ASHLAND, Maine — Top-ranked Ashland improved to 15-0 on the season Thursday as the Hornets beat No. 8 Southern Aroostook 12-6 in a Class D North quarterfinal.
Ashland advanced to the semifinals where the team faced No. 5 Machias (11-3 overall). If the Hornets are victorious in that game, they move on to the Class D North championship, 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 15 at Brewer High School.
In Thursday’s quarterfinal, Ashland scored three times in the bottom of the first inning and added four more runs in second. Southern Aroostook rallied to score two runs in the third inning, added two more in the fourth and two more in the sixth, but could not keep pace with the Hornets.
Willow Hall drove in six runs for Ashland with a 2-run triple in the first and a grand slam in the second. Kayla MacLean had two hits including a 2-run double.
Ashland took advantage of nine walks and two hit batters, as 6 of those runners eventually scored.
Hornet Kaitlyn Ferro pitched a complete game, giving up four hits, three walks and two hit batters, while striking out five. For the Warriors, Maddie Russell threw the final four innings in relief, holding Ashland to five runs.
Offensively, Maddie Shields tripled, Jennah Brooks singled and scored twice, and Emmalee Landry walked twice and scored twice.
Shortstop Jamie Poulin made an outstanding running catch on a shallow fly ball into center field to save a run and end an SA rally in the sixth inning, Southern Aroostook coach Paul Sherman said.
The Warriors end their season with a 9-7 record.
