AUBURN — Winning pitcher Chloe Leblanc shook off calls she deemed questionable at the plate, rammed the ball back into her glove and went into her next windup in the circle.
That’s the way it went for her for five and half innings, as she struck out 10 batters, walked one and helped hand her team an 8-0 shutout against Lewiston at the Babe Ruth softball 12U state tournament at Pettengill Park on a bright Friday afternoon.
Leblanc demonstrated poise, resilience and went the distance — with support from Auburn’s defense. Meanwhile, the team’s offense used its heads-up base-running skills to make those three hits count.
“If I got a bad call, I would pound (the ball) in there again,” Leblanc said. “It is an in-and-out (each inning) and I just kept working hard. The (team’s) defense was amazing.
“No matter where it was hit, (the defense) could get it in fast and (Lewiston) could not score any runs.”
Catcher Elizabeth Galway inspired Auburn’s defense, firing a pair of put-outs at second base with her strong arm.
“I have been working on my throws for a while,” Galway said. “I think that we did a great job. I think we had a lot of energy starting off the bat and I think that helped a lot.”
Auburn coach Mary Beth Galway said the team’s defense provided strong support for Leblanc.
“We had strong pitching, and behind Chloe, the girls played solid, solid defense — good throws, good catches, good plays all around,” Galway said.
“I have been coaching (Chloe) all season. I know what she can do, but she was just really putting the ball in there, firing hard and making good strikeouts,” Galway added.
After holding off Lewiston in the top of the first inning, Auburn picked up two runs in the bottom half. Leblanc swatted a double, bringing home outfielder Jilly Leblanc and Galway.
With Chloe Leblanc stifling the Lewiston batters, Auburn started collecting a run each for the next two innings, with Jada Clark and Chloe Leblanc each finding their way home to give Auburn a 4-0 going into the fourth inning.
But is was in the fifth inning where Auburn did the most damage, thanks to four walks and an error. Jilly Leblanc, Galway, Chloe Leblanc and Emily Poulin scored without a single hit.
Chloe Leblanc closed out Lewiston with three strikeouts in a row in the top of the sixth.
Lewiston tried working around Leblanc’s pitching and mustered two hits, but as far as coach Eldon Tapley was concerned, his players did just fine.
“The first game we won 16-1 (against Turner earlier Friday). We played a great game pitching wise and defensively,” he said. “And then we came up against a tough pitcher in Chloe Leblanc in the second game and we couldn’t put some things together.”
Lewiston relief pitcher Madeline Andrews came on in the third inning and tried to put a stop to Auburn.
“She pitched three shutout innings in our first game, and she came in for three the second game and she pitched really well,” Tapley said. “(Auburn) made a few plays in the field. They caught us stealing a couple of times, so hats off to them. They played a great game.”
Both teams will be back in action Saturday, with Lewiston dropping into the loser’s bracket and Auburn advancing in the winner’s bracket.
FRIDAY’S 12U TOURNAMENT SCORES
Lewiston 16, Turner 1
Andy Valley A 21, Ararat 8
Auburn 8, Lewiston 0
Andy Valley A 23, Andy Valley B 0
Turner 20, Ararat 7
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