CARIBOU, Maine —The Presque Isle Wildcats were looking to avenge an extra inning 8-7 loss to the Vikings earlier in the season when the two teams met Tuesday, May 28 on the baseball diamond.
However, after jumping out to an early 3-0 lead, the Wildcats fell short as the Vikings rallied to pull out a walk-off 4-3 victory.
Presque Isle jumped to a first inning lead off Caribou pitcher Mason Patten as Zach Fletcher singled to right field, stole second, and came home on a single by Chance Bragan. The Wildcats extended their lead in the third as Fletcher and Jonah Hudson singled to open the inning, followed by a run-scoring double by Bragan, and a sacrifice fly by Connor Demerchant.
After the third inning, Patten settled down and did not allow another Wildcat baserunner the rest of the game. On the mound for Presque Isle, Bragan cruised through the first four innings, allowing only an infield hit by Jacob Ouellette in the third inning.
Caribou started to chip away in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases on a single by Sebastian Marquis, a hit batter, and a fielder’s choice. The Vikings got their first run on an infield error, and the second run came in on a bases loaded walk to Alex Ezzy. Caribou appeared to get a two-run single by Noah Hixon, but a ruling of interference by a baserunner nullified the play and ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Cullin Caverhill hit a one-out single to left field, and reached third on an errant pick off attempt. Hayden Hunter reached first on an infield error, with Caverhill scoring the tying run on the play. After two walks, one intentional, to load the bases, Marquis induced another walk to force home the winning run and give the Vikings the 4-3 victory.
Patten pitched a complete game for the Vikings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits to get the victory. Caribou’s record moves to 6-9 with the win, with their final game at Fort Kent on Wednesday, May 29.
Bragan also pitched a complete game in defeat for Presque Isle, allowing four runs, two earned, and only four hits. The Wildcats end their regular season with a 7-9 record. With the high school regular season wrapping up on May 30, both teams await the final standings to determine their playoff match-up.
