STANDISH — When the stage was set for Thornton Academy and Scarborough to meet again in the Class A South softball championship at St. Joseph’s College, it was known that it would be a game worth watching on Tuesday afternoon.
The anticipated rematch came down to who was going to make the defining play — and that play occurred on the very last pitch of the ninth inning.
It wasn’t until Scarborough’s senior pitcher, Chloe Griffin, connected on a pitch that scored Bella Dickinson from second. That hit lifted the Red Storm to a 3-2 victory over the Golden Trojans and sent them back to another state championship game.
“Doesn’t get much better than that. It was an unbelievable game,” said Thornton Academy head coach John Provost.
The intensity of this game was felt from the first inning. The way the game was played it almost seemed right for there to be an outstanding finish. Each team came up with timely defensive stops and responded in times of adversity.
Scarborough coach Tom Griffin spoke candidly about Thornton’s effort.
“Thornton Academy is a great team and they played a perfect game. It’s a shame that a team had to lose, what an unbelievable game,” said Provost.

In the postseason, it is said that defense wins games. This was a game that highlighted several great defensive efforts. TA’s outfield tracked down nearly every fly ball hit out in Bailey Field. The pitching performance from Louisa Colucci and Chloe Griffin was equally as impressive.
“How many defensive plays were made to keep this game going? I have never seen anything like it,” said Tom Griffin about the play of both teams’ performances.
Scarborough was able to strike first in the bottom of the second inning off a Kylie Jefferds single up the middle that scored one run.
Thornton responded with a run of their own. Jenica Botting had an RBI double that drove in one that tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the third.
The defenses began to tighten up and everyone was waiting for the tie to break. Thornton had a chance to take the lead in the fifth. The bases were loaded with two outs and Scarborough relied on their senior pitcher, Griffin, to get them out of the jam.
She did.
“Chloe is a tough, talented kid. She wants the ball in big moments,” Tom Griffin said about his niece.
During the sixth inning, there was close call at first base that could have closed out the inning, but again Chloe Griffin was ruled safe. The next batter, Hunter Greenleaf, found a gap and drove in a run to give the Red Storm a 2-1 lead.
Provost had a simple message for his girls in between innings — just bounce back. His senior third baseman, Katie Verreault, answered the call and tied the game with a RBI, but pushed towards second and was thrown out.
Seven innings was not enough to break the 2-2 tie. In extra innings, Scarborough showed why they are the defending state champs. They came up and made plays. In the bottom of the ninth, Chloe Griffin again showed up in the big moment. She grounded one down the third base line and Dickinson scored from second — and the celebration ensued.
The Golden Trojans finished their season with a record of 15-4 and Scarborough moves on to play Oxford Hills for the state title on Saturday.
— Sports Writer Brandon Eckles can be reached at beckles@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.