CARIBOU, Maine — It was a hot last baseball and softball match between rivals Presque Isle and Caribou with Presque Isle winning in softball 20-6 and Caribou winning in baseball 10-2.
Both the girls varsity softball and boys varsity baseball teams played at Caribou High School for their final games of the Class B regular season.
In softball, Presque Isle came out of the gate swinging in the first inning with five runs. Scoring were Emily Straetz, Georgana Curtis, Lex Morningstar, Olivia Locke, and Abby Johnston.
The Wildcats would increase their lead with five more runs in the second inning from Morningstar, Johnston, Locke, Jocelyn Gagnon, and Bella Quinno. The Caribou Vikings would try to claw their way back and by the fifth inning the Vikings had put up six runs.
Presque Isle led by 16 runs and put up another four runs in the fifth inning with runs scored by Curtis, Morningstar, Gagnon, and Locke. Caribou would get one more chance to bat in the sixth inning but was quickly retired by Presque Isle.
“We played some small ball with bunting the ball, we had a few base running mistakes but we stayed back and drove the ball when we needed to and played good defense with everybody contributing to this win,” said Jonah Hudson, Presque Isle softball head coach.
The Presque Isle girls softball team is eighth in the league and could have a playoff game next week if they stay in their spot, but Hudson will know within a couple of days if there will be a home preliminary game for next week.
On the baseball diamond, Presque Isle struggled against Caribou as the Vikings scored one run in the first inning, then four runs in the second inning while Presque Isle couldn’t get a run in. The Vikings brought their score up to seven runs in the top of the third inning. Presque Isle scored two runs, made by Evan Chapman and Michael Langley in the third and fourth innings.
“We started the season out well, but our defense was a bit off at the end,” said Derrick Kinney, Presque Isle baseball head coach.
Presque Isle closed out its baseball Class B regular season with a record of 6-12 and in 12th place in the league, while Caribou sits at a 5-12 record after Tuesday’s game. In softball, Presque Isle is 7-11 for the Class B season with Caribou’s record being 1-16.