FALMOUTH—Two days after its bats failed to produce in a home loss against Gray-New Gloucester, Greely’s softball team returned to form Friday afternoon, as it rediscovered its hitting chops and got a stellar pitching performance at rival Falmouth.

Freshman Kelsey Currier had her best outing of the season, allowing an unearned run in the first inning and nothing after that.

Greely drew even on junior catcher Audrey Mann’s sacrifice fly in the second inning, went ahead to stay in the stay in the fourth on a two-out RBI single from sophomore centerfielder Kayley Cimino, then blew the game open with five runs in the sixth, capped by a two-run single from junior third baseman Sarah Felkel.

Currier retired the final six batters she faced and slammed the door on the Rangers’ 7-1 victory.

Greely produced 12 hits as it improved to 9-3 and dropped the Yachtsmen to 7-6 in the process.

“It’s a good team win for us against a good Class A team,” said Rangers first-year coach Rob Hale. “We weren’t feeling good after the Gray loss. We put the ball in play today and got runners on and made things happen. We hit some hard balls, 1 through 9. We’ve bounced back. Hopefully that helps us in June.”

Any given day

Both teams have looked dominant at times this spring and on other days, have struggled, not surprising in a year in which no Western Maine Conference team, with the possible exception of York, has stood out.

Falmouth dropped its first two games, 5-2 at York and 15-3 at home to Cape Elizabeth, then blanked host Freeport, 22-0, in five innings. After an 11-9 loss at Fryeburg Academy, the Yachtsmen beat visiting Gray-New Gloucester, 7-6, then fell at Greely, 7-0. Falmouth then hit its stride, defeating visiting Kennebunk (6-0) and Lake Region (8-2), host Wells (8-4) and Kennebunk (7-2) and visiting Wells (9-0). The Yachtsmen suffered an 8-2 loss at Yarmouth Wednesday.

Greely opened with a 16-1 (five inning) home victory over Traip Academy, then held on for a 10-7 win at Kennebunk. The Rangers then lost at Lake Region (6-5, in a 12-inning affair) and at home to Poland (8-3), before getting back in the win column, 6-2, at Wells. Greely then rattled off victories at Yarmouth (12-2), at home over Fryeburg Academy (16-15, in an eight-inning thriller) and Falmouth (7-0), at Cape Elizabeth (13-0) and at Fryeburg Academy (8-5). The Rangers’ streak ended Wednesday with a 3-0 home loss to Gray-New Gloucester.  

Greely has had its way with Falmouth more often than not over the years. The Rangers’ 7-0 home win May 8 (behind senior Miranda Moore’s two-hitter and three hits from junior Lexi Faietta) was their 15th in 23 meetings dating back to 2002 (see sidebar, below).

Friday, Greely was seeking its first win at Falmouth since 2012 and got it behind a freshman who pitched like a seasoned veteran.

The Rangers went 1-2-3 in the top of the first against Yachtsmen junior pitcher Julia Treadwell, who threw out senior centerfielder Haley Felkel on a bunt attempt, did the same (barely) on a bunt attempt from junior third baseman Sarah Felkel, then got Faietta, the second baseman, to ground back to the mound.

Falmouth got the jump in its half of the first.

Leading off, sophomore shortstop Maddie Rouhana reached on an infield single and stole second base. After senior first baseman Liz Walker walked, Treadwell flew out to right. Rouhana took third on the play and after sophomore shortstop Moira Train took the throw from the outfield, she tried to throw Walker out as she retreated to first, but Train’s throw hit Walker in the helmet and bounced away, allowing Rouhana to come home. Junior catcher Jess Collins bunted Walker to second, but junior centerfielder Krysia Lesniak grounded back to Currier to end the frame.

Greely drew even in the top of the second, as after junior rightfielder Evan Carrell struck out, Moore crushed a triple to right-center and Mann flew out to right, bringing Moore home to make it 1-1. Cimino then belted a shot deep to left, but junior Emily Beaulieu ran it down for out number three.

Currier walked sophomore third baseman Allison Murphy leading off the bottom half and after Beaulieu sacrificed her to second and senior rightfielder Katie Greene bunted her to third, freshman second baseman Shannon Birks flew out to center.

In the third, Train popped out to second and after Currier singled to left and Haley Felkel sacrificed her to second, Sarah Felkel lined out to right.

