Eagles too much for Ashland in opener

    ASHLAND – The Limestone-MSSM Eagles reached the Eastern Maine Class D softball finals a year ago, and on Friday, looked like a team that wants to get there or farther this spring. 

    The team’s first nine batters reached base and scored runs and the Eagles scored 10 times in the frame en route to a 30-6 victory over Ashland in game called after five innings due to the 12-run rule.
    The Eagles benefitted from the wildness of Ashland starting pitcher Whitney Donovan, who walked five of the first nine batters she faced and hit a sixth. Audra Kirk and Savanna Gray had RBI singles, while in her second turn at bat, Victoria St. Pierre unloaded with a bases-clearing inside-the-park home run that caromed off the outfield fence. Limestone-MSSM reloaded the bases, but failed to add to its tally.
    Anna Paradis tripled and scored on Taylor Baker’s groundout in Ashland’s half of the inning, but the Hornet offense was unable to really break through against Eagle starting pitcher Jasmine Cote until putting five runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ten batters came to the plate, with Brooke LaBelle, Paradis and Baker coming through with consecutive hits and Whitney Donovan and Mariah Cook adding two-out hits later in the frame. By that time, however, the game was out of reach as Limestone-MSSM already had 23 runs on the board.
    With several substitutes in the game, the Eagles pushed seven more runs across in the top of the fifth to answer the Ashland rally. Reserve outfielder Daniele Pelkey hit a two-run single and subs Monique Lebel, Rylee Leighton and Karen Page also had hits in the inning for Limestone-MSSM.
    St. Pierre posted the most impressive offensive numbers, going 4 for 6 with nine RBI. Kirk and Gray contributed two hits and three RBI each in Limestone-MSSM’s 14-hit attack.
    Paradis, Donovan and Cote, who along with Shea Craig pitched in relief of Donovan, were the leading hitters for Ashland with two hits apiece. Hornet pitchers combined to surrender 24 walks in the contest after playing against Madison and Carrabec in preseason games earlier in the week and allowing very few bases on balls in those two games.
    “We’ll put this game behind us and work hard for the next,” said Hornet coach Terry Hunter. “If my pitcher throws strikes, I believe we can be in every game.”

Staff photos/Kevin Sjoberg

ASHLAND TEAMMATES

     Brooke LaBelle, left, and Kayla Cote congratulate each other after both scored runs in the fourth inning of Friday’s home game. However, the visiting Eagles had more to celebrate after the 30-6 victory.

FORCE OUT

    Ashland Hornet third baseman Melissa Ellis steps on the base to force out Limestone-MSSM baserunner Victoria St. Pierre during Friday’s game in Ashland. The visiting Eagles cruised to a 30-6 victory in the regular season opener for both squads. The Hornets were scheduled to take on Fort Fairfield yesterday in an away contest.