tossed three innings of impressive four-hit, shutout relief.