St. Thomas Aquinas Softball Falls Short in Semifinals; PCA Advances to Championship

PLYMOUTH - In a tightly contested Division III semifinal held at Plymouth State University on Thursday, June 11, St. Thomas Aquinas faced off against the top-seeded Gilford. Sophomore pitcher Hailey Anzmann delivered an impressive performance, conceding just one run over six innings, but the Saints ultimately lost 1-0. This defeat marks the end of their season, concluding with a 15-3 record.

St. Thomas Aquinas, the reigning Division III state champions, struggled offensively, managing only two hits throughout the game. Freshman Mollie Gaynor recorded a single in the first inning, followed by a hit from sophomore Mallory Enman in the third. "Anzmann pitched her best game of the season against a tough Gilford lineup, and the defense behind her came through with outs when we needed them most," remarked head coach McKenzie McGrath. However, the lack of offensive support proved decisive, as McGrath noted, "It was a pitcher's duel from start to finish, and in the end, one run was the difference."

Reflecting on the season, McGrath expressed both disappointment and pride. "It's tough losing a close game like that and coming up just short of reaching the championship," she said. "When I look back on this season as a whole, there's so much to be proud of and so much to celebrate." With a youthful roster, McGrath is optimistic for the future, stating, "We'll be hungry, determined, and ready to be right back in the hunt next year."

In other tournament action, the fifth-seeded Portsmouth Christian Academy (PCA) secured a spot in the Division IV state championship with a 3-0 upset victory over top-seeded Pittsburg/Canaan. PCA, with a record of 15-4, will face No. 3 Colebrook, who advanced after defeating No. 2 Pittsfield 6-4. The championship game is set for Saturday, June 13, at 2 p.m. at Plymouth State.

In baseball, the top-seeded Fryeburg Academy triumphed over eighth-seeded York, ending the Wildcats' season with a 10-2 victory in the Class B South quarterfinals. York finishes the season at 10-8 following their earlier win against No. 9 Wells.