PORTLAND—Cheverus’ softball team was on the brink.

Of its biggest win in a bounce-back season, against a longtime nemesis.

Until that nemesis turned the tables at the last possible moment.

Hosting Thornton Academy at Shea Field, the Stags, riding a three-game win streak, danced a tightrope in the early innings, as sophomore pitcher Ashley Connor worked out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first inning, gave up two runs in the second, then stranded two more runners in the third.

Then, in the bottom of the third, Cheverus freshman centerfielder Hailey Lamontagne tied the game at 2-2 with one mighty blow, a two-run home run to right.

With Connor getting stronger as the game went on, holding the Golden Trojans at bay, the Stags went ahead in the bottom of the sixth, on an RBI single from freshman second baseman Anna Goodman.

Thornton Academy then saved its best for last, tying the score with one out in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from senior third baseman Jess Dow, going ahead on a wild pitch, then adding runs on RBI singles from senior second baseman Kaitlynn Paradis and senior rightfielder Emily Coleman.

Sophomore pitcher Sophia Bogardus then slammed the door in the bottom half and the Golden Trojans prevailed, 6-3.

Thornton Academy improved to 2-4 on the year and in the process, dropped Cheverus to 4-3.

“TA is a great team,” said Stags coach Theresa Arsenault. “Our girls came in with confidence today and battled to the end.”

Rounding into form

After winning just nine games total the past two seasons, Cheverus expected to be improved this spring and so far, so good. After starting with a 7-3 loss at perennial power Scarborough, the Stags beat visiting Noble, 10-1. A 10-6 loss at Marshwood ensued, but Cheverus then came to life, beating host Deering in six-innings (12-0), host Falmouth in five-innings (11-0) and visiting Bonny Eagle in five-innings (15-4) Monday.

Thornton Academy, which has long been a contender in Class A South, started with losses to preseason favorite Windham (10-1) and reigning state champion Biddeford (7-2) before losing a wild 13-12 decision to Marshwood. After edging Noble in nine-innings (4-3), the Golden Trojans were blanked by Gorham Monday (13-0).

Last year, Thornton Academy won an 8-5 decision at Cheverus.

Tuesday, on a 56 degree afternoon with the wind blowing in from left (which would affect the course of the contest), the Stags looked to beat the Golden Trojans for the first time since May 30, 2009 (4-3 at home) and for just the fourth time in program history (2005 and 2007 were the others), but Thornton Academy instead beat Cheverus for the 15th consecutive meeting.

Stealing victory from defeat in its final at-bat.

Senior first baseman Renee Gonneville led off the game with a single into leftfield. Senior shortstop Izzy Miner then laid down a bunt in front of the plate, but the ball hit her and she was ruled out with Gonneville returning to first. Dow then ripped a single to center and after junior catcher Lindsay DesRoberts flew out to right, with Gonneville taking third, Dow stole second and Paradis was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Connor settled in and got out of the jam by getting junior designated player Sophie Maloy to pop out to third.

In the bottom half, junior shortstop Kelsey Cassidy drew a walk leading off and promptly stole second, but Lamontagne popped out to short and Connor popped out foul to Dow at third, who turned and threw to second to double off Cassidy for the third out.

Thornton Academy then broke through in the top of the second.

Bogardus became the second Golden Trojans hitter to be ruled out for having a bunt hit her in the field of play, but Coleman singled to right and sophomore leftfielder Emma Barnes drew a walk. Gonneville popped out to short for the second out, but Miner stayed back on an off-speed pitch and singled to right, scoring Coleman and moving Barnes to third. With Dow at the plate, Connor threw a wild pitch to score Barnes and while Dow grounded out to freshman third baseman Anna Kennedy-Jensen, who made a nice play going to her left, the lead was 2-0.

In the bottom half, sophomore catcher Bella Napolitano Aberle led off with a single to center and sophomore Isabella Cortez came on to run and stole second, but senior leftfielder Elle Picard flew out to center, Goodman popped out to third and Kennedy-Jensen hit the ball well to left, but the wind held it up and Barnes made the catch to retire the side.

In the top of the third, DesRoberts led off with a single up the middle and Paradis beat out an infield single, but after a sacrifice bunt from Maloy moved both runners into scoring position, Connor caught her opposite number, Bogardus, staring at strike three before getting Coleman to ground back to the mound.

Cheverus then drew even, thanks to one mighty swing, in the bottom half.

After senior first baseman Madison Bunnell-Parker struck out swinging leading off, sophomore rightfielder Delia Tremble singled to center and stole second. Cassidy watched strike three, but Lamontagne jumped on the first pitch she saw and rocketed a drive to deep right which sailed over the head of Coleman and over the fence for a two-run home run.

“That’s back-to-back games for Hailey hitting one out,” Arsenault said. “She’s a great addition.”

Connor kept the inning going by beating out an infield single, but Napolitano Aberle popped up to short on the first pitch she saw to send the game to the fourth, now deadlocked, 2-2.

Barnes drew a walk leading off the top of the inning, but Tremble then took over, racing into foul ground to catch a line drive off the bat of Gonneville and after Miner popped out to first, Tremble raced in and made a nice stab of a Dow line drive to retire the side.

