The regular season for baseball and softball comes to a close later this week and preliminary playoff games are set for Tuesday, June 6, 2017. Many local teams are on track to make the playoffs.
The Presque Isle softball and baseball teams each have one game left, at Caribou today, and appear near locks for the post-season. The Wildcat softball team carries a 6-9 record, but own the 11th position in Class B North. The PI baseball team is 7-8 and in 10th place. The top 12 teams advance.
Both teams were swept at home by Hermon Saturday. The girls dropped the first game by a 7-2 score, but coach Terry Cummings was encouraged by the performance. Faith Leavitt pitched well again and has been a bright spot all season long and the remainder of the young team has also responded.
“We proved that when we play like we can, we can compete with the very best teams in Class B,” said Wildcat softball coach Terry Cummings. “Sometimes our youth shows up, but the girls are working hard and that is all you can ask for as a coach.”
Presque Isle lost game two, 14-2. Hermon is the No. 3 team in the division with a 14-1 record.
The Wildcat boys won their biggest game of the season Thursday, 4-3 over Houlton. The Shires are the No. 1 team in Class C. PI competed well in game two against Hermon Saturday, but fell short, 5-4.
The Fort Fairfield boys are a perfect 12-0 and in second place in Class D North. The Tigers won their only game last week, 8-1 over Central Aroostook, and could overtake No. 1 Katahdin by beating Fort Kent, in a game played Tuesday, and hoping the Cougars lose to Penobscot Valley.
The softball team at Fort Fairfield took a seven-game losing streak into the game at Fort Kent. The Tigers are 3-9, but still in 11th place and in range for the playoffs as the top 13 move on.
Ashland and Central Aroostook are both in contention in baseball and softball. The Hornet softball team, which split a doubleheader with Fort Kent Saturday, is in 10th place at 5-7. Central Aroostook, with a 6-6 record, is in eighth. The two teams square off against each other this afternoon in Mars Hill.
A win by the Hornet baseball team over CA today could get the squad into the playoffs. Ashland is currently in 15th with a 6-7 record and the top 13 teams advance. The Panthers, at 6-6, are in 10th place and will get in either way. They also take on Shead earlier in the afternoon in Danforth.
The Washburn softball and baseball teams broke into the victory column for the first time last week. The girls nipped Hodgdon, 8-7, who had been in first place early last week, and if they were able split their doubleheader against Madawaska Tuesday had a chance go claim one of the final playoff positions in Class D.
The baseball team is out of contention, but did manage to sweep Wisdom in a doubleheader played Friday in the rain at Washburn. The squad carries a 2-10 record.
