STANDISH – It was something the Fryeburg softball team barely discussed this season, but don’t think the Raiders didn’t have tentative plans for this Saturday.

The defending Class B state champions entered this spring as the odds on favorites to contend for another state title. It was an expectation but never a goal the team acknowledged.

“It was a goal we never ever talked about,” said Fryeburg coach Fred Apt. “It’s never been discussed as a team. As a team we never talked about getting back to the states. I think we were all assuming that was our goal. Most years, we talk about goals, but this year, we never talked about it with them.”

Still, after breaking open 1-1 tie Wednesday afternoon and scoring five runs in the sixth inning, the Raiders are right where they wanted to be. With a 6-2 win over Gray-New Gloucester, Fryeburg advances to the state final back at Ward Field at St. Joseph’s College at 11 a.m. Saturday.

“There’s nothing like it,” said pitcher Hannah Hill, who hurled a three-hitter and struck out eight. “I’ve grown up playing with these girls forever. Winning last year was so much fun and emotional, it was really cool that we could do that. The fact that we’re going again our senior year is really cool.”

Gray-New Gloucester’s Laura Getchell allowed seven hits and struck out nine. She two-hit the Raiders through the first five innings before Fryeburg broke the game open with five hits in the sixth.

“I thought we’d knock on the door a little bit, but I didn’t think we’d break it open like that,” said Apt. “I just hoped to get one.”

The Patriots put the Raiders in an early 1-0 hole but couldn’t get much offense going after that. Abby Ryan had an RBI single in the first, but the only other hits came when Taylor Damon and Natalie Tombarelli hit back-to-back singles in the seventh that made it 6-2.

“Offensively, we did an OK job today,” said Patriots coach Greg Eggleston. “We didn’t really handle the change-up that well. Other than that, I felt we put the ball in play really well. We were able to score two runs, and a lot of teams can’t say they’ve done that.”

Fryeburg (18-1) threatened in the fourth and fifth but came up empty. Brylie Walker singled in the fourth but was stranded at third after two fly outs and a strike out. In the fifth, freshman Maggie McConkey led off with a triple, but Getchell struck out three in a row to escape that threat.

“We feed off each other when we’re batting,” said Hill. “It’s a total team effort. When Maggie, our freshman left fielder, led off the fifth inning with a triple and didn’t score, we felt as a team we owed it to her and ourselves to get more runs.”

So, in the sixth, Hill led the charge with a double to deep center. Walker drew a bases on balls and both advanced on a passed ball.

“That definitely set us up,” said Tripp. “We know once we get people on base, all we have to do is put it in play and be aggressive on the bases.”

The Patriots thought about walking Tripp but decided against it. She delivered a double down the third baseline that scored two runs.

“We went for it and unfortunately, she got a hit and that hit turned into three or four more,” said Eggleston.

Ariel McConkey followed with an RBI single that made it 4-1. Anna Tupaj delivered another single that scored a pair for the 6-1 lead.

“Once we start hitting, everyone sees that going, and they’re like ‘I’m going to step up to the plate knowing I’m going to get a hit,'” said Tripp.”

The Patriots (14-4) scored first when Morgan Wilson and Getchell drew walks to start the game. After a sacrifice by Kassie Wilson, Ryan’s infield hit made it 1-0. Fryeburg got that back in the bottom of the inning when Hill walked and later scored on a wild pitch.

“When we scored the one in the first, I knew that wasn’t all it was going to take,” said Eggleston. “It was nice to get on the board first and put a little pressure on them, but we gave them a gift right after that. We kind of gift-wrapped that first run back to them, which hurt a little.”