Skowhegan softball loaded, but next year won't be a walk

Skowhegan made a wonderful run to the Class A softball state championship game. The Indians return everyone from their starting lineup except for left fielder Breanna Ames, who hit sixth.

So naturally, the Indians will be the favorite in Eastern A next season. Hopefully, people will consider their season a success even if they don't get to the state championship game.

As it is, a lot of things have to go right to get to the state game. Look at the playoffs. Skowhegan defeated Bangor when the Rams threw the ball away after a strikeout on what would have been the third out of the inning. In the Eastern A final, the Indians came from behind and won on a seventh-inning homer by Ames

Bangor still has pitcher Sam Bedore, and she beat the Indians twice and did not allow an earned run in two other games against Skowhegan. Cony will also be strong again. So will Brewer. Messalonskee will have almost its entire team back.

In no way am I trying to say Skowhegan was just lucky. The Indians are a damn good team. It's just that there are a lot of damn good teams in the league, and there's no shame in losing to any of them.

"People might think that because we've got only one senior that we're losing, that we should be back here next year automatically," Skowhegan coach Lee Johnson said after the state final loss to Scarborough. "It was a tough road getting here. The Bangors, the Brewers, the Conys, those teams are all outstanding clubs, and they're going to be right back there again next year. I like our club, but we know it's not going to be easy. It's not going to be handed to us."