By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

STANDISH – If people came to Ward Field to see Michelle Libby pitch Tuesday night, they probably left the Western Maine Class C championship game talking about another hurler instead.

Telstar’s Jessie Farrington outdueled Libby, firing a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Sacopee Valley at Saint Joseph’s College.

With their second straight regional crown, the Rebels advance to Saturday’s Class C state championship game against Eastern Maine champion Central.

“This was definitely my game,” said Farrington, who wasn’t satisfied with her outing Monday against Dirigo in the semifinals. “This was what I wanted (Monday). Yesterday was over with. I forgot about it and came out here ready.”

Libby is considered one of the state’s top pitchers. She allowed five hits and struck out 12, but Farrington had the upper hand in a battle of unbeatens. The senior, who has never lost as a pitcher in high school, struck out nine and walked just one.

“She bloomed this year,” said Telstar coach Jim Lunney.. “She started off as our best hitter, our best shortstop, our best catcher and now, in her senior year, she’s our most effective pitcher.”

The Hawks (16-1) learned that the hard way and even watched Farrington deliver the winning run when her sinking liner in the fifth was dropped, allowing Tiffany Jordan to score.

Telstar (17-0) got key defensive plays from Stephanie Tripp at third base and Abby Hutchins in left field.

Sacopee’s only baserunners came on a walk, a hit batter and a pair of errors. When Farrington had to be at her best, she did just that. In the third with Britni Murch on second, Farrington fell behind 3-0 in the count to Colleen Donovan with Libby and Katie Pike, the heart of the Hawk order to follow. Farrington battled back to get the strike out.

“I had a lot of 3-0 counts and had to come back with strikes,” said Farrington. “To have three balls and come back and strike a girl out is a big thing. It’s very exciting.”

Telstar broke the stalemate in the fifth with two outs. Jordan and Kimball each drew walks. Farrington, who had struck out her previous two times up, came to the plate.

Farrington hit a sinking liner toward right field. Crowley, the Sacopee second baseman, drifted over but couldn’t come up with the catch. By the time the ball hit the ground, Jordan was already around third and headed for home.

“I just knew I had to make it home,” said Jordan. “I couldn’t see the ball. I just looked at coach. He just said, Go’. I heard cheers and I just ran.”

The Hawks threatened in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Donovan reached base when Tripp’s throw from third was dropped at first. Libby followed with a grounder that went through the legs of Kimball at short. Pike, Sacopee’s cleanup hitter, popped up toward first base. Chelsea Cozzolino, whose miscue at first prolonged the inning, got a quick start off the bag to make the catch and end the threat.

“We had two errors and we bounced back,” said Lunney. “Chelsea came off for that foul ball. She wanted that one.”

A nice play by Tripp at third accounted for the first out in the seventh. Then after a ground out to Jordan, Farrington got the strikeout to end it.

“I was very happy to be out there,” said Farrington. “Everything was working. Where I wanted my pitches to go, they went, and that’s a good thing.”