The Gray-New Gloucester “girls of summer” stunned Biddeford 11-8 Saturday night, July 30, to win the decisive Game 3 in the Little League Senior Softball state tournament.

With the win, G-NG advanced to the regional tournament being held this week in Worcester, Mass. The winner of the regional tournament moves on to the Little League Senior Softball World Series, held Aug 7-13 in Delaware.

On Saturday night, Biddeford jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first. Two fielding errors along with a single and a double had G-NG in the hole.

G-NG got a run back in the bottom half. Alex Thompson led things off with a triple followed by a walk to Abby Ordway and single by Emily Harlow to score the run.

G-NG added two more runs in the second to tie the game at 3-3. With two outs

Anna Knapp singled and Alex drew a walk. Both runners advanced to second and third then scored on a single by Abby.

Biddeford took the lead again in the third when they plated two more runs.

With two outs they strung together two singles followed by a double to score the runners.

G-NG pulled to within 5-4 in the bottom half. Lindsay Nunley led off with a single, April Lambert walked, then Molly Stansfield singled to score one run.

Heather Chapman singled to load the bases. Anna Knapp then hit to the first baseman and she gunned out the runner trying to score from third to end the threat.

Biddeford added another run in the fifth. With two outs they hit a crushing double to the fence, followed by a single to score the run.

G-NG then took the lead for good in the fifth when they exploded for seven runs to make it 11-6. Heather led off by walking, Anna hit a double, Alex and Lindsay each walked followed by a single from Erin Doughty and another walk to April.

Biddeford tried to rally in the seventh. They led off with two singles followed by a double to score two runs. Then April came out of nowhere to snag a foul ball in deep left field for the first out. A truly amazing catch! The next batter flew out to Lindsay in deep right field, followed by a pop out to second to end the game.

Heather Chapman pitched a complete game for the win. She finished with four strikeouts and no walks.

Great job ladies, and good luck as you represent the state of Maine at the Regional Tournament!

Bill Chapman is the coach of the GNG senior softball team.

The Gray-New Gloucester Senior Girls Little League Softball team
claimed the title of Maine State Champions last week. Manager Bill
Chapman poses with players, from left, Erin Doughty,
Breana Bozzutto, Heather Chapman, Lindsay Nunley, Anna Knapp, Abby
Ordway, Emily Harlow, Alex Thompson, April Lambert and Molly
Stansfield.  Missing, Sandy Ricardi, Sam Libby and Taylor Whaley.
The team is representing the state in the regional tournament this
week in Massachusetts.