CLASS A
Oxford Hills (16-3) vs. Scarborough (19-0)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Bailey Field, St. Joseph’s College
Players to watch: Oxford Hills – Lauren N. Merrill (so., pitcher), Brooke Carson (so., first base), Madison Starbird (sr., second base), Madison Day (so., center field), Kaisa Heikkinen (sr., shortstop).
Scarborough – Chloe Griffin (sr., pitcher), Hunter Greenleaf (sr., catcher), Bella Dickinson (so., shortstop), Laura Powell (sr., center field), Felicia O’Reilly (sr,. first base).
Game notes: Oxford Hills is making its first appearance in a state title game since 1999. Scarborough has won five of the last 11 Class A state titles, including last season’s. The teams are similar in that they both possess speed and like to pressure opposing defenses. Look for a lot of running in this game. But Scarborough has an edge in power. The Red Storm hit 23 home runs, led by Greenleaf and Dickinson with six each. Griffin can rear back and strike out batters – she has 104 strikeouts in 86 innings this year – while Merrill is a contact pitcher, relying on her defense to make plays behind her. And the Vikings have done just that this year, led by all-conference shortstop Heikkinen.
– Mike Lowe
CLASS B
Greely (13-7) vs. Brewer (19-0)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Brewer High School
Players to watch: Greely – Kelsey Currier (sr., pitcher), Maddie Rawnsley (sr., catcher), Taylor LaFlamme (jr., center field), Sawyer Dusch (so., shortstop), Anna Smith (jr., second base).
Brewer – Jordan Goodrich (jr., catcher), Libby Hewes (jr., pitcher), MacKenzie Dore (so., shortstop), MJ Sellars (sr., third base), Emily Lord (sr., center field).
Game notes: Greely has won eight straight to advance to the state game for the first time since 2013, when it lost to Oceanside. The Rangers have one state championship (2002). Brewer, in its first season in Class B, last played in the 2004 Class A state title game. The Witches are an exceptional defensive team, led by Hewes in the circle and Dore at shortstop. They won’t beat themselves with errors. Greely lost five straight in the middle of the season but has become a strong defensive team as well. Currier is pitching extremely well right now, with back-to-back 1-0 wins in the playoffs in which she gave up just three hits. Brewer may have a better offense, with four hitters batting over .400. If Currier can contain them, the Rangers will be right there.
– Mike Lowe
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