STANDISH — Richmond has forever etched itself into the history books after becoming just the fourth softball program to win three consecutive state titles.

The Bobcats accomplished that feat Saturday in a 9-4 victory over Stearns in the Class D state championship game at St. Joeseph’s College. They have now won 52 straight games dating back to the start of the 2013 season.

“It never gets old,” Richmond senior Kelsie Obi said. “The feeling of winning never gets old. It’s always a new surprise to us and we never expect it. We’re always ready to try and win.”

With the victory, Richmond joins Madison (1994-98), Traip Academy (1988-90) and Jonesport-Beals (1992-94) as programs that have gone back-to-back-to-back. Madison won four straight titles during its run. The Bobcats are just the second team to do it while going undefeated, joining Jonesport-Beals, who’s winning streak reached 62.

They won their 52nd straight game the same way they’ve won so many others: with their bats. Trailing 2-0 after a half-inning, the Bobcats (18-0) plated four in the bottom half with RBIs from Sydney Tilton, Obi and Cassidy Harriman to grab a 4-2 lead.

“I think it changed the game and it got them down,” Richmond coach Rick Coughlin said. “I don’t think they’ve had anybody score that many runs so quick. I know they’ve given up runs, but that was huge.”

Tilton and Obi doubled in the second inning as part of a two-run frame after the Minutemen (14-7) put up a run in the top half. Obi finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs in her final game in a Bobcat uniform. The senior class compiled a 69-1 record, the only loss coming against Penobscot Valley in the 2012 title game as freshmen.

“It’s been a crazy ride,” Obi said. “From that time that we lost my freshman year, I knew that I wanted to win every other year. I was like, ‘I’m dedicated. I’m ready to go. We need to win.'”

Titlon went 3-for-4, a home run shy of the cycle.

Stearns dug itself a hole it couldn’t climb out of due in part to its five errors. A pair of throwing errors in the fourth inning led to two Richmond runs. The first came on a simple throw back to the pitcher that went wide of Jessicca Girsa in the circle. On the same play, catcher Angela Guy threw over the head of Madeline Morrison at third, allowing Kelsea Anair to score for an 8-3 Richmond lead.

“We knew we were going to make mistakes,” Stearns coach Nick Cullen said. “We were hoping we could minimize those mistakes and make maybe one or two. We knew we had to play one of our best defensive games of the year to do well against these guys and we didn’t do that.”

After a shaky start by Richmond pitcher Meranda Martin, in which see allowed three runs on five hits in the first two innings, the sophomore hurler settled down. She allowed one run on four hits the rest of the way, striking out Hannah Brooker looking to end it.

The Minutemen couldn’t find the same offense they’d been using to mow down their postseason competition. They entered Saturday’s championship game having scored 53 runs in four games, scoring no fewer than 10 runs in each.

Still, Richmond’s victory was closer than most of its games have been this season. Thirteen of its 18 wins were by double digits.

Despite its dominance in past years, Coughlin said his team’s desire to continue winning helped fuel Richmond to a third straight title. It wasn’t focused on any streaks.

“The kids, they don’t look at that,” Coughlin said. “They want to win, so that’s how they approach every game. It’s not the streak, it’s wanting to win. They don’t like to lose.”