The Bangor High School softball team is looking to pull off the rare feat of going from 2-14 a year ago to a regional champion this season. The top-seeded Rams take on seventh seed Edward Little of Auburn Tuesday in the Class A North championship game at the Central Maine Community College field in Auburn. Game time is 6:30 p.m.
Bangor is 14-4 while Edward Little is 12-6.
In the other North regional title games, top seed Hermon, 16-2, will take on No. 2 Old Town, 15-3, in the B final at 3:30 at the University of Maine’s Pierre and Catherine Labat Softball Complex in Orono.
The 17-1 and top-seeded Bucksport Golden Bucks will face No. 2 Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, 15-3, in the C final at 7 p.m. at Coffin Field in Brewer.
The Class D title game at UMaine will pit 16-0 Penobscot Valley of Howland, the No. 2 seed, against fifth seed Southern Aroostook High School of Dyer Brook (12-5) in a 7 p.m. contest.
The Southern Maine finals will involve defending state champ Cheverus of Portland (18-0) against Windham (16-2) in Class A; two-time regional champ York (18-0) against Medomak Valley of Waldoboro (15-3) in B; defending four-time state titlist Hall-Dale of Farmingdale (16-2) against Dirigo of Dixfield (13-5) in C and reigning two-time state champ North Yarmouth Academy (15-3) against 17-1 Buckfield in D.
Bangor vs. Edward Little, Class A North
Bangor has won seven of its last eight games and sophomore righthander Emma Tripp has tossed 13 shutout innings in the playoffs, beating Lewiston 10-0 in six innings and Camden Hills of Rockport 1-0.
Tripp, a Belfast High School transfer, has allowed just seven hits in the two playoff games with 18 strikeouts and three walks.
She will be challenged by an Edward Little team that had 16 hits in an eight-winning 7-4 win over Brewer in their semifinal after knocking off second seed and defending two-time regional champ Oxford Hills of South Paris by the same score in the quarterfinals.
Bangor High School senior catcher Sophie Lynch, an Ellsworth High School transfer, has five hits in the playoff victories. Lynch and freshman shortstop Abby Folsom were offensive catalysts during the regular season.
Bangor has won seven of its last eight games.
Edward Little scored 10 or more runs in six of its last 10 regular season games and has a five-game winning streak.
Alexis Kelsea and Kassidy Lobb have been two of Edward Little’s primary offensive producers.
Bangor hasn’t won a regional title since 2010 and Edward Little hasn’t done so since 1997.
The teams met once during the regular season and Bangor triumphed 5-4 on May 17.
Hermon vs. Old Town, Class B North
Hemon and Old Town split their regular season meetings with Old Town earning an 8-5 home win over April 29 and Hermon posting a 3-2 victory at home on May 8.
The Hawks are seeking their first regional title since 2015 while Old Town last captured the B North championship in 2017. The Coyotes had also won the regional title in 2016 and triumphed in both state championship games (‘16 and ‘17).
Old Town has won 13 consecutive games and held opponents to two runs or fewer in 11 of them.
Old Town beat Lawrence of Fairfield 9-1 and Belfast 9-0 in its two playoff wins while Hermon topped Cony High of Augusta 10-0 and Mount Desert Island 2-1.
Hermon’s Braelyn Wilcox and Old Town’s Haley Sirois are two of the best pitchers in Class B North with impressive earned-run averages under 1.00.
Wilcox is one of eight finalists for Miss Maine Softball, an award that goes to the state’s top senior player.
Addy Waning, Mikele Verrill, Olivia Johnston and Molly Simcox have been among Hermon’s leading hitters while Old Town has been led by Molly Albert, Natalie Fournier, Sirois and Emily Wheeler.
Bucksport vs. Mattanawcook Academy, Class C North
Bucksport, behind Miss Maine Softball finalist pitcher Natalie Simpson, hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a game all season long.
The Bucks are seeking their third consecutive regional championship against a Mattanawcook Academy team that last won C North in 2022.
Bucksport won both regular season games 11-1 and 4-0.
Bucksport has a potent lineup including a host of players who are hitting over .400 including Lexi Raymond, Simpson, Emma Clement and Jetta Shook.
Mattanawcook has two of the state’s leaders in runs-batted-in in Addison Cyr and Megan House.
Bucksport, which won six regional titles between 2011-17, beat Dexter 12-1 and Orono 6-0 in its two playoff games while Mattanawcook Academy topped Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield 11-1 and Narraguagus of Harrington 7-0.
Penobscot Valley vs. Southern Aroostook, Class D North
In Class D, Penobscot Valley is gunning for its first regional title since 2019 while Southern Aroostook last claimed a regional title in 1997.
Penobscot Valley will be seeking a rare accomplishment as several of its players have already won state championships in soccer (Class D) and basketball (Class C) this school year.
PVHS has scored at least 10 runs in a game 12 times including a 10-0 win over Jonesport-Beals in the quarterfinals. The Howlers edged Katahdin of Stacyville in the semis, 4-2.
The Howlers have been paced, offensively, by Lauren Veino, Miss Maine Softball finalist Ellie Austin, Allie LeBlanc and Lila Cummings while Southern Aroostook features Skyla Lewis, Brooke Shields, Hannah McGary and Hope Curry.
Veino has been outstanding in the circle for the Howlers, sporting an ERA under 1.00.
