HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton girls tennis team completed a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Van Buren Tuesday in a Class C North preliminary match.
With the win, the No. 7 Shires (7-6 overall) advanced to the quarterfinals on May 30 where the team faces a tough task against No. 2 George Stevens Academy (10-2) of Blue Hill. That match begins at 4 p.m.
In other Wednesday action, baseball and softball squads are nearing the end of the regular season. Madawaska baseball and softball play a doubleheader at Washburn starting at 3 p.m.; Hodgdon travels to Woodland, Ashland is at Central Aroostook; and East Grand is at Wisdom for baseball and softball action. All six of those games are at 4 p.m., Meanwhile, Houlton ends its regular season hosting Lee Academy in baseball and softball under the lights in Community Park at 7 p.m.
Results from games and matches played Tuesday are as follows:
Tennis
Houlton girls 3, Van Buren 2 — After losing both of its doubles matches to start Tuesday’s preliminary playoff, the Shires singles players of Rebecca Mooers, Sydney Lorom and Maddie Grant came through in a big way to give Houlton the victory.
The individual results, with Houlton players listed first, were: in singles, Mooers beat Tiffany Morrow, 8-1; Lorom defeated Erica Ouellette, 8-2; and Grant bested Emma Labie, 8-4. In doubles, Grace Johnson and Morgan Graham lost to Sierra Soucy and Bailey LaPointe, 3-8; and Dina Kortesky and Reagan Perfitt lost to Emilia Nicknair and Amanda Nicknair, 4-8.
Baseball
Presque Isle 7, Caribou 0 — At Caribou, R.J. Gross tossed a four-hit shutout, striking out nine and walking only two to lead Presque Isle to victory over Caribou. Jonah Hudson’s three-run triple highlighted a five-run sixth inning that put the game away for the Wildcats (6-10). Gross also hit an RBI double in the uprising. Hudson and Cole Paterson each had two hits.
Losing pitcher Camden Huck doubled for Caribou (4-11).
Katahdin 20, Shead 1 — At Stacyville Tuesday, in the first game of a doubleheader, Katahdin’s Brody Guiggey and John McNally both bashed triples to pace the Cougars past Shead. Guiggey added two singles, while McNally also had a double. As a team, Katahdin laced 10 hits and drew 11 walks.
Katahdin’s Cooper Drew scattered one run on one hit and two walks, with seven strikeouts through three mound innings. Guiggey tossed two innings of scoreless relief, allowing one walk, with five strikeouts.
Katahdin 21, Shead 4 — In the second game of the double dip, the Cougars bashed 16 hits and drew eight walks as they easily beat Shead. Drew and Chase Tapley each had three hits.
Softball
Presque Isle 13, Caribou 7 — At Caribou Tuesday, the Wildcats improved to 7-9 on the season with the victory, while Caribou dropped to 4-11. Sydney Thompson scattered seven hits and aided her own cause with two hits and two RBIs.
Savannah Rodriguez, Kayla Saucier and Allison Madore also had two hits apiece for Presque Isle. Caribou was led at the plate by Taylor Devoe and Hollie McDougal with two hits apiece.
Ashland 15, East Grand 11 — The Hornets improved to 9-4 on the season, while East Grand fell to 10-2 following Tuesday’s game in Danforth. Individual results were not reported.
Katahdin 16, Shead 3 — At Stacyville Tuesday, May 29, Lily Cullen struck out nine Shead batters and helped her cause with a double as the Cougars clawed out the win over the Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader.
Erin Lake, Jordyn Gardner and Hannah Kyllonen each had two singles, while Lindsay Drew, Danielle Libby and Leanne Fitzpatrick each had one single for the Cougars.
Ryleigh Andrews paced Shead with two singles, while Halle Sullivan added a single.
Katahdin 26, Shead 10 — In the second game of the doubleheader, the Cougars exploded for 26 runs thanks to five singles from Lake. Cullen and Libby both added a double and single, while Fitzpatrick and Emma McNally both had two singles. Drew and Gardner each had a double for Katahdin.
Cullen fanned eight Shead batters inside the pitching circle.
Sullivan paced Shead with two singles.