Dirigo softball defeats Bucksport for Class C title

[ **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)**.   Dirigo pitcher Lana Waite, facing camera, embraces teammate Makenzie Woods while celebrating with Abby Luczynski, right, and Leah Turnbull, in background, after the Cougars beat Bucksport 5-1 in the Class C final on Saturday in Brewer. (Rich Abrahamson/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%2F43658621_20260620_02softball_.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Dirigo%20pitcher%20Lana%20Waite%2C%20facing%20camera%2C%20embraces%20teammate%20Makenzie%20Woods%20while%20celebrating%20with%20Abby%20Luczynski%2C%20right%2C%20and%20Leah%20Turnbull%2C%20in%20background%2C%20after%20the%20Cougars%20beat%20Bucksport%205-1%20in%20the%20Class%20C%20final%20on%20Saturday%20in%20Brewer.%20%28Rich%20Abrahamson%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) View 10 photos BREWER — Even after the game, Dirigo starting pitcher Lana Waite was in disbelief. Waite pitched a complete game, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out three to lead the Cougars to a 5-1 win over Bucksport in the Class C softball championship game Saturday at Coffin Field in Brewer. It’s the first softball title for Dirigo, which last played in a final in 2012. “I mean, it’s crazy. We’ve never won a state championship, so we’re making history, and we’re super happy,” Waite said. “I’m still like, I can’t believe this now. I can’t believe that we won, so yeah, it’s just awesome all around.” Waite doubled in the top of the seventh to drive in two insurance runs. Leah Turnbull also hit an RBI single as Dirigo turned a 2-1 lead into a 5-1 advantage. Dirigo drew motivation from a loss to Hall-Dale in the Class C South final last year. Advertisement “That’s been, like, everything to us, to believe,” Turnbull said. “Like, literally, we have sweatshirts that say ‘Believe’ on them. We just had to believe that we could go forward.” Waite had defensive help in shutting down the Golden Bucks (18-2), who scored 10 or more runs in each of their previous eight games heading into the state final. Dirigo (19-1) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Abby Luczynski. Bucksport’s Avery Robshaw hit an RBI double in the bottom of the first to tie it. Robshaw tried to scored from second in the bottom of the fourth but was thrown out at home by Luczynski. The Cougars then turned a 1-3-5 double play when Allie Hanscom tried to go from first to third on Brie Rotella’s ground ball in the fifth. “That’s on the coach, that’s not on the girls, I gave them the green light,” Bucksport coach Rich Rotella said. “I thought we had it on the first to third on the bunt. We pulled that off all year.” Advertisement After Dirigo’s Xiandra Libby singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth, shortstop Nikole Turnbull made the play of the game for the Cougars in the bottom of the inning when she caught a line drive by Marina Keene and tossed the ball to second for a double play. “I did not have any time to think,” Turnbull said. “That’s a routine play for her, so no one was probably surprised,” Waite said. “I was super proud of her, though.” Dirigo coach Scott Robbins said his fielders have been focused all season long. “They have instincts, they watch every swing of every batter,” Robbins said. “They know where the ball looks like it’s going to go. They’re usually in the right spot.” Copy the Story Link Tagged: [bucksport golden bucks](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/bucksport-golden-bucks/), [dirigo cougars](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/dirigo-cougars/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/nathan-fournier) [Nathan FournierStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/nathan-fournier) Nathan Fournier has been a sports reporter for the Sun Journal the past eight years. He enjoys hanging out with family and friends, watching sports when he's not working. He's a 2010 graduate of the New. [More by Nathan Fournier](https://www.pressherald.com/author/nathan-fournier)