BUCKFIELD - The Buckfield girls farm softball team enjoyed an outstanding 2009 season, reaching its league final before sustaining a 6-2 loss to Sumner.
Buckfield was 4-4 at the midway point of the season but went on a seven-game unbeaten streak before falling in the North division championship game to regular-season champ Sumner. Buckfield finished 10-5-1, with that tie coming against Sumner. That record was good enough for second overall in the regular season.
Buckfield advanced to the championship in thrilling fashion with a three-run bottom of the sixth inning to top Paris Red, 4-3. Brianna Damon clubbed a two-run triple to put Buckfield ahead, and Alyssa Therriault finished off a complete-game performance with a scoreless seventh. Ashley Campbell, Alexis Bennett and Kali Litchfield set the tone defensively with some great stops. Eight year-old Olivia Buswell drove in the first Buckfield run to shift the momentum for the winners.
In the final, Lauren Henderson of Sumner held the Buckfield girls in check. Therriault went the distance for her first loss of the season. Eight year-old Kaylee Harvey ripped an RBI base hit to lead the Buckfield offense. Campbell, Bennett and Litchfield were again stellar defensively for Buckfield.
Sumner advanced to the final with a 7-4 verdict over Woodstock.