North Yarmouth Academy used a 10-run first inning and a complete game from sophomore right-hander Lily Fortin to beat Penobscot Valley High School of Howland 14-4 in six innings in the Class D softball state championship Saturday at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.
Fortin struck out nine and limited the Howlers to a single rally, scattering hits while working out of trouble in the middle innings. After Penobscot Valley cut the deficit to 10-4 in the third, she held them scoreless the rest of the way.
NYA’s offense exploded in the opening frame. Reese Weaver jump-started things with a walk and stolen base and later added both an RBI single and a triple. Fortin helped her own cause with two triples and three RBIs, Cami Casserly ripped an RBI double, Aurora Blier added an RBI single, and Mia Desgrosseilliers dropped a two-run single into right. Abby Sweeney then ripped a two-run triple over the center fielder’s head, later scoring herself.
Penobscot Valley was only able to answer with four runs in the third. Lauren Veino lashed a two-run double into the right-center gap, Rylee Moulton added a sacrifice fly, and another run scored on a ball that skipped past the plate, trimming NYA’s lead to 10-4.
The Panthers pushed it to 12-4 in the bottom half, taking advantage of an error that scored Weaver and Sweeney before Jordan Nash lined an RBI single to left. Fortin and the NYA defense then blanked the Howlers in the fourth, fifth and top of the sixth to preserve the margin.
NYA ended it in the bottom of the sixth. Leading 12-4 and needing two runs to reach the 10-run threshold, the Panthers loaded the bases for Isabel Hinckley, who lined a two-run double to the gap. One run scored easily, then Casserly came home with the walk-off run.
Once the Panthers noticed it triggered the mercy rule, they celebrated the state title.