The playoffs will soon be underway for local baseball squads as Houlton, Hodgdon, Southern Aroostook, Katahdin and East Grand are all in the playoff picture this spring.
The regular season winds to a close this week, with preliminary playoffs slated to begin Tuesday, June 6. As of Tuesday morning, all five local squads were playoff bound, but that could change in the final few games of the season.
Houlton (13-2) is ranked first in Class C North after a busy weekend of games. The Shires will likely earn a first-round bye for the postseason. If Houlton stays as the No. 1 seed, it would host the winner of the No.8-No. 9 prelim on Tuesday, June 6.
In Class D North, Katahdin (10-3) is ranked first, while Hodgdon (10-4) is fifth, Southern Aroostook (7-5) is seventh and East Grand (4-8) is 13th. The top three squads earn a bye in this region. If Katahdin remains as the top seed it would host the winner of the No. 8-No. 9 prelim.
Houlton’s Tyler Bailey delivers a pitch to the plate Saturday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader. Houlton won both contests.
(Joseph Cyr)
If Hodgdon remains fifth, it would host the No. 12 seed (currently Scheck) in a prelim game June 6. If SACS remains seventh, it would host the No. 10 seed (currently Deer Isle-Stonington) in a June 6 prelim. East Grand (4-8) is 13th and would play at the No. 4 seed (currently Bangor Christian) in a June 6 prelim.
Southern Aroostook 12, East Grand 1 — At Danforth Monday, the Warriors beat East Grand. Individual results were not reported.
Hodgdon 5, Central Aroostook 3 — At Mars Hill, Hodgdon’s Ben Tuttle picked up the pitching win with nine strikeouts and aided his cause with a double and two singles to lead the Hawks by the Panthers. Braden Bradbury singled for Central Aroostook.
Katahdin 0, Bangor Christian 2 — At Bangor, Josh Palmeter scattered four hits and struck out eight to give the Patriots the victory over Katahdin in the first game of a doubleheader.
Palmeter and Dean Grass each had a hit for the Patriots.
Cooper Drew was the hard-luck losing pitcher for Katahdin as he gave up two infield singles and struck out seven. Brody Guiggey, Dalton Hartt, Cooper Drew and Zach Hagan each had a hit.
Bangor Christian 7, Katahdin 3 — At Bangor, in the second game of a doubleheader, Wyatt Gogan tripled, singled and drove in two runs to propel the Patriots by the Cougars for a sweep in the second game of a doubleheader.
Dean Grass picked up the pitching win and struck out nine. Brody Guiggey had a double, single and scored a run for Katahdin.
Houlton 16, Calais 0 — At Houlton Saturday, Shire Jason Collett threw a one-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader to give the Shiretowners a 16-0 win over Calais and sweep of their doubleheader. Collett struck out nine and was backed up by Thomas Prescott’s four hits and six RBIs. Nick Botting chipped in with a 4-for-4 effort with three RBIs while Nick Perfitt had three hits and three RBIs.
Blake Collins had a hit for Calais.
Houlton 17, Calais 3 — In the first game, Tyler Bailey picked up the pitching win for Houlton while Botting, Colby Callnan and Morgan Phillips each notched two hits. Isia Bouchard added three hits.
Jacob Hornbrook and Alex Newsome each had a hit for Calais.
“Hopefully we can keep the momentum going against Lee Wednesday night and into the playoffs,” Houlton coach Jim Castner said.
Presque Isle 4, Houlton 3 — At Presque Isle Thursday, the Wildcats scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to come from three runs back and nip the No. 1 team in Class C North.
PI capitalized on a hit by pitch, a walk and an error during the comeback. Jonah Hudson, Nick Bartlett, Connor DeMerchant and Dakota Morrow all had singles for the Wildcats. DeMerchant, a freshman, picked up the pitching win in relief of Jonah Hudson and R.J. Gross.
Cameron Graham pitched well in the loss, allowing just the four hits. Nick Botting, Keegan Gentle and Ryder Graham had two hits each for the Shires.
Katahdin 7, Schenck 6 — At Stacyville Thursday, the Cougars (10-1) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat Schenck (3-10). Freshman Dawson McKinney scored the game-winning run for Katahdin.
Cooper Drew, Brody Guiggey and Blake Howes all shared pitching duties for the Cougars and combined to allow six runs on four hits and eight walks, with 11 strikeouts.
John McNally doubled for Katahdin, while Rig Otero, and Drew each had a single.
Southern Aroostook 17, Ashland 6 — At Ashland Thursday, Hunter Walker and winning pitcher Nolan Altvater had three hits each as the Warriors improved to 6-5.
Lucas Craig doubled and Steven Bellanceau and Graham Berry both singled for the 6-5 Hornets.
Hodgdon 29, Washburn 5 — At Washburn Wednesday, the Hawks sent the Beavers to their 10th consecutive loss with Wednesday’s win. Hodgdon improved to 9-4 on the year. Individual results were not reported.
East Grand 8, Woodland 7 — At Woodland Wednesday, Phil Farley tripled, doubled and singled to lead the Vikings of Danforth past Woodland. Justin Monk doubled and singled for Woodland.
Houlton 5, Mattanawcook Academy 4 — At Houlton Tuesday, the Shires rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to erase a 4-2 deficit and collect the triumph over Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln.
“I think it [the game] took off five years off my life,” coach Castner said. “Nick Perfitt and JJ Clements for MA each threw great games and worked themselves out of jams.”
MA took a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning, setting up the dramatic finish. Cameron Graham and Nick Botting lead off with singles and then both stole bases. Following an out, Graham scored on a sacrifice fly by Perfitt.
Houlton’s Isia Bouchard followed with a tough, two-out at-bat before lacing a single that scored Botting to tie the game. Bouchard then stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a wild pitch.
“The game was a great team win because came back from behind twice,” Castner said. “We are very excited about moving to first and hope that we can continue to take care of business and not overlook anybody. If we can stay No. 1, we can have home field for the entirety of the playoffs.”
Brady Pepin and J.J. Clements had two hits apiece for Mattanawcook Academy.
