WESTBROOK – Katelyn Lebreux blasted a two-run homer for Biddeford in the second inning Monday afternoon, propelling the Tigers to a five-run inning and a 7-1 win at Westbrook.

Biddeford, on fire lately, improves to 8-3 on the season, while the Blue Blazes drop to 5-5.

“You’ve got to be aggressive at the plate,” Tigers head coach Leon Paquin said of his squad’s keys to success in the second inning. “If they throw you pitches to hit, you’ve got to take them. And when you get two strikes, you’ve got to adjust, and not be as aggressive, but put the ball in play – and we had a couple of girls with two strikes put the ball in play. And Katelyn Lebreux hits a home run…and we ran the bases, every time they made a mistake we took the extra base, and when you do all those little things, it can add up to a five-run inning, and that’s what happened.”

Biddeford launched their assault when Erin Martin earned a base hit to start the second. Charlotte White sacrificed to advance Martin, and Jocelyn Moody knocked a double to bring her home. Katie Plante and Mariah Albert went to first in turn, and soon Moody also came dashing home. Then Lebreux stepped to the plate, clearing the bases with her rip and putting the hungry Tigers ahead 5-0.

A Tiger strikeout allowed the Blue Blazes to escape the inning, but the damage was done.

Westbrook head coach Dee Allen offered a straightforward explanation for her team’s struggles Monday. “We didn’t hit well today,” she said, after the game. She added that errors also cost the Blue Blazes. “Biddeford was a good hitting team – they hit the ball well today, but we also gave them, [in] errors, like two extra innings. With any good team, that can hit like that, you can’t give up errors and give them extra at-bats and extra opportunities to run around the bases.”

The Blue Blazes looked to mount a comeback in the bottom of the sixth. Mikaela Carey, Katie Clark and Emily Thornton sparked the action with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases. After a strikeout, Kerigan Demers clipped a trickling grounder; it cost her the out, but allowed Carey to score. The comeback died, though, when Lemay got caught out at first. Westbrook couldn’t gain further ground in the seventh, and Biddeford walked away triumphant.

Abbie Paquette gets the win for the Tigers, having pitched the entire game.

“She works at her craft,” Paquin said of Paquette. “We work hard to keep her in shape. Last year she used to get tired in the third or fourth or fifth inning, but this year I haven’t seen her get tired once, which is to her credit.”

Kayla Tibbetts absorbs the loss for Westbrook, though Lemay stepped in for her after the dangerous second. Allen praised Lemay’s relief efforts: “She did well pitching; she had her nice changeup going, and that was effective for a couple of their good hitters.”

Allen also emphasized the strong defensive performance of shortstop Katie Clark and Amber DelPonte’s breaking up of Biddeford’s no-hitter, not to mention her persistent positive attitude in the dugout.

Allen looks to hone her team’s offense in the coming days. “We’re working on getting our bats stronger, coming to the plate, being ready to hit,” she said.

Biddeford, who started the year 0-3, has gone undefeated since. Paquin credits the Tigers’ even temperament.

“The attitude’s always been the same; we lost our first three games of the year, but their attitude didn’t change,” he said. “They worked hard at practice, did everything we wanted them to do. Now we’re on a little winning streak, and they act the same way: they’re together, we strive chemistry, we strive being aggressive, we strive back each other up and being mentally into the game – and when we do those things…we’re pretty tough to beat.”

The Bleu Blazes hope to turn their luck around when they travel to Portland on Wednesday, May 15. Biddeford has the remainder of the week to rest before defending its eight-game win streak at home, also against Portland, on May 18.

Biddeford’s Alex Quigley takes a cut at the plate.
Biddeford catcher Katie Plante glances to her dugout.
Biddeford’s Alyssa Baldino slides into second, manned by Westbrook’s Mikaela Carey.
Westbrook pitcher Allison Lemay, who took the reins from Kayla Tibbetts after the second inning.
Westbrook’s Mikaela Carey in the box.