The Stags had a chance to go on top in the bottom half, as after Picard struck out swinging, Goodman singled to left, but Kennedy-Jensen again flew out deep, this time to center, and Bunnell-Parker grounded out to third.

In the top of the fifth, Connor produced her first clean inning, getting DesRoberts to ground out to third, Paradis to bounce out to short (with Bunnell-Parker making a nice scoop at first) and Maloy to fly out to right.

Tremble then tried to start a rally in the bottom half, leading off with a single up the middle, then stealing second, but she’d be stranded, as Cassidy lined out to Barnes in left, Lamontagne hit a shot to left on the first pitch she saw, only to have it land in Barnes’ glove, then Connor popped out to third to keep the game tied.

“The wind was blowing in today,” Arsenault lamented. “Hats off to their leftfielder getting to line drives and fly balls.

Bogardus struck out swinging to lead off the top of the sixth, but Connor’s string of seven straight batters retired was snapped when Coleman singled up the middle. She’d be erased, however, as Napolitano Aberle gunned her down trying to steal. Barnes then hit a liner to first.

In the bottom half, Cheverus went on top.

Napolitano Aberle led off with a line drive that was barely fair over the third base bag and she stretched it into a double. Cortez came on to run and after freshman pinch-hitter Sadie Collins popped out foul to third, Goodman came through, lining a single the other way to right, scoring Cortez for a 3-2 lead. Kennedy-Jensen followed with another hit barely fair over third to put two runners on, but junior pinch-hitter Brynn McKenney grounded out to third unassisted and Tremble’s bid to add to the lead was run down deep in center to keep the score 3-2.

With little going its way, Thornton Academy brought the top of its order up against Connor in the seventh and quickly turned the game around.

Gonneville sparked the rally by battling back from an 0-2 count, taking a ball, then singling just past the glove of Cassidy at short. Miner sacrificed Gonneville to second, then Dow singled into the hole between short and third, easily scoring Gonneville to tie it. When DesRoberts followed with a single to center, runners were at the corners and Arsenault replaced Connor with Lamontagne, a lefty.

Freshman Kylie Lamson came on to run for DesRoberts and with Paradis at the plate, quickly stole second. Lamontagne then threw a wild pitch and Dow scored for the lead with Lamson moving to third. Paradis got behind in the count, but battled back and laced a single to right, scoring Lamson to make it 5-3. After Maloy struck out swinging, Bogardus drew a walk, then Coleman singled to left to score sophomore Allison Marines, who had come on to run for Paradis. Barnes struck out swinging, but the Golden Trojans had batted around and taken a three-run lead.

“Hats off to the girls for coming back in the seventh inning,” Thornton Academy coach Tony Miner said. “They could have given up after (the bottom of the sixth). We have a lot of good hitters in our lineup. We hadn’t put it together yet, but there’s time. We’ve faced some tough pitching. Our first three games were Windham, Biddeford and Gorham. Three of the best pitchers in the league. (Today), we put it together for a half-inning, when we needed it.”

There would be no rally for the Stags in the bottom of the inning, as Cassidy lined deep to left, Lamontagne grounded out to first unassisted and Connor ended it with another deep fly to left.

“It’s a nice win for us, especially coming off struggling badly yesterday, we needed to come in here and win today,” said Tony Miner. “Cheverus is a solid ball-club. They play hard, they have solid athletes. They’ve improved a ton. (Theresa’s) done a great job with them.”

Thornton Academy got three hits from Coleman and two hits apiece from DesRoberts, Dow, Gonneville and Paradis.

Barnes, Coleman, Dow, Gonneville, Lamson and Marines all scored runs.

Coleman, Dow, Izzy Miner and Paradis had RBI.

The Golden Trojans were able to overcome stranding nine base runners.

Bogardus earned the victory, allowing three earned runs on nine hits in seven innings of work. She walked one and struck out three.

“Sophia did a great job,” Tony Miner said. “She battled through some shin splints and battled it out. Great job by her.”

Not quite enough

For Cheverus, Goodman, Napolitano Aberle and Tremble all had multiple hits, Cortez, Lamontagne and Tremble scored runs and Lamontagne drove in two runs, while Goodman had one RBI.

The Stags left six runners on base.

Connor went 6-1 innings and took the loss, giving up five earned runs on 10 hits. She walked two and fanned two.

“Ashley had confidence,” Arsenault said. “That flows into her team. Even when (Thornton Academy) had people in scoring position, the girls were ready.”

Lamontagne recorded two outs in relief, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and two Ks.

Bounce back

Thornton Academy looks to build on this victory when it returns to action Wednesday at Deering, then hosts Bonny Eagle Friday.

“We have to be consistent game-in, game-out,” Tony Miner said. “Take it inning-by-inning.”

Cheverus has another key home test Thursday when the newly-formed and potent hitting South Portland/Westbrook co-op team pays a visit. The Stags are at rival Portland Monday.

“Our group this year is a team, which is great to see,” Arsenault said. “We have great senior leadership and some incoming players who love softball and work hard from start to finish every day. When you see the girls play, you can’t tell what grade they’re in and they’re supporting each other, which is great.

“We look at how we can get better every day. We have a strong lineup. What can we do to keep improving? We’re learning one game at a time.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.

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