AUBURN — St. Dom’s pitcher Kathleen Dean seemed to throw stronger with each Saints run — and there were many that came across the plate in Wednesday’s playoff game.
Dean struck out nine batters, gave up only two hits and set down the side in order in three of the five innings as the second-seeded Saints glided past seventh-seeded Rangeley (10-5) with a 17-1 victory in a Class D South softball quarterfinal.
The Saints (14-1) move on to face the winner between sixth-ranked Richmond (10-5) vs. third-seeded Valley (13-3), scheduled for Thursday, in Saturday’s semifinals.
“Pitching doesn’t win the game. You have to get the hits,” Dean said. “So when the first three batters of the game start hitting, you know it is going to be a good game and we are starting strong.
“It gives me confidence — a little bit of like a safety blanket. It gives me confidence to go out there and pitch my best and know the team is going to pick me up even if I miss a pitch or something.”
But before the Saints’ offense erupted, it was Rangeley that struck first in top of the first inning. Emily Eastlack singled, stole second and made play for third, but a throwing error allowed her to score Rangeley’s only run.
St. Dom’s answered with hail of five runs using a single, double and four walks in the bottom of the first. Emily Andrews hit an RBI double and Dean (two hits) drove in a run with a single to highlight the inning.
“We do a really good job getting after it in the early innings, and the girls did the same today,” St. Dom’s coach Scott Berube said. “I think we had solid defense when the ball was hit to us. The pitcher was hitting the spots … and the bats were on fire.”
The Saints scored another five runs in the second inning with a just a single, but their heads-up base running and the help of two errors and two walks made it a 10-1 game.
An RBI double by Sydney Dick highlighted the Saints’ two-run third inning.
St. Dom’s piled up another five runs in the bottom of the fourth, using a handful of walks to make it 17-1 game, which held up as the final score.
The Lakers rotated losing pitcher Breezy Quimby and Winnie LaRochelle in out of the game to try to put the Brakes on the Saints. Quimby was returning to action after being out due to illness.
“Our pitching was the worst we’ve seen all season,” Rangeley coach Kate Quimby said. “Unfortunately, we just couldn’t throw a strike. Our primary pitcher (Breezy Quimby) has been out sick for five days and just started recuperating.”
Kate Quimby, however, was impressed with the Saints’ Dean.
“Their pitcher is probably the best I’ve seen all season, and I am pitcher and have history of pitching,” Kate Quimby said. “She was absolutely incredible. She was absolutely incredible, and I wish them the best of luck. I hope they go all the way.”
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