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GORHAM — It wasn’t the Dirigo softball team’s turn in the Class C South final last year. And when Monmouth Academy’s Evelyn Pettengill retired the first 10 batters Tuesday afternoon, it was starting to look like it wasn’t going to be the Cougars’ turn this season, either.

“I never doubt my girls,” Dirigo coach Scott Robbins said. “But the vice was closing a little bit.”

Then came the breakthrough. Abby Luczynski hit a go-ahead two-run single during a three-run fourth inning, and pitcher Lana Waite finished off top-seeded Dirigo’s 3-2 victory over No. 2 Monmouth in the regional final at the University of Southern Maine.

Reaching the state final — Dirigo’s first since falling to Bucksport in 2012 — was made even sweeter by how close the Cougars came last year, when they were six outs away from knocking out four-time defending champion Hall-Dale.

“We knew it would take a near-perfect game to get it done,” Robbins said. “Last year, we were a victim of a couple of errors late, and it cost us. This year, we didn’t let it happen.”

At first, though, nothing was happening for Dirigo at the plate. Pettengill (four strikeouts, seven hits allowed) had the Cougars off-balance through 3 1/3 perfect innings, and the Mustangs went ahead 1-0 when Hayli Paradis walked and scored on an error in the third.

But with one out, Miss Maine Softball finalist Nikole Turnbull singled to center. Suddenly, the tension was lifted.

“In the dugout, we were a little flat (before that),” Waite said. “(And then) we were just like ‘OK, now let’s get it going.'”

The bats came to life. Waite lined a double to left one out later, sending Turnbull to third. Luczynski followed with a first-pitch single to left that drove in both runners for a 2-1 lead.

“I was telling myself ‘Just a base hit, breathe, and just have fun up there,'” Luczynski said. “Breathe and relax. I’ve been in that situation before. We’ve been in that situation before.”

Luczynski scored when Emma Witas doubled to left on the next pitch. That was enough support for Waite. Monmouth got a run in the fifth when Paradis doubled and scored on a fielder’s choice, but Waite, a senior, kept Monmouth off the board in the final two innings — even if she was sweating out every at-bat.

“I was nervous the entire time. I was so nervous, I’m always nervous when I’m pitching,” said Waite, who struck out six and gave up five hits. “I don’t even know why I’m a pitcher.”

Robbins knows.

“She is just the most determined kid,” he said. “When she focuses and locks in, that’s the result right there.”

Monmouth got the tying run on in the seventh when Lillian Palleschi (3 for 4) singled to left with two outs, but a flyout ended the game.