WESTBROOK – Katelyn Lebreux blasted a two-run homer for Biddeford in the second inning Monday afternoon, propelling the Tigers to a five-run inning and a 7-1 win at Westbrook.

Biddeford, on fire lately, improves to 8-3 on the season, while the Blue Blazes drop to 5-5.

“You’ve got to be aggressive at the plate,” Tigers head coach Leon Paquin said of his squad’s keys to success in the second inning. “If they throw you pitches to hit, you’ve got to take them. And when you get two strikes, you’ve got to adjust, and not be as aggressive, but put the ball in play – and we had a couple of girls with two strikes put the ball in play. And Katelyn Lebreux hits a home run…and we ran the bases, every time they made a mistake we took the extra base, and when you do all those little things, it can add up to a five-run inning, and that’s what happened.”

Biddeford launched their assault when Erin Martin earned a base hit to start the second. Charlotte White sacrificed to advance Martin, and Jocelyn Moody knocked a double to bring her home. Katie Plante and Mariah Albert went to first in turn, and soon Moody also came dashing home. Then Lebreux stepped to the plate, clearing the bases with her rip and putting the hungry Tigers ahead 5-0.

A Tiger strikeout allowed the Blue Blazes to escape the inning, but the damage was done.

Westbrook head coach Dee Allen offered a straightforward explanation for her team’s struggles Monday. “We didn’t hit well today,” she said, after the game. She added that errors also cost the Blue Blazes. “Biddeford was a good hitting team – they hit the ball well today, but we also gave them, [in] errors, like two extra innings. With any good team, that can hit like that, you can’t give up errors and give them extra at-bats and extra opportunities to run around the bases.”

The Blue Blazes looked to mount a comeback in the bottom of the sixth. Mikaela Carey, Katie Clark and Emily Thornton sparked the action with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases. After a strikeout, Kerigan Demers clipped a trickling grounder; it cost her the out, but allowed Carey to score. The comeback died, though, when Lemay got caught out at first. Westbrook couldn’t gain further ground in the seventh, and Biddeford walked away triumphant.

Abbie Paquette gets the win for the Tigers, having pitched the entire game.

“She works at her craft,” Paquin said of Paquette. “We work hard to keep her in shape. Last year she used to get tired in the third or fourth or fifth inning, but this year I haven’t seen her get tired once, which is to her credit.”

Kayla Tibbetts absorbs the loss for Westbrook, though Lemay stepped in for her after the dangerous second. Allen praised Lemay’s relief efforts: “She did well pitching; she had her nice changeup going, and that was effective for a couple of their good hitters.”

Allen also emphasized the strong defensive performance of shortstop Katie Clark and Amber DelPonte’s breaking up of Biddeford’s no-hitter, not to mention her persistent positive attitude in the dugout.

Allen looks to hone her team’s offense in the coming days. “We’re working on getting our bats stronger, coming to the plate, being ready to hit,” she said.

Biddeford, who started the year 0-3, has gone undefeated since. Paquin credits the Tigers’ even temperament.

“The attitude’s always been the same; we lost our first three games of the year, but their attitude didn’t change,” he said. “They worked hard at practice, did everything we wanted them to do. Now we’re on a little winning streak, and they act the same way: they’re together, we strive chemistry, we strive being aggressive, we strive back each other up and being mentally into the game – and when we do those things…we’re pretty tough to beat.”

The Bleu Blazes hope to turn their luck around when they travel to Portland on Wednesday, May 15. Biddeford has the remainder of the week to rest before defending its eight-game win streak at home, also against Portland, on May 18.

Biddeford’s Alex Quigley takes a cut at the plate.
Biddeford catcher Katie Plante glances to her dugout.
Biddeford’s Alyssa Baldino slides into second, manned by Westbrook’s Mikaela Carey.
Westbrook pitcher Allison Lemay, who took the reins from Kayla Tibbetts after the second inning.
Westbrook’s Mikaela Carey in the box.