Currier allowed Rouhana to single leading off the bottom half. Walker flew out to center and after Rouhana stole second, Treadwell lined out to first and Collins grounded out to short.

The Rangers went on top in the fourth.

Faietta grounded to short and Carrell flew out to left, but Moore walked, Mann singled and Cimino came through with a single to left, scoring Moore for a 2-1 lead. An error by Beaulieu put runners at second and third, but Treadwell prevented further damage by getting Train to ground back to the mound.

In the bottom half, Currier got Lesniak to line to left and after Currier made an error, allowing Murphy to reach, she got Beaulieu to hit into a force out, then struck out Greene.

Treadwell made quick work of Greely in the fifth, getting Currier to look at strike three and inducing fly outs to left off the bats of Haley Felkel and Sarah Felkel.

In the bottom half, Birks grounded out to third, but Rouhana singled to right-center and Walker lined a single to left. Currier then bore down and got Treadwell to fly out to right (with Rouhana moving to third) and after Walker stole second, Currier induced Collins to ground out to second to end the threat.

The Rangers broke it open in the sixth.

Leading off, Faietta beat out a bunt single, but she was thrown out stealing. Carrell then walked, Moore singled off Treadwell and Mann singled to center to drive home Carrell, making the score, 3-1. Elizabeth Shibles ran for Mann and stole second and Cimino followed with a double down the leftfield line, scoring Moore. A bloop single to center from Train scored Shibles and made it 5-1.

Falmouth coach Ray Fox then pulled Treadwell in favor of Walker.

“I didn’t want (Julia) to have to grind through a big inning,” Fox said. “I have a lot of confidence in Walker coming in.”

Walker gave up a single to Currier to load the bases. After Haley Felkel popped out to second, Sarah Felkel ripped a single to left to score Cimino and Train. Junior pinch-hitter Charlotte Benoit was ruled out when she was hit by the ball outside of the batter’s box, but the damage was done and Greely took a 7-1 advantage to the bottom of the sixth.

“We were up in the dugout and kept the energy up and came back,” Currier said. “That made me more confident on the mound, getting more runs.”

In the bottom half, Currier gave up a leadoff single to Lesniak, but she caught Murphy looking at strike three, got Beaulieu to ground back to the mound, then fanned freshman pinch-hitter Heidi Meyer.

Carrell and Moore grounded out to start the seventh. Mann doubled to deep left-center and pinch-runner Kaitlin Currier stole third, but Shibles struck out.

Kelsey Currier then ended things quickly in the bottom half, fanning junior pinch-hitter Kayleigh Rhodes looking and getting both Rouhana and Walker to ground back to the mound to bring the curtain down on the Rangers’ 7-1 triumph.

“We worked as a team to get the win,” Currier said. “Winning today felt good. We got the offense going again.”

Currier improved to 2-2 by allowing just one unearned run on five hits and and two walks in seven innings. She struck out four.

“I was a little bit nervous, but I felt good,” said Currier. “My pitches were on today. I just tried to keep them off-balance.”

“(Kelsey’s) a come a long way,” Hale said. “She’s hitting spots. She didn’t at the beginning of the year. She went seven innings and didn’t allow an earned run against a team that’s been on a good run.”

Offensively, Mann had three hits, while Cimino, Currier and Moore all had two. Moore scored three times, while Carrell, Cimino, Shibles and Train all touched home once. Cimino, Sarah Felkel and Mann had two RBI apiece, while Train finished with one. The Rangers left six runners on base.

For Falmouth, Treadwell fell to 6-4 after giving up seven runs on nine hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. She struck out two. Walker surrendered three hits in 1.2 scoreless innings and fanned one. Rouhana paced the offense with three hits, two steals and the lone run. The Yachtsmen stranded seven runners.

“Greely’s) relentless,” Fox said. “They keep putting the ball in play. Eventually, they got a couple hits and broke it open. Credit to them, they just kept hitting. We kept a couple runners stranded early. We looked for a two-out hit, but we just couldn’t get it.”

Almost finished

Falmouth (now seventh in the Western Class A Heal Points standings) is back in action Wednesday at Cape Elizabeth. After hosting Yarmouth Friday, the Yachtsmen finish the regular year June 2 at home versus Poland.

Falmouth can beat anyone, but just needs to execute.

