Sidney Nicholls pitched a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts as defending Class B softball champion Medomak Valley earned a return trip to the state final by defeating Lake Region 5-0 in the South final Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.
Medomak Valley (18-1), the No. 1 seed in the South, advances to face North champ Gardiner in the state final Saturday at St. Joseph’s College. No. 3 Lake Region ends the season 14-5.
The Panthers beat Hermon in the Class B final last season.
Nichols hit the first batter of the game, then didn’t allow another base runner until a walk with one out in the fourth. She hit another batter in the sixth.
The Panthers took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a bases-loaded walk to Grace Havener, an RBI single by Rheanne Simmons and error. Peyton Eaton added a RBI double in the fourth inning and scored on an error.