Windham Little League’s 11-12 Softball All-Stars season ends

By Matt Pascarella

In a double elimination tournament, the Windham Little League 11-12 softball All-Stars had a very successful run at the Westbrook Little League Complex. After a 15-0 win over Portland and a 4-1 loss to Westbrook, Windham eliminated Gorham 5-4 on Thursday, June 22 and Cumberland North Yarmouth 10-6 on Monday, June 26. Windham fought hard, but on Tuesday, June 27, Scarborough came away with a 6-3 win, ending the season for Windham.

Windham Little League Softball All-Star sixth grader
Lydia York hits the ball to the outfield during a 
tournament game against Scarborough at the Westbrook
Little League Complex on June 27.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

Windham Little League softball All-Star coach Gina Kostopoulos said not one of the girls is the same athlete they came in as; they’ve all grown a lot in a short period of time, and that player retention is really high. Windham players became so close, they relied on and trusted each other and that’s what it’s all about.

Gorham

Windham steadily added runs in most innings, but Gorham was not far behind and often tied the game. Windham took a one-run lead in the sixth inning and held off Gorham.

Coach Kostopoulos said there was a lot of talk in practice about digging deep. They had to want it every single inning. It was their heart; they dug deep and earned the Gorham win.

Cumberland North Yarmouth

Despite fog, rain and slick conditions in the Cumberland North Yarmouth game, Windham added runs most innings and had a nice lead over Cumberland North Yarmouth.

Windham sixth grader Lydia York said it felt great to get the Cumberland North Yarmouth win. The

weather made the ball much slipperier, and harder to grip and throw. She said base running, sliding and outfielders all did well.

Going into the third inning, the game was tied 2-2. Windham sixth graders Audrey Libby and Courtney Cotter singled. Libby scored on a passed ball. Seventh grader Yani Kostopoulos singled and drove in Cotter. Kostopoulos scored on a passed ball. Sixth grader Madisen Valliere walked and scored on an error.

Windham defense made it hard for Cumberland North Yarmouth to catch up. Pitcher Libby struck out seven batters.

Libby said Windham had high energy in the dugout. Although there was a little bit of struggle during this game, Windham kept their heads up and it felt good to win.

Scarborough

Windham started the Scarborough game with a high level of intensity. Cotter walked and Yani Kostopoulos singled. Cotter scored off an error. Windham seventh grader Evelyn Robinson reached first base through an error. Sixth grader Layla Pinto walked; then Yani Kostopoulos and Robinson scored on

passed balls.

Scarborough answered, but Windham did not allow them to tie the game after the first inning.

Yani Kostopoulos said they could have done a couple things differently, like laying down bunts and not missing signs but they had some good plays. It was hard to keep their heads up after Scarborough took the lead. It was a fun season for her to talk up these girls and be able to play with them.

Windham defense prevented the game from becoming a runaway. Robinson stopped a runner headed home in the bottom of the third inning. Scarborough was unable to score in the fifth inning.

“I hit the ball really well,” said Robinson and I got to catch a lot this year. Over the season we had fun, we got to play a lot.”

Robinson said the team really wanted to win the Scarborough game. She said Windham put the effort in swinging the bat and did not go down looking.

“It was a good run,” said Coach Kostopoulos. “Top six is not bad, we have a very young ... determined team and they came out of the gate wanting to win and it just didn’t end up in our favor.”

Coach Kostopoulos said Windham had played great defensively, yet they didn’t get the bats going as much as she would have liked, but overall, she is very proud of the team. <