Miss Maine Softball finalist Lily Rawnsley pitched out of several jams and Cami Casserly drove in both runs with base hits as North Yarmouth Academy defended its State Class D title with a 2-1 victory over Penobscot Valley of Howland at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham on Saturday.
NYA concluded its season at 19-1 while Penobscot Valley ended up 15-3.
NYA had scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to beat Buckfield 2-1 in the D South final.
NYA broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth when Jordan Nash doubled and Casserly delivered her with a single to center field.
Casserly had tied the game by driving in Rawnsley with a single in the fourth inning. Nash had singled in between Rawnsley and Casserly.
The Howlers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on doubles by Lauren Veino and Miss Maine Softball finalist Emma Potter.
Penobscot Valley outhit NYA 10-7 in the game but Rawnsley came through with clutch pitches when she needed them to keep the Howlers scoreless over the final six innings.
She finished with four strikeouts.
Sophomore Veino turned in an impressive outing in defeat.
