Rockport — The District 2 11- and 12-year-old double-elimination Little League softball tournament finally kicked off Wednesday night, June 27 after two straight days of postponements due to rain, with Rockland and Knox Suburban looking to get off on the right foot in their respective runs to the district championship and a state tourney berth.

Rockland used timely hitting and patience at the plate to come away with a 17-6 victory in four innings at the Marge Jones Recreational Facility.

Rockland will move on to face Camden-Rockport on Friday, June 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the same field. The loser of that game will face Knox Suburban in an elimination game on Saturday, June 30 at 11:30 a.m., also at Marge Jones Recreational Facility.

Leading Rockland at the plate Wednesday were Gillian Davis-Oakes (3 hits, 2 runs), Gabby Simmons (2 hits, 3 runs), Hannah Ames (hit, 4 runs), Casey Pine (hit, run), Alexis Mazurek (3 runs) and Taylor Hamlin (hit, run).

For Knox Suburban, Laticia Billings (2 hits), Kristina Ferguson (hit), Emilee Clough (hit, 2 runs), Gillian Lafleche (3 hits, 3 runs) and Lauryn Arsenault (2 hits) keyed the offense.

Davis-Oakes pitched for Rockland, allowing seven hits and 13 walks, with five strikeouts. Ferguson and Lafleche pitched for Knox Suburban, scattering eight hits and 10 walks, with three strikeouts.

Courier Publications sports staff can be reached by phone at 207-594-4401 or by email at sports@courierpublicationsllc.com.