The Presque Isle and Ashland softball teams concluded their seasons last week after losing in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
The Wildcats had defeated Foxcroft Academy in a home prelim game last Tuesday, 13-1, but went on to play No. 1 Hermon Thursday and were beaten, 18-0.
Presque Isle, the eighth seed in Class B North, scored six times in the second inning and added five more in the sixth to stop the visiting Ponies in the prelim. The game was called after 4-1/2 innings due to the run rule.
Bunt singles by Alyssa Trombley, Taylor Williams and Savannah Rodriguez keyed the rally in second, with Allison Madore chipping in with an RBI double as 11 batters went to the plate. PI scored all their runs in the third with two outs, with Sydney Thompson’s bases-clearing double capping things.
Thompson, a freshman pitcher, limited Foxcroft to four hits and allowed only an unearned run in the fifth.
Two days later, the Hawks proved to be too much for the Wildcats. Bre Oakes slammed three home runs and Karli Thebarge threw a no-hitter in Hermon’s easy victory, which was also halted after 4-1/2 innings.
Presque Isle, under coach Terry Cummings, finished up the year with a 12-6 record.
The Hornets also won a home prelim game, blanking East Grand last Wednesday, 12-0, but fell just short at No. 3 Madawaska Thursday, 19-18, in a contest that went nine innings before being decided.
Ashland, the No. 6 team in Class D North, sailed in the prelim as Cassidy Pelletier threw a two-hit shutout and Amber Chasse blasted a two-run homer.
Savannah Flint had two singles and an RBI and Olivia Tardie came through with a two-run single for the Hornets. This game also ended after 4-1/2 innings due to the “run rule.”
Against the Owls, Ashland broke out in front 7-3 in the middle of the second inning, but then the two teams went back and forth. The Hornets scored four times in the top of the seventh to go up by a run, but in its half of the inning, Madawaska was able to score to force extra frames.
Both teams went scoreless in the eighth and Ashland also did not score in the ninth, but the Owls walked off with the victory thanks to Jenna Dugal’s two-out single which scored Alexis Levesque from second base.
Caitlin Paradis ended her Hornet career in style with a double and a single and four RBI. Pelletier and Chasse notched three singles each.
“We had played them three times during the regular season, so there were no surprises, said Ashland coach Terry Hunter. “Both teams have great hitters and fielders and the pitchers threw strikes. We played the best we could and have no excuses.
“I’m proud of the way these young ladies handled themselves throughout the season,” he added.
The Fort Fairfield Tigers were beaten in the prelim round last Wednesday. Katahdin, ranked fourth, handed No. 13 FF a 7-0 defeat in Stacyville. Taylor Churchill had a double and a single to lead the Tiger offense.
