BUCKFIELD — Sometimes softball pitchers not only rely on a tireless arm but also nerves of steel.

There were moments Tuesday that Buckfield pitcher Amber Arsenault needed to settle her stress level a little bit. When she did, the junior hurler was at her best. Despite facing a couple of Rangeley threats, Arsenault was stellar in a 4-1 Buckfield win.

“I had to step off the mound a couple of times to take a deep breath and just think by myself for a little bit,” Arsenault said.

The Lakers had the bases loaded twice in the game, including the first inning. Still, Arsenault bore down and got the outs to escape the threat. Arsenault struck out nine and allowed just four hits.  Rangeley stranded nine runners.

“Amber did really well,” Buckfield coach Sandy Albert said. “It was tough. Rangeley’s a good team. They did well. They have a good pitcher.”

It was the second win of the season for the Bucks, who opened the year on the road against Old Orchard Beach almost two weeks ago. Despite the layoff, the Bucks got some timely hitting, were aggressive and had some solid defense.

It was the first game of the season for Rangeley. The Lakers showed some rust early with a couple of miscues in the field, but Rangeley settled in a gave the Bucks a battle.

“We had our first practice outside (Monday),” Rangeley coach Ashley Quimby said. “The first time on a field was when we got here. I didn’t have my second baseman and my shortstop. They’re still on April vacation. I’m very proud of how we played. We put the bat on the ball. We had some hits. We didn’t have any big errors. Buckfield’s a good team.”

Rangeley got hits from Tori Letarte, Seve Deery-Deraps, Taylor Esty and Celia Philbrick. The Lakers just couldn’t produce the clutch blow off Arsenault.

“We just couldn’t get that hit,” said Quimby, whose team hadn’t seen live pitching until Tuesday.

Esty only allowed five hits, two of which came in the first. Kali Litchfield and Hannah Gallant each had a pair of hits and an RBI. Alannah Knox also had a hit for the Bucks.

“We hit the ball but they made the plays too,” Albert said.

Both teams loaded the bases in the first, but only Buckfield scored. The Lakers started the game when Letarte was hit by a pitch. The Bucks then doubled her up on a line drive out by Deery-Deraps. Esty then singled and Blayke Morin and Natasha Haley each walked to load the bases. Arsenault then struck out the next batter to end the threat.

“I was really scared honestly,” Arsenault said. “Everybody’s talking high about Rangeley. Last year we didn’t do too good against them either. So I was really trying to throw pitches in there and hopefully get them out.”

The Bucks took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Knox and Gallant each scored. Then Arrabine Dunn reached on an error. Knox would score on a wild pitch and then an error on a Courtney Lowell grounder plated Gallant.

“I had a freshman at first and at second and an eighth grader at third,” Quimby said.

The Bucks made it 3-0 in the second when Litchfield singled. She moved along on a stolen base and fielder’s choice. She scored on a Gallant ground out.

Rangeley got the lead batter on in the second and fourth on a hit by Philbrick and a walk to Haley, but the Lakers stranded both. Then in the fifth, Rangeley loaded the bases again with the help of two walks and two hits. Haley walked to score Haley Morrill, but Arsenault ended the threat with another strike out.

“It helps that the team encourages the pitcher,” Arsenault said. “It’s really hard for the pitcher mentally especially when the bases are loaded. It’s really hard.”

The Bucks added to the lead in the  sixth when Alexis Bennett walked and later scored on a Litchfield single.

“In a 4-1 game, every run counts,” Albert said.

Arsenault struck out two of the final three in the seventh to end the game.

kmills@sunjournal.com