“Hitting the ball would help,” Fox said. “It comes down to making the plays, that’s all. We’re capable, but we have to make them. I don’t want to go into the playoffs losing. Every game is big from this point out. Not only Heal Point-wise, but confidence-wise. We need a big victory.”

Greely (second behind York in Western B) hosts Old Orchard Beach Tuesday, goes to York for a pivotal showdown Wednesday and plays host to Kennebunk Friday. The Rangers finish the season June 1 at home against Cape Elizabeth.

“I think we can compete with anyone,” Currier said. “We’re doing well. We hope to finish strong.”

“I’d like to host a playoff game for the seniors,” Hale said. “I’d like to have the last at-bat, but if we play good softball, we don’t have to have that.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Greely freshman Kelsey Currier didn’t allow an earned run in Friday’s victory.

Falmouth junior Julia Treadwell throws a pitch.

Falmouth sophomore Maddie Rouhana steals second as Greely sophomore shortstop Moira Train applies the tag too late.

Falmouth junior Emily Beaulieu takes a swing.

Greely freshman Kelsey Currier slides safely into second as Falmouth freshman Shannon Birks takes the throw.

Greely junior first baseman Miranda Eisenhart records an out on Falmouth freshman Shannon Birks.

Greely senior Miranda Moore makes contact.

Falmouth sophomore third baseman Allison Murphy heads to third base.

Falmouth sophomore shortstop Maddie Rouhana tags out Greely junior Lexi Faietta on a steal attempt.

Greely junior third baseman Sarah Felkel crushes a two-run single in the sixth.

Greely sophomore shortstop Moira Train takes a throw from junior second baseman Lexi Faietta to record a force out on Falmouth sophomore Allison Murphy.

Recent Falmouth-Greely results

2015
@ Greely 7 Falmouth 0 

2014
@ Falmouth 11 Greely 7
Falmouth 13 @ Greely 0 

2013
@ Greely 11 Falmouth 7
@ Falmouth 8 Greely 7 

2012
Greely 14 @ Falmouth 2 (5) 

2011
Falmouth 11 @ Greely 5
Greely 11 @ Falmouth 10 (8)
Western B prelim
Greely 2 @ Falmouth 1 

2010
Greely 9 @ Falmouth 0
@ Greely 6 Falmouth 4 

2009
Greely 9 @ Falmouth 0
Falmouth 3 @ Greely 1 

2008
@ Greely 9 Falmouth 8
Greely 5 @ Falmouth 0 

2007
@ Greely 9 Falmouth 4
@ Falmouth 4 Greely 3 

2006
Greely 8 @ Falmouth 4
Falmouth 5 @ Greely 3

2005
@ Greely 13 Falmouth 1 (5) 

2004
Greely 9 @ Falmouth 1 

2003
Greely 6 @ Falmouth 0 

2002
@ Falmouth 3 Greely 2 

Sidebar Elements

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Greely junior first baseman Miranda Eisenhart (right) and junior catcher Audrey Mann congratulate freshman pitcher Kelsey Currier after the Rangers close out Falmouth, 7-1, Friday afternoon.

Mike Strout photos.

More photos below.

BOX SCORE

Greely 7 Falmouth 1

G- 010 105 0- 7 12 2
F- 100 000 0- 1 5 1

Bottom 1st
Rouhana scored on error.

Top 2nd
Mann flew out to right, Moore scored.

Top 4th
Cimino singled to left, Moore scored.

Top 6th
Mann singled to center, Carrell scored. Cimino doubled to left, Moore scored. Train singled to center, Shibles scored. S. Felkel singled to left, Cimino and Train scored.

Repeat hitters:
G- Mann 3, Cimino, Currier, Moore
F- Rouhana 3

Runs:
G- Moore 3, Carrell, Cimino, Shibles, Train
F- Rouhana

RBI:
G- Cimino, S. Felkel, Mann 2, Train

Doubles:
G-  Cimino, Mann

Triple:
G- Moore

Stolen bases:
G- Currier, Shibles
F- Rouhana 2, Walker

Left on base:
G- 6
F- 7

Currier and Mann; Treadwell, Walker (6) and Collins.

G:
Currier (W, 2-2) 7 IP 5 H 1 R 0 ER 2 BB 4 K

F:
Treadwell (L, 6-4) 5.1 IP  9 H 7 R 7 ER 2 BB 2 K
Walker 1.2 IP 3 H 0 R 0 BB 1 K

Time: 1:38