BUCKFIELD – There was no easing into the softball season for the defending Class D state champions Friday.

The Buckfield softball team took the field for the first time but had to open the season against its rivals from Richmond, a team that already had two games under its belt.

“We haven’t even had a scrimmage,” said Buckfied coach Ken Farrington.

“That’s tough. They’ve had seven games with scrimmages. So I knew we were going to be behind.”

The Bucks rust showed Friday, and Richmond’s Amy Russell celebrated her 18th birthday in the finest of fashions in a 3-1 Bobcat win. Russell delivered the winning two-run double in the sixth and held the Bucks to just two hits in the victory.

“We had a really strong preseason,” said Russell. “We were playing for a week-and-a-half. There were constant games, and we had two practices during that time. So I had a lot of action.”

Russell didn’t allow a hit until Kasey Farrington singled in the sixth and Leann Abbott singled in the seventh. She struck out six and walked just one.

“That’s partly because they haven’t seen any pitching,” said Farrington of his team’s struggles to get its offense going. “That was the first at bats of the season.”

Farrington struck out nine for the Bucks (0-1) but also walked nine. She allowed just five hits. She and catcher Alyssa Henderson had only been on the field twice in the last week and are recovering from illness following a senior trip to Virginia Beach.

“Her and (Henderson) have been sick for three days,” said Farrington. “They should have stayed home.”

Though Farrington struggled to find the strike zone, she battled through it and got out of jams in the first three innnings. She struck out two with a pair of runners on in the first and got an inning-ending strike out with another two runners on in the second. She also escaped a Richmond threat in the third with the bases loaded and just one out. She got a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning. Richmond left 11 runners on base.

“It was a positive thing having all those girls on,” said Russell. “We knew we could get on. The next thing was to finish and get them in.”

Buckfield got the first run in the fourth. Farrington reached on an error and advanced on a wild pitch. She scored on a ground out by Allie Martin.

Richmond tied the game in the fifth. The Bobcats got back-to-back walks to start the inning. Tara Hurley delivered an RBI single to score Nicole Tuttle.

Richmond nearly took the lead on a wild pitch but the errant ball was touched by the on-deck batter while the ball was in play. Brianna Clifford was ruled out before scoring the lead run because she was the closest runner to the play.

Buckfield got another out to end the inning.

In the sixth, a walk and single by Shelby Hurley had the Bobcats (3-0) threatening again. Russell delivered a drive to right over the heads of the outfielder. The double scored Hurley and Melanie Schanck for the 3-1 lead.

“I was down in the count but I was ready,” said Russell. “We left a lot of runners on base. Somebody needed to get those girls in.”

The Bucks threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Abbott singled and Melissa Taylor was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Alicia Patrie hit a drive similar to Russell’s double to right. Richmond outfielder Danielle Bunakis was back far enough and made a leaping catch to end the game.

“I had confidence in Danielle,” said Russell. “She’s a young player too. You have to have confidence and hope they’re going to catch it.”