DYER BROOK, Maine — The Southern Aroostook softball team has enjoyed incredible success on the diamond this season, winning 12 straight games. And all signs seemed to be pointing to another lengthy playoff push for the talented Warriors.
The Warrior roster features senior Tabitha Drake; juniors Emily Bubar, Kylie Vining and Aaliyona Wenzloff; sophomores Makaelyn Porter, Sydney Brewer, Alexis Hartin, Aliyah Morales; and freshmen Emma Nadeau, Paige Vose, Kacy Daggett and Selena Botting.
Winning has become a bit of the norm for this group of Warriors, under the direction of veteran coach Rob Betschner. Last season, the Warriors finished 12-2 in the regular season and advanced all the way to the Class D North regional championship, before falling to eventual state champ Penobscot Valley.
Many of those on the team were also a part of the girls basketball team that won its first gold ball in 21 years this past February.
Sporting a perfect 12-0 record, Southern Aroostook faced its toughest challenge yet Monday afternoon from a surprising opponent — winless Hodgdon. The Hawks (0-9) pushed Southern Aroostook to extra innings before the Warriors finally emerged victorious 5-4 in eight innings.
With one away in the bottom of the eighth inning, Nadeau drew a walk in the bottom of the eighth inning and promptly stole second base. With the winning run in scoring position, coach Betschner decided to play a bit of “small ball” as Bubar and Vose dropped back-to-back bunts that Hodgdon chose not to field to first for the out in fear of the winning run scoring.
“It was by design,” the coach said. “We work on our bunting and small ball scenarios in practice. We haven’t had much of a chance to use it, but we needed it today.”
Porter then ripped a hard hit ball to the shortstop that allowed the speedy Nadeau to scamper home for the game winning run.
Manufacturing runs is something the Warriors have not had to do much of this season as SA has outscored the opposition 140-60 through 12 games, averaging nearly 12 runs per game.
“Sometimes you get on your heels when you are winning, so this game is a good eye-opener for us,” Betschner said.
Vining, the Warriors’ ace pitcher, said she feels far more relaxed inside the circle this season.
“There is some pressure to keep the undefeated thing going, but I think we are a lot stronger this year than last year,” Vining said. “I don’t get stressed out as much as I did last year.”
Hodgdon made a number of exceptional plays in Monday’s game including a pair of running catches by Megan Russell to prevent would-be hits from the Warriors.
“I am extremely proud of our girls,” Hodgdon coach Sarah Williams said. “Southern Aroostook is the best team in the region, but our girls played with a lot of heart and intensity today.”
