The Bangor High School softball team went 2-14 a year ago and its average losing margin was 8.5 runs per game.
It was the program’s third losing season in four years after just one losing season in the previous 12 campaigns.
What a difference a year makes!
Bangor has exceeded last year’s win total already by winning its first three games. Each of those wins came against teams the Rams lost to a year ago: Lewiston, Camden Hills of Rockport and Hampden Academy.
They have beaten Lewiston 6-2, Camden Hills 5-3 and Hampden Academy 5-4 in nine innings.
Bangor gave up at least five runs in every game but one a year ago, a 4-1 victory over Brunswick.
“The great thing about coming from last year into this year is a lot of the foundational work we put in last year we can just continue to build off this year because we have so many returners,” said third-year head coach Sophia Sciarappa. “So the lessons that we learned last year still ring true with this group this year. We can just build off what was good and what was bad to be successful this season.”
The Rams returned six seniors and they have received a huge lift from four newcomers: transfers Emma Tripp and Sophie Lynch and freshman twins Abby and Kaylee Folsom.
Tripp is a sophomore pitcher who transferred in from Belfast High School and Lynch is a senior catcher from Ellsworth High.
Tripp has all three wins and Lynch has been a difference-maker offensively and defensively while also being chosen one of four captains by her new teammates.
Abby Folsom is an impressive defensive shortstop with an exceptional arm and Kaylee is a solid first baseman. Both can also hit.
Tripp and Lynch are enjoying themselves playing at a higher level after coming from Class B schools.
“It’s been great,” said Tripp. “The community is supporting us very much. They love to cheer us on. They like to see the program evolving.”
“It’s been great getting a fresh take,” said Lynch. “Everyone has been supportive. It’s been really awesome. Great way to spend my senior year.”
Tripp said there is great competition in Class A and that she can see and feel a difference in the energy and fans.
“It’s a big change but I love it,” said Tripp, who has been happy with her start.
“I love to give my girls the opportunity to have a winning season, again. I wanted to come in and put them in position to win games,” Tripp said.
Lynch said she feels fortunate to have earned a captain’s role and to be able to “lead from behind the plate” and in the dugout.
“Whatever the role has been has been really awesome,” Lynch said.
Lynch had a pair of doubles and a single in the come-from-behind win over previously unbeaten Hampden Academy.
Tripp went eight innings to earn the victory, allowing just two earned runs with seven strikeouts and only one walk.
“Emma is a competitor,” said Sciarappa. “She wants to be in the circle. She wants the ball. She works really hard. She knows what the job is and does her best to get it done.”
Sciarappa said Lynch is “such an experienced player and she does a really good job being the typical catcher: the captain of the infield. She leads by example.”
The Bangor coach also called Lynch “a really good hitter who has a good at-bat every time up” who also leads the team in stolen bases with “seven or eight” and is one of the runs-batted-in leaders.
“They are both really talented players,” said Hampden Academy first-year head coach and former Brewer assistant Jarrod Williams.
Sciarappa also credited the Folsom twins.
“They’re sponges who want to soak up every single moment of softball. They’re excited to play the game and they’re getting better every day,” Sciarappa said about the Folsoms. “They put in a lot of work even outside our practices so they can get stronger, faster and better. They can both pitch and catch as well.”
Senior Gabby Goding has started at multiple positions during her career including third base and catcher and she is the second baseman this season.
The outfield returns intact with seniors Emily Adams and Eva Coombs back in left and center field, respectively, and sophomore Gabby Spreng in right.
Senior Gabby Raymond is the third baseman and another senior, Victoria Jarnich, is the designated player and lead-off hitter.
“Jarnich has a real good on-base percentage. She finds ways to get on base,” said Sciarappa.
Raymond, who drove in the tying and winning runs against Hampden, has been among the team’s RBI leaders.
Junior Annabelle Pierce can pitch, play first base or can pinch-hit, according to the Bangor coach.
Senior Bella Burnett and junior Charlotte Reed can play right field, pinch-hit or pinch-run.
Raymond said another key to their success is the fact they are such a “close-knit team. We’re all best friends.”
“This team meshes so well together,” agreed Lynch. “We have a great team bond.”
Sciarappa said she has a strong defensive team and they are seeking to make a long playoff run.
“There are things we need to work on and polish up. Our girls are hungry for some playoff time,” said Sciarappa whose team has four captains in Coombs, Jarnich and Goding in addition to Lynch.
Her assistant coaches are Hunter Murray, Lindy Bezgembluk and Kyle Tripp. Junior varsity coach Thor Gower helps out with the varsity at the end of the season.
