The first-place teams in the American and National divisions of Caribou Little League met on the Rotary Field on June 22 in a battle of baseball.
Staff photo/Abigail Hunt
Shop-n-Save’s Alex Losieniecki aims the ball towards the strike zone in an attempt to strike out a Sleeper’s opponent on June 22. Losieniecki battled the mound against Justin Ouellette of Sleepers. The Shop-n-Save pitcher stayed in the whole game, striking out 11 players, but Sleepers took the victory 3-1.
Shop-n-Save led overall with a 9-1 record, but Sleepers’ undefeated 8-0 record meant the game would be a close one all the way through.
Both teams were kept scoreless for the first three innings. Sleepers pitcher Justin Ouellette took the mound for over four innings, giving up only five walks and striking out 10.
Michael Hunter relieved Ouellette in the fifth, giving up only two hits and striking out three. For Shop-n-Save, Alex Losieniecki pitched the entire game and gave up only four hits and three walks, striking out a total of 11 Sleepers athletes.
Solid defense by both teams kept the players from running the bases but it was Sleepers who scored first when Connor Thibeault’s single and Hunter’s double drove in Riley McDuffie and Brendan Cyr, who both scored after being walked.
Mason Huck found himself in scoring position three times, singling, doubling and contributing an RBI for Sleepers’ final third point.
Shop-n-Save’s offense was active with Colby Holdsworth drawing two walks, reaching second base both times. Colton Conley reached base twice with a walk and a double and Ben Ezzy made it all the way to third after being walked.
Axiox Gerakaris reached second base after being walked but it was Michael Marquis who scored the only run for Shop-n-Save after getting on base with a triple.
Defensively, Huck put out five batters at first for Sleepers and was assisted three times by Emma Belyea, Brendan Cyr and Hunter. Kameron Manter put out three batters at first for Shop-n-Save and Marquis had a force out at second with an assist from Losieniecki.
It was a well matched game with excellent pitching going head-to-head, but Sleepers took the 3-1 victory for a current 9-0 standing.
Staff photo/Abigail Hunt
With intense determination, Sleepers pitcher Justin Ouellette throws the ball down the middle of the plate during Sleepers June 22 game against Shop-n-Save. Ouellette pitched nearly five innings, striking out 10. Sleepers, who was second to Shop-n-Save overall, beat the National Division team 3-1 to boost their undefeated record to 9-0.
