Bonny Eagle prevails over Windham Little League’s Bill Diamond softball

By Matt Pascarella

In their third game of the season, Windham Little League’s Bill Diamond softball team played Bonny Eagle at Windham on Monday, May 11. The teams were neck-and-neck in the first couple innings, but the Scots were able to pull away in the third inning and hold onto the lead. They walked off the field with a 6-3 win over the Eagles.

Windham seventh grader Libby Rulman, middle, catches a
pop fly during a Windham Little League softball game
against Bonny Eagle at Windham High School on May 11.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“Our goal was to try our hardest and this was a pretty tough team, so (we wanted) to just stay in it,” said sixth grader Eva Doughty. “There were lots of pop flies, so stay focused and catch them, those were a lot of our outs. Brooke (Legere) was pitching great and they hit them, but we made really great plays in the infield. Our hitting could definitely get better, That was a pretty hard pitcher but we had some good cuts.”

Bonny Eagle scored a run in the first inning.

Windham’s Bill Diamond softball was quick to answer when there was a base hit by seventh grader Legere, who was quick and stole her way around the bases and tied the game 1-1.

In the second inning, Windham had a base hit. Then sixth grader Ella Gagnon crushed a single. After a walk, a Windham runner scored; Bonny Eagle led 3-2.

The fourth inning brought the continuation of strong Windham defense when both Legere and sixth grader Chloe Penney caught pop-flies. They ended the inning with Bonny Eagle runners on second and third base.

Legere threw two consecutive strikeouts in the fifth inning.

“I was a little nervous (in the circle), but I stayed in the game,” said Legere. “I was focused and pitched strikes. My pitching (went well) and Eva’s catching and I think we had really good defense. Our hitting (needs work).

When Windham was up to bat in the fifth inning, they could not close the gap.

“The last game, we lost by a lot of runs and it was kind of discouraging, and the girls were down on themselves,” said Windham Little League Bill Diamond softball coach Erin Gagnon. “We came into this game, and I told them, ‘let’s try to get some outs and let’s work hard, work together, get the morale back up.’ I really wanted them to just feel good about playing. They came out and we were head-to-head and they were so excited. They were on the fence and they were cheering, so I said even if the score didn’t end up the way I wanted it, it was a win for Windham because they got back in the game and worked together and did some great things.”

Gagnon said Legere does a good job of not getting discouraged; she’s kind of the team’s glue at times. Gagnon said they had some younger players who made some good plays. The girls were getting the ball in from the outfield quickly, which they hadn’t done in the past two games. They took care of the ball really well, and they talked and they were cheering each other on. It was nice to see that growth from the younger players who contributed.

The team’s hitting needs work, said Gagnon. When they face faster pitchers, they get intimidated. In practice, the team needs to figure out a way to get out of their heads and swing the bat because they’re great players and baserunners. That confidence to swing the bat will go a long way. <