Forest Hills’ runner Dana McNally ducks as Buckfield’s short stop Daniel Patrie fires the throw to first base on a double play attempt in softball game played in Buckfield on Saturday.

BUCKFIELD — Confidence can be a funny thing, particularly in the sporting world.

When you have it, you can at the very least feign invincibility and perhaps earn an extra win or two. Without it, even a good team can struggle.

Through the early part of the season, Buckfield softball has been searching for its confidence.

With several swings of the bat and more runs that they could count on their fingers and toes Thursday, the Bucks may have finally found their swagger.

Abrrabine Dunn smacked three hits and Hannah Gallant added two more — including a double — and the Bucks drew an incredible 15 walks as Buckfield took care of Forest Hills, sweeping a matinee doubleheader 13-0 and 10-3 on Saturday.

“We had to be patient at the plate,” Gallant said. “There’s been a couple times this year where, we’ll have a strong first game, and then the second game, a combination of overconfidence and being tired hurts us. In these games, we managed to keep it together.”

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The Bucks kept it together at the plate, but also in the field, where error-free ball has been at a premium this season.

“We’ve struggled so much this year, We’ve average 10, 12 errors per game,” Buckfield coach Ken Farrington said. “It’s been every game this year, and for us to have a clean game, hopefully this boosts their confidence a bit.”

It didn’t take long for Buckfield to get rolling, either. After both pitchers escaped the first inning of Game 1 unscathed, Buckfield started rolling in the second. Dunn and Gallant walked, Elizabeth Strout singled and was followed after an out by Katie Corson, Amber Arsenault, Daniel Patrie, Sami Zak and Abby Bragg, who all reached either by walk, fielder’s choice or error, save for Patrie’s two-run single.

Pitcher Bri Darling took only four pitches to set down the Tigers’ lineup in order in the top of the third, and the Bucks kept right on rolling, piling up seven more runs in the home half of the third to build a 13-0 advantage.

“I just tried to keep the ball low, keep the ball out of the air,” Darling said.

Darling allowed a leadoff single to Dana McNally in the fourth, and a walk and a double to Bailey Brown and Kori Caro in the fifth, but neither Forest Hills runner advanced beyond second base as the Bucks closed out the first game in four-and-a-half innings.

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The Tigers started well in the second game, putting Buckfield on the defensive early and plating a run in the top of the first to take their first lead of the twin bill.

Buckfield responded in kind, with four in the home half of the first, and never looked back. The Bucks (4-4) added two in the third, one in the fourth and three in the fifth.

The Tigers (2-3) also started to move some runners around the bases, adding two of their own in the top of the fourth to pull within three at 6-3.

Dunn finished the day 3-for-5 at the plate for Buckfield with a walk and three runs scored. Gallant was 2-for-4 with three walks and a pair of runs, while Patrie finished 2-for-7 with four runs scored. Forest Hills pitchers also combined to hit four batters.

Coro was the only Forest Hills batter with more than a single hit, and Darling held the Tigers’ lineup to only five hits over two games.

“I’m very happy with the way today went,” Farrington said. “This was something we needed to propel us into the second half of the season.

“I know they’re a young team, but right now, we’re already thinking about who’s going to finish where for the playoffs, because you know where you have to travel with that. We’d love to get up into that second spot if we can. I think it’s all going to come down to Memorial Day weekend and Greenville.”


Buckfield’s Elizabeth Strout collides with Forrest Hills catcher Dana McNally at home plate in softball game played in Buckfield on Saturday. Strout was out on the play.

Buckfield’s Daniel Patrie beats the throw  to Forest Hills  short stop Kori Coro on a steal at 2nd base in softball game played in Buckfield on Saturday.
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