By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

STANDISH – They couldn’t have planned it any better.

When the Telstar Rebels roared out to an 8-0 lead Wednesday, it provided an ideal start to what they hope will be a perfect ending to their season.

Telstar barely looked back in a 12-4 victory over Mt. Abram in the Western C championship game, and advanced to Saturday’s state final in Brewer for the first time since 1991.

“To throw a five-spot in the first inning was huge, and to come back with three more in the second, I was certain I jinxed us when I turned to my coach and said, This is just like a script.'” said Telstar coach Jim Lunney.

For the Roadrunners it was just the kind of hold they hoped to avoid. Mt. Abram (14-6) got as close as 8-4, but Telstar’s lead was too great.

“They hit well in the first inning,” said Mt. Abram coach Jeff Pillsbury. “Obviously, we had a bunch of errors. We knew we couldn’t get behind.”

Telstar (15-2) had beaten the Roadrunners 16-2 in the regular season, putting up eight runs in the first two innings.

“It was just what we wanted to do,” said Telstar outfielder Kayla Mills. “It’s what we were talking about before the game – score early and often.”

Telstar rapped out nine hits, six in the first two innings. Seven different Rebels had hits and drove in runs. Jessie Farrington led the Rebels with two hits and an RBI, while Stephanie Tripp drove in a pair with one hit. Mt. Abram also had six errors.

“We know defensively we had to get it done, and we didn’t get it done,” said Pillsbury. “It’s a simple game, and Telstar hit well. We didn’t make the plays. If we make the plays, maybe it’s a different game.”

The Roadrunners had just three hits off Farrington, all of which came in the third inning. Farrington finished with eight strikeouts and walked just four in the cold and rainy conditions.

“She did well,” said Lunney. “She battled. She had a real good game. It’s a tough day to pitch, but she hung in there.”

The Rebels belted out five hits in the opening inning. After a Jillian Kimball single and a Tiffany Jordan walk, Farrington doubled in a run. Mills and Hutchins followed with RBI singles. Tripp then singled in Hutchins and Chelsea Cozzolino for a 5-0 lead.

“We had confidence coming into this game, and it just worked out,” said Mills.

Telstar only had one hit off Katie Walker in the second, but three Mt. Abram errors helped the Rebels cause. Jordan scored on an error and Farrington scored on Mills’ ground out. Liz Rosenberg scored on the same play when the Roadrunners threw the ball away.

Mt. Abram got three back in the third. After a Heather Hayes double, Logahn Walker singled her home. Morgan Cummings followed with a single, and Walker scored on a Sadie White groundout. Cummings then scored on a wild pitch.

The Roadrunners added a run in the fourth when Asia Burrill walked and scored on an error.

“I wasn’t too confident, but I knew this was our game” said Farrington. “I didn’t think any of the team was overconfident with it, but that shaky inning, that just pushed us to get back into it.”

Mt. Abram didn’t threaten again. Farrington struck out five of the last seven batters she faced.

“I felt back on it,” said Farrington. “In my head, I felt like I needed to finish things strong. I was thinking that the more strikes, the sooner we were out of it.”

Telstar added four runs in the fifth. Josie Reiss and Farrington each singled in runs and Jordan and Rosenberg each plated runs with ground outs