Windham Little League juniors softball ousts Portland in championship game

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Little League juniors softball team played in the championship game of the summer season against Portland at Windham on Thursday, Aug. 6. Windham scored four runs in the fourth inning and seven runs in the fifth inning. Defense held back Portland as Windham won this game, 12-2.

Windham Little League juniors softball eighth grader Lily
Nickel fields the ball during the Windham juniors softball
championship game against Portland at Windham on
Thursday, Aug. 6. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“I always try to instill in the girls this never quite attitude,” said Windham Little League juniors softball coach Darcey Gardiner. “I said to them right before the fourth inning the best thing about softball is it’s not a timed sport. And we still had three innings left; so, now how can we make the adjustments the second time through the order and be more disciplined and put the ball in play? Our plate discipline wasn’t there early on ... and defensively we weren’t on our toes. It was nice to see us make those adjustments in the fourth inning and settle down at the plate. They’ve prepared for this all summer long.” 

The WLL 2026 juniors softball championship team consisted of Audrey Libby, Avary Caiazzo, Bella Wescott, Brielle Duffy, Brooke Legere, Caitlynn Halladay, Acadia Wilson, Isabelle Gonzalez, Leah Ronfeldt, Libby Rulman, Lily Nickel, Lydia York, Madelyn Royer, Madison Kennedy, Natalie Brey, Niyah Cummings, Peyton McLean and Shaylee Stanwood.

The Eagles began the game by stopping a runner at home to prevent a run scored early on.

In the fourth inning, Windham eighth grader Legere singled, as did eighth grader Wescott. Legere scored. Then freshman Stanwood hit a long, long, ball to left field for a two-run homerun. Sophomore York singled; Freshman Gonzalez singled and York scored. Windham led 4-2.

“Being loud, excited and hyped led to the win,” said Stanwood who went 3-4 at the plate. “We got together and ... (weren’t nervous about playing Portland again). Everything went well; our fielding and our hitting was really good today. It means a lot to win a juniors championship, because a little team together, can make you better at the game. I’ve improved.”

Seventh grader Kennedy doubled in the fifth inning. Eighth grader Nickel singled. Legere singled and Kennedy and Nickel scored. Windham added five more runs that inning.

“(My mindset was) just to focus on throwing strikes and be working on my spin pitches,” said Wescott who went 3-4 at-bat and pitched the entire game with six strikeouts. “It feels pretty amazing to win a championship, especially to do it with these amazing girls. A lot of practice and hard work (led to the win). We’ve all played together for a while and it’s been really great. Our hitting was really good, we made good contact, and our fielding was good. Everyone put in a lot of hard work and effort and came away with the win.”

Legere singled in the sixth inning, as did Wescott; then Legere scored to end the game.

Gardiner said this juniors league was exactly what she wanted it to be; it was important for her to get to know the girls and vice versa before high school. This season was very rewarding. <