Ashland’s Shelby Stolze slides safely into third base Thursday as Southern Aroostook’s Marissa Boulier leaps into the air. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
DYER BROOK, Maine — With the game on the line, Southern Aroostook turned to sophomore pitcher Kylie Vining to get the team out of a jam and into the semifinals.
With the bases loaded, in the top of the seventh inning, and Southern Aroostook clinging to a 10-9 lead over Ashland, Vining called for time so she could get a drink of water before facing the next batter.
After the break, Vining returned to the circle and struck out the final batter she faced Thursday afternoon to clinch the win for No. 1 Southern Aroostook (13-2) over No. 8 Ashland. The Warriors advance to the semifinals, where they take on No. 4 Stearns at noon Saturday. Ashland ends its season with a 7-9 record.
“Oh my gosh, I am so happy,” Vining said. “That was a really close game, probably the closest we have had all year. I knew I had to bring something extra in that seventh inning.”
Ashland short stop Cassidy Pelletier catches the ball as Southern Aroostook’s Taylor Libby slides safely to the base Thursday in a Class D North quarterfinal. SA won 10-9. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
Vining scattered nine runs on nine hits, two walks and one hit batter, while striking out eight. Sophomore Cameron Deabay yielded 10 runs on 10 hits, four walks and two hit batters, while striking out five for the Hornets.
Emily Bubar led the Warriors offensively as she belted two doubles and scored two runs. Alexis Hartin, Katelyn Stevens and Sydney Brewer each had two singles, while Vining and Taylor Libby both had one single.
For the Hornets, Shelby Stolze doubled and singled, while Jamie Poulin had two singles and drove in two runs. Olivia Tardie also had two singles, and Amber Chasse added a triple. Cassidy Pelletier also had a single.
“We did not play exceptionally well today, and it is awfully hard to beat a team three times in a season,” SA coach Rob Betschner said. “Ashland is very well coached and I knew we were going to have our hands full today.”
Southern Aroostook found itself trailing 9-6 before plating four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 10-6 lead. In that rally, Bubar blasted a leadoff double that hit the center field fence. Vining followed with a single up the middle putting runners on first and third. Bubar scored on a flyout by Makaelyn Porter.
Stevens dropped a bunt and managed to reach first safely as Ashland’s first baseman pulled her foot off the bag before the ball arrived. That bunt allowed Vining to score. Hartin singled, putting runners at first and third. Aliyah Morales came on to run for Hartin and attempted to steal second. She was called out for leaving too early.
Throwing to first after fielding a bunt is Southern Aroostook pitcher Kylie Vining during Thursday’s Class D North quarterfinal against Ashland. SA won 10-9. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
Stevens scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 9-9. Libby reached on an error and was replaced by Aaliyona Wenzloff, who promptly stole second and third before scoring on wild pitch.
“I just kept telling the girls we didn’t need to get all the runs back in one inning,” Betschner said. “A lot of times teams feel they need to do just that. I’ve told them all year, we play seven innings, so let’s get a few here and there. This group is used to the pressure and they handled it pretty well today.”
