Though Buckfield and Richmond appear to be the two top teams in Western Maine Class D, the Bucks continue to dominate the series between the two clubs.
Buckfield (10-2) completed the series sweep with the Bobcats Monday with an 11-0 win. The Bucks beat Richmond 9-1 earlier in the year.
“We really seem to step up for them,” said Buckfield coach Dan Jack. “I saw where they gave Sacopee Valley a run for their money. Sacopee only beat them 3-0.”
Last year, the Bucks beat Richmond twice in the regular season and then handed them a 12-1 loss in the regional final en route to the state championship.
Pitching has been the biggest difference between the two rivals. In the last five meetings, Richmond has managed a total of 12 hits.
Buckfield senior hurler Danielle Buswell has nullified the Bobcat bats during her career and continues to do so this season. She struck out 13 in the 9-1 victory. The Bobcats did manage five hits in that game, but Monday, she K’d 10 and gave up just two hits.
“They can’t catch up to her,” said Jack, whose been calling all the pitches this season and has gotten great assistance from catcher Colleen Violette. “She’s got five different pitches. She’s really comfortable with Colleen. I think a good catcher makes a good pitcher look even better. Right now, she’s really pitching well.”
Meanwhile, the Bucks have had plenty of offense against Richmond. Buckfield has scored 59 runs against the Bobcats the last two seasons. Though Sarah Coonradt is a quality pitcher for the Bobcats, the Bucks have been able to produce against her. Sacopee coach Tim Vacchiano marvelled at the Bucks bats when his club, currently ranked No. 1 in Western C, eked out a win over Buckfield in nine innings.
“We’re going to be there to hit,” said Jack. “Usually the first good pitch we see, we hit.”
Emily Johnson led the hit parade this year against Richmond. She drove in four runs between the two games and had multiple hits in each. Monday, Violette had three hits and Buswell two in the 11-0 win.
The Bucks are favorities to defend their regional crown. Their only losses this season came against Class C foes, Sacopee Valley and St. Dom’s. It is likely that the Bucks may face Richmond again, but it will be the same ingredients that could spell success.
“We still have to hit the ball,” said Jack. “We don’t want Richmond thinking they can win the game. If we don’t hit, that helps make it closer.”
Last-minute surge
Livermore Falls and Mt. Abram are coming off significant wins that could boost their playoff hopes. Both the Andies and Roadrunners were out of the playoff picture according to the latest Heals. Livermore was 13th and Mt. Abram 14th. The Andies, however, beat Jay Monday and Mt. Abram toppled Dirigo. Both wins should be worth some points and a surge in the standings. The top 11 squads make the postseason in Western C.
Next Tuesday and Wednesday could be significant finals days for both teams as well as others in the MVC. The Andies play Madison and Carrabec respectively while Mt. Abram travels to Jay and Winthrop.
Another team chasing a playoff spot is Poland.
The Knights were ranked 11th, the last spot in Western B. Gorham and Falmouth aren’t far behind.
Poland has second-ranked Cape Friday and sixth-ranked Gray-New Gloucester next Tuesday.
One injury, many changes
Replacing one player in the lineup isn’t as easy as it sounds. Winthrop is discovering that. The Ramblers lost third baseman Renee St. Hilaire in a collision against Madison. The junior suffered an ACL injury and a leg fracture that ended her season and could jeopardize her soccer season.
Losing St. Hilaire has forced Winthrop to jostle the infield around, making it difficult to shore up the defense with new people in a variety of positions. Nicole Emery has moved from second to third while Heather Babb has left the outfield for second. Freshman Kelli Lascko has stepped into the outfield.
“When you move three kids around, it’s going to take some time to get them comfortable in spots,” said Winthrop coach Tom Hill. “They’re in situations they haven’t been in before. Now we’re in the middle of the season and there’s no practice time. We’re making up games and we don’t have time to get on the field and practice. It’s going to take some time.”
St. Hilaire had already spent much of this school year battling injury. During soccer season, she had a concussion and a bone bruise and slight fracture on her foot. She played through that and helped her team reach the regional final. She missed the start of basketball season but returned after her foot injuries healed.
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