Third time’s the charm as Bonny Eagle softball ousts Westbrook
Bonny Eagle softball advanced to the Class A South final after defeating Westbrook 7‑3 in a semifinal held Saturday in Standish. The second‑seeded Scots had dropped both regular‑season meetings with the third‑seeded Blue Blazes, but a rapid start and solid pitching turned the contest in their favor.
The Scots opened the game with three runs in the first inning, as Madison Weeks reached on a double, Lily Regan drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, and Emily Ireland added another with a single. A two‑run homer to center by Regan in the third inning extended the lead, giving the Scots a 5‑0 advantage that they would not relinquish.
In the bottom of the sixth, with the bases loaded, Regan’s hard grounder skidded into left field, allowing Leah Storey and Reese Bryant to score and providing the insurance runs that made the final tally 7‑3.
Regan was the cornerstone of the performance, both at the plate and in the circle. She homered, drove in five runs and pitched 4 2⁄3 innings, striking out nine batters. “It was crazy. I did not think that was gone,” she said, adding, “I knew that would help my team get this energy boost.” Later, she recalled, “I was pretty nervous, but I knew I could do it if I just took a deep breath,” and advised, “Don’t rush myself, because rushing yourself isn’t going to help. Take your time.” On the mound she emphasized, “Just trust your team behind you, and trust yourself when you’re pitching the ball,” and “That’s pretty much all you’ve got to do. Trust everyone all around you and trust yourself.”
Coach Travis Demmons noted the team’s steady improvement, saying, “Both teams knew there were no surprises coming,” and added, “We really have been playing better and better and better throughout the season. We just had to continue that.” He also highlighted the significance of the upcoming appearance, remarking that “Going to the regional final is huge for us, showing everyone we’re here to stay.”
Storey, the second baseman, echoed the sentiment, stating, “Going to the regional final is huge for us, showing everyone we’re here to stay.” The win marks Bonny Eagle’s first trip to a regional final since 1992, and the team will now face top‑seeded Cheverus, which routed fourth‑seeded Gorham 10‑0 in the opposite semifinal, in the Class A South championship game Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine.
Westbrook (14‑4) struggled to capitalize on its opportunities, leaving 11 runners on base and striking out eight times with runners in scoring position. Coach Brian Ross reflected on the missed chances, saying, “We had a lot of chances. We just couldn’t get the big hit today, which in a game like this, getting one (run), one, one, that’s tough to make a comeback.”
