Buckfield holds off Richmond to grab the Western D softball title.
GORHAM – It was a moment they all may have tried to prepare for, but not one the members of the Buckfield softball team expected or wanted.
With the Western Class D title at stake Tuesday afternoon and a one-run deficit entering their final at-bat standing between them and a second straight title, the Bucks faced their biggest test of the season. They passed, findingthe two runs they needed to thwart Richmond’s upset hopes with a 5-4 victory.
“That was about as tough at it gets in that last inning,” said Buckfield coach Dan Jack. “When you’ve got to get a run in the regional final, that’s tough to get going. Any little thing you don’t do right, you lose the game. We executed to a tee and came away with a win.”
The Bucks claimed their second straight regional title by producing two runs in the final inning on two hits and fine fundamental softball from the top of the order. Danielle Buswell’s single up the middle broke the 4-4 tie and downed the Bobcats for the second straight year.
“It was rough obviously,” said Emily Johnson, who missed last year’s state title run with a broken leg. “We were really confident coming into the game. I thought we were unprepared for that last inning, but we came together really well. We all relaxed. You realize that if you don’t relax, it’s not going to happen. If you do, it might.”
Richmond scored the go-ahead run in the top of the inning when Missy Beckwith doubled in a run. The favored Bucks started the rally with a leadoff single from Coleen Violette. After Marci Litchfield moved her to second, Charlee Hayes reached on a bunt.
“I said to her, ‘I think we should bunt, what do you think?'” Jack said. “She said, ‘If you want me to bunt, I’ll bunt.’ She executed perfectly.”
Hayes stole second to set things up for Johnson. She hit a chopper down to second that allowed Violette to score the tying run.
“I wanted to put the ball in play,” said Johnson. “I was really surprised that I lucked out.”
Buswell followed with a line drive up the middle that scored pinch runner Heidi Darling for the game-winner.
“I just saw the ball and hit it,” said Buswell. “I had confidence in myself and the team to come through with only one out and a person on third.”
The Bucks appeared to be cruising toward another title through the first five innings. Buckfield scored twice in the first inning thanks to three Richmond errors. Johnson’s bunt for a base hit scored Violette, and an error on a Buswell hit brought in Litchfield.
That seemed like all Buswell would need. She struck out nine of the first 15 batters she faced and allowed just two hits through the first five innings. She finished with 13 strikeouts.
In the sixth, things unraveled for the Bucks. The Bobcats took advantage of three Buckfield errors and built some confidence at the plate against Buswell. They scored three runs to take a 3-2 lead.
“I’ve got to tip my hat to Richmond,” said Jack. “They were tough. Their pitcher (Sarah Coonradt) was tough. Their defense was tough. They made it tough for us offensively. They stepped up big time.”
The Bucks tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Tiffany Dunn had an infield hit, stole second and took third on a Mandy Roy hit. Dunn scored on a nice Lindsay Marston bunt down the first baseline.
“We knew we had to come back on offense and finish the inning,” said Buswell. “We had to come back on defense. I had confidence in us. Don’t let down and don’t give up.”
Richmond retook the lead in the top of the seventh on back-to-back doubles by Jasmine Lambert and Missy Beckwith.
“I was really proud that we didn’t break under pressure,” said Jack. “That was all seniors that last inning. They kept their composure in the tough situation, and that’s what it takes.”
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