The Cony softball team advanced to the Eastern Maine Class A semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Hampden Academy on Thursday. The Rams scored all three runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by RBI doubles from Amy Jones and Maegan Cloutier.

The game featured a few odd plays and twists that nearly left Cony coach Rocky Gaslin with a few gray hairs.

Most of the madness came in the third inning.

In the top of the inning, Hampden leadoff hitter Michelle Wells appeared to strike out to end the inning as she chased a low pitch that skidded into catcher Cloutier’s mitt.

Both teams cleared the field, but Hampden coach Rodney Wells told the umpires that Wells had fouled the ball into the dirt. He asked the umpires to chat, and chat they did. After a brief huddle, the umps ruled in favor of Hampden and Cony was called back onto the field.

Wells than reached base via an error, but Cony starter Jasmin Trott struck out Brittany Luetjen to retire the side (again).

In the bottom of the inning, Cony put runners on second and third with two outs when Jones hit a soft flare to third baseman Katherine Plowman, who dropped the ball while standing in fair territory.

Freshman Katherine Bowie had broke for home, but held up when she heard Gaslin yell ‘hold.’ The problem was that Gaslin was yelling to Chelsea Soule, who was heading toward third.

Instead of scoring, Bowie raced back to third, where she was promptly thrown out to end the inning.

“That was a mistake,” Gaslin said.

Also of note, Cony right fielder Liz Barker almost made an incredible catch in foul territory during the top of the fifth. No. 9 hitter Kaitlyn Haase lined a shot down the line in right and Barker nearly chased it down before slamming face-first into the fence. She came up with no ball but a smile. Regardless, it was an unbelievable effort.