Stretching for the ball is Southern Aroostook’s Maddie Cummings as Katahdin’s Hannah Drew scampers to the base during a May 4 game in Dyer Brook. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — The Hodgdon softball team continues to dominate this spring, using balanced scoring, steady pitching and reliable defense to beat every opponent it has faced thus far.
The Hawks (6-0) are the only undefeated squad in the Class D North region and, as such, are the top-ranked team in that region. East Grand (3-2) is ranked third, while Southern Aroostook (3-1) is fourth and Katahdin (0-4) is 18th.
“The girls are doing a great job and I am really proud of them,” Hodgdon coach Sarah Williams said. “We have been winning our games, but we aren’t blowing teams away. The games have all been fairly close.”
Southern Aroostook softball coach Rob Betchner speaks with his team during a break in the action Thursday afternoon in a contest with Katahdin. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
Williams added that the Hawks are “showing confidence, focus, and patience in these tight games and are walking away gracefully and humbly with the wins knowing we still have a lot to improve upon.”
The team has far exceeded the coach’s expectations coming into the season. “I attribute their success to their aggressive play, especially running the bases, their efficient fielding, and big hits,” she said. “Not only has their athletic ability gathered them a successful season so far, but the team chemistry in amazing. The girls are always lifting each other up but keeping each other in check, and no one feels threatened or afraid to make a mistake. The confidence I see in the girls this year is awesome and I am proud of them for that. It’s almost atypical to see a group of high school girls conduct themselves so well between one another.”
In Class C North, Houlton (4-2) is ranked fifth following Monday’s win over Lee Academy.
The following is a recap of games played through Monday.
Houlton 26, Lee Academy 0 — At Lee Monday, the Shire bats exploded as Houlton pounded the Pandas (0-6). Mikayla Fitzpatrick allowed just three hits in picking up the win for the 4-2 Shiretowners. Morgan Grant singled twice for Houlton, while Tyra Gentle, Elizabeth Ward and Emma Peterson contributed a single apiece.
Flipping a pitch to the plate in Thursday’s game is Houlton’s Mikayla Fitzpatrick. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
Lindsey Dodge paced 0-4 Lee with two singles while Sarah Dodge singled.
Hodgdon 8, East Grand 6 — At East Grand Monday, Hodgdon received an emotional boost as junior Addie Woods made her debut with the team. Woods missed all of last season as she was going through treatment for cancer.
“Addie played right field for the first three innings and it was awesome to see her out there,” coach Williams said. “She helps us keep the book, and she has also been teaching one of the other girls how to do it when she’s not in the game.”
Taylor Desrosiers tripled and singled and had five stolen bases. Sidney Crane had two singles and a triple, and Megan Russell doubled and singled.
For East Grand, Natalie Golding singled twice. Emili Russell’s triple in the bottom of the sixth drove in a run for the Vikings, as did Mallory Gilman’s double in the bottom of the seventh.
Laying off a high pitch is Houlton’s Elizabeth Ward during last Thursday’s game against Presque Isle. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
Houlton 13, LCS/MSSM 1 — At Houlton Friday, the Shires improved to 3-2 behind Fitzpatrick’s three-hitter. Morgan Bailey doubled and drove in three runs and Gentle and Alex Maker each added two hits and two RBIs for the winners.
Victoria Eichorn had two of the three hits for the 0-2 Eagles.
East Grand 17, Washburn 3 — At Washburn Friday, the Vikings’ Hayliegh Shay took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before the Beavers’ Maggie Castonguay broke it up with a single, but East Grand still won easily.
Shay struck out 14 batters and helped her own cause with three hits. Mallory Gilman also hit safely three times for the 3-1 Vikings. Kassandra Farley tripled for Washburn.
Houlton third baseman Tyra Gentle fires a throw to first base during Thursday’s game against Presque Isle. Backing up the play is shortstop Elizabeth Ward. (Joseph Cyr | Pioneer Times)
Hodgdon 11, Central Aroostook 4 — At Hodgdon Thursday, pitcher Desrosiers singled and hit a home run to help her cause as Hodgdon rolled. Jordyn McKissick doubled and singled for the Hawks.
Breanne Bradbury singled and tripled, and Sydney Garrison singled and doubled for Central Aroostook of Mars Hill.
East Grand 28, Shead 2 — Individual results were not reported.
Southern Aroostook 16, Katahdin 0 — Individual results were not reported.
Presque Isle 15, Houlton 4 — Individual results were not reported.
Hodgdon 7, Southern Aroostook 5 — At Dyer Brook May 2, Crane blasted a two-run triple in the top of the seventh inning to give the Hawks a three-run lead that held up for the win. Desrosiers plated two runs with a double and pitched the win.
Kylie Vining led Southern Aroostook with two singles and also had eight strikeouts from inside the pitching circle. The Warriors out-hit Hodgdon 6-5, but also committed three errors compared to two for the Hawks.
