Cheverus softball blanks Bonny Eagle to return to Class A final

 Cheverus's Addison DeRoche celebrates the final out with catcher Temperance Lovejoy after the Stags defeated Bonny Eagle 5-0 in the Class A South final. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) [ **Our Communities. Our Teams. Our Future. **We’re proud to make high school sports coverage free for everyone, because these moments matter. At Maine State Credit Union, we’re here for the people and places that make Maine strong. Let’s go! Learn more at **[mainestatecu.org](http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=7274124606&iu=/6119)**.   Cheverus players hoist the championship plaque toward their fans after winning the Class A South softball championship against Bonny Eagle at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham on Tuesday. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F43653113_220260616_A-softball_1.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Cheverus%20players%20hoist%20the%20championship%20plaque%20toward%20their%20fans%20after%20winning%20the%20Class%20A%20South%20softball%20championship%20against%20Bonny%20Eagle%20at%20the%20University%20of%20Southern%20Maine%20in%20Gorham%20on%20Tuesday.%20%28Gregory%20Rec%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) View 13 photos GORHAM — John Eisenhart had a message for his Cheverus softball team going into the Class A South final. The Stags coach wanted another bus ride. “After a (loss), they’re sad, and they want to ride home with their parents. … When we win, they all want to ride the bus,” he said. “One of the things (we said) was ‘Hey, let’s all ride the bus home together this year.'” For the second time in three years, it was another happy trip after the regional final. Addison DeRoche took a perfect game into the seventh before finishing a one-hit shutout, Sadie Collins had a clutch two-run single, and top-ranked Cheverus returned to the Class A championship game with a 5-0 win over No. 2 Bonny Eagle. There was no team trip back home last year, when the Stags (19-0) saw their title defense come to a halt in a [1-0 loss to Windham in the South final](https://www.pressherald.com/2025/06/17/windham-softball-upsets-cheverus-in-a-south-final/). That defeat, however, just made Tuesday’s win sweeter. “I think losing last year made me realize how hard winning is,” said DeRoche, who struck out 15 batters. “It’s such a grind, there’s so much that goes into it. Honestly, that was in the back of my mind, last year’s game.” Cheverus will face North champion Hampden Academy in the state final Saturday in Auburn. Advertisement The Scots (15-4) were hoping to reach the state final for the first time since 1995, but the region’s breakout team ran into a pitcher that opposing teams haven’t been able to hit. “Addison’s special, man,” said Bonny Eagle coach Travis Demmons. “They’re just really good, and she’s special. I’m really happy for them, really proud of my girls. … I think we’re a year ahead of schedule.” DeRoche whiffed nine of the first 10 and 13 of the first 15 batters she faced. Bonny Eagle came out with a plan, faking bunt attempts on the first pitch in the hopes of getting ahead in the count. DeRoche noticed and adjusted. “When I saw the first four people square to bunt the first pitch, I was like ‘OK, I’m just going to try to throw a strike,'” she said. “I just wanted to work ahead.” Leah Story hit a single in the seventh to end DeRoche’s no-hit bid. DeRoche didn’t need to wait long for support. In the second inning, Abby Kelly drew a leadoff walk and Anna Goodman pushed a perfect bunt between the pitcher and third baseman to put two on. Advertisement A sacrifice and a strikeout gave Bonny Eagle a chance to escape, but Collins hit a single to right that made it 2-0. “Just kind of see ball, hit ball. I wasn’t really worried about my mechanics,” Collins said. “I just knew there were runners on and I had a job to do.” Cheverus kept adding. Cameron Gagnon scored on a DeRoche bunt in the third, and Anna Kennedy-Jensen singled and scored on Temperance Lovejoy’s groundout in the fourth. In the fifth, DeRoche walked and pinch-runner Giana Murphy came home on a Goodman single. There was no heartbreak this time. A lethal lineup and a special pitcher made sure of it. “I think we all preferred the winning feeling,” said Goodman. “We were just all ready, and mentally into the game and prepared for it to go our way this time.” Copy the Story Link Tagged: [bonny eagle scots](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/bonny-eagle-scots/), [cheverus stags](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/cheverus-stags/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-bonifant) [Drew BonifantStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-bonifant) Drew Bonifant covers sports for the Press Herald, with beats in high school football, basketball and baseball. He was previously part of the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel sports team. A New Hampshire. [More by Drew Bonifant](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-bonifant)