For the Mt. Abram softball team, the playoffs really began almost two weeks ago.
“Actually back in the Dirigo game, we felt that we still hadn’t beat any teams worth any points,” said Mt. Abram coach Jeff Pillsbury of the May 19th rematch with the Cougars. “We’ve been in playoff mode for the last five or six games.”
The Roadrunners (8-8) have been doing pretty well with the pressure on. Mt. Abram knocked off the Cougars that day, 6-1, and have been winning some crucial games down the stretch, including their final three to secure the final tournament spot in Western C.
“I knew we definitely had to win,” said Pillsbury. “When we beat Dirigo earlier in the year, I thought that would keep us ahead of Livermore. Then they beat Telstar. I knew after we beat Lisbon that we had to win.”
Mt. Abram won its final two games last week with back-to-back wins over playoff-bound Jay and Winthrop, giving it just enough to eke out the Andies. They finished the year winning seven of their last nine after a 2-6 start.
“We put ourselves in a hole, but the girls have been playing some good ball of late,” said Pillsbury.
He chalks up some of the success to a pitching switch he made two weeks ago for that Dirigo win. He put in senior Sara Martin, who has gone unbeaten down the stretch. Though senior Megan Buxton had pitched well for much of the year, she hadn’t gotten much support defensively.
“I made a pitching change – kind of a desperation thing, and Sara got a win in the Dirigo game,” said Pillsbury, who says his team has shored up the defense and gotten more productive at the plate. “Sara’s pitched well, and we’ve gotten on a little bit of a roll.”
The Roadrunners have earned a preliminary game at Madison (11-5) Tuesday, a team it lost to by a run in last year’s prelims. Mt. Abram lost to the Bulldogs twice early in the season but go into this game with newfound confidence.
Madison won 8-4 and 12-3. Both teams hit the ball well in the two outings, but Mt. Abram didn’t play well in the field.
“The girls have worked hard, and they’re playing some good ball,” said Pillsbury. “I hope that carries over. We’re going in expecting to win and not just happy to be there.”
It won’t be the only MVC rematch happening Tuesday. Two other local games feature MVC foes reuniting. Winthrop (9-5) hosts Jay (8-8). The Tigers won the only regular season match back in April, 2-0. Monmouth (9-7) will play at Hall-Dale (10-6), a team the Mustangs had a doubleheader with just over a week ago. The Bulldogs swept, 4-1 and 7-4, but Monmouth committed 10 errors between the two games and held Hall-Dale to just seven hits on the day.
Tuesday’s preliminaries also have two local teams playing familiar SMAA clubs. Lewiston (10-6) hosts McAuley (10-6), a team it beat 5-3. In another Western A match, Edward Little (9-7) plays at South Portland (9-7). The Red Eddies beat the Red Riots.
In Eastern A, Oxford Hills (9-7) won’t see a team it is familiar with but has the comforts of home. With the exception of regional and state championship games, the Vikings have only had to play two road tournament games since 1997.
“This is a different team than what we’ve had in the past,” said coach Cindy Goddard. “It will be nice to have that first one for them to be a home. It helps get things going.”
The Vikings are a much younger group and less experienced than the Oxford Hills teams of the past. Though their inexperienced showed early on, they bring a strong sense of confidence into Tuesday’s game with Nokomis (5-11). A win earns them a third try at Leavitt Thursday.
“I think they’re excited,” said Goddard. “They’re excited to have one at home. They’re excited to be here. The beginning of the season was a little rough, but we’ve played with some of the top teams. They’ve been playing pretty consistent, and they’re ready for the tournament.”
In Western B, Oak Hill (11-5) hosts York. The Wildcats (8-8) have lost six of their last nine games but snuck into the final playoff spot. York faces a more experienced Oak Hill club that has been to the semifinals the last two years and three times in the last five playoffs. York hasn’t reached the quarterfinals since 1994 and has not won a playoff game since 1991, the year it won the regional final.
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