HOULTON, Maine — The regular season is now a fond memory for many baseball and softball squads, but there is still much work to be done.
The postseason begins Tuesday, June 8, for all squads, as the Maine Principals Association opted to have an “Open Tournament” format for the postseason this year. Teams could choose to opt out of the playoffs if they so desired.
The quarterfinal round is slated to begin Thursday, June 10, with games at 4 p.m., unless the two schools involved agree to a different day/time. The regional semifinals are set for Saturday, June 12, at times to be determined.
The regional championships will be played at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor for baseball, and Brewer High School for softball. Dates and times for those games are as follows: Class C baseball, 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 15; Class D baseball, 3 p.m., Wednesday, June 16; Class B baseball, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 16; Class C softball, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 15; Class B softball, 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 16; and Class D softball, 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 16.
The Class C state championships for baseball and softball will be played at St. Joseph’s College in Standish. The softball title game is 12:30 p.m. and the baseball championship is set for 4:30 p.m.
The Class B and D championships will be played in Bangor and Brewer. The B baseball championship is set for 11 a.m. at Mansfield, followed by the D title game at 3 p.m. The D softball title game will be played at 12 p.m., followed by the B championship at 4 p.m.
Baseball
In Class B, Caribou finished 7-9 and are ranked 11th on the season, while Presque Isle ended at 15th with a 3-13 record. The Vikings are slated to travel to No. 6 Foxcroft Academy for an opening round playoff game. Presque Isle travels to No. 2 Ellsworth Monday for the opening round.
In Class C, Fort Kent finished 7-9 on the season and is ranked 11th in the standings. The Warriors travel to take on No. 6 Washington Academy in the opening round, Tuesday, June 8 (time to be determined).
In Class D, Hodgdon is the top-ranked team with a 13-1 record. The Hawks host No. 17 Fort Fairfield (0-14) Tuesday, 3 p.m. in an opening round game.
Southern Aroostook (12-2) finished fifth in the region and will face No. 12 Schenck 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, in a preliminary round game.
Other preliminary round contests are: No. 8 Madawaska (10-3) and hosts No. 9 Central Aroostook (8-6); No. 10 Katahdin (10-4) travels to No. 7 Bangor Christian (10-6), Tuesday, June 8, at 4:30 p.m.; No. 13 Van Buren (6-6) travels to No. 4 Woodland (9-4); No. 14 Ashland (2-12) travels to No. 3 Stearns (8-5) Tuesday, June 8 for a 3 p.m. game.
No. 16 East Grand (0-11) played No. 17 Fort Fairfield Saturday, falling 22-3. Washburn finished (3-9) in the standings.
Softball
In Class B, No. 12 Presque Isle (4-12) travels to No. 5 Foxcroft Academy (9-6) Monday, June 7, at 4 p.m.; and No. 13 Caribou (2-14) travels to No. 4 Lawrence (11-4) for a 2 p.m. prelim Tuesday, June 8.
In Class C, No. 3 Houlton (10-2) receives a first-round bye. The Shires face the winner of No. 5 Calais (10-5) vs. No. 11 Narraguagus (6-7) in the quarterfinal round Thursday, June 10.
No. 8 Fort Kent (7-9) hosts No. 9 Orono (6-10) Tuesday in a preliminary round contest.
In Class D, No. 1 Ashland (14-0) received a first-round bye and will face the winner of No. 8 Southern Aroostook-No. 9 Wisdom on Thursday. The Warriors (8-6) host Wisdom (7-5) on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
No. 3 Katahdin (12-2) takes on No. 14 Shead (1-10), Tuesday, June 8, at 4 p.m.; No. 7 Hodgdon (9-4) hosts No. 10 Fort Fairfield (5-9), Tuesday, June 8, at 4:30 p.m.; No. 12 Central Aroostook (3-10) travels to No. 5 Machias (9-3); and No. 13 East Grand (2-9) travels to No. 4 Penobscot Valley (11-2).
