Baseball, softball teams bow in quarterfinals

Gloria Austin, Special to The County
9 years ago

There were four local high school baseball teams — Houlton, Southern Aroostook, Katahdin and Hodgdon — involved in the playoffs, with one softball team — East Grand/GHCA — being represented.     The Southern Aroostook Warriors were the only team to make it through the quarterfinal round, defeating Schenck in the semis to advance to the Class D Eastern Maine final that was scheduled to be played yesterday at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor.


Shiretowners end season
Last Thursday, the Houlton Shiretowners hopes were dashed when Mattanawcook Academy capitalized on fielding errors to take a 4-1 win.
The Shires were tied with Mattanawcook until the bottom of the third when the Shiretowners gave up three runs, the difference in the game.
Ryan Dee threw the entire game giving up two earned runs, while Dan Howe and Jake Drew each had two hits.
In their preliminary game, Houlton’s Cameron Graham fired a no hitter, allowing one walk while striking out 10 in the 9-0 victory over Piscataquis.
Nick Botting and Howe each had two hits in the game. Botting also scored three times, while Dee and Noah Holmes each had 2 RBI’s.
“For the season, I am very proud of these young men,” said Houlton coach James Castner. “They worked very hard and I thought we had the potential to go all the way. We hit some rockets against MA, but they all went right at their fielders. Without question, this was the best offensive teams I have ever coached. As a team we hit .410 with a .495 on base percentage.”
Though the seniors will be missed, the Shiretowners return a strong core.
“The outgoing seniors were a part of my first year in Houlton and I coached them each year of high school,” Castner said. “However, we still have lots of talent left.
Dee and Billy Phillips (first baseman) are both returning as seniors, as well as the soon to be juniors and sophomores.
“The middle school and junior varsity teams have lots of talent and we have a deep program,” Castner added.
The Shiretowners end the season at 12-4.
Cougars stung
in quarterfinals
The Katahdin Cougars finished their season 6-10 with a 16-6 loss to host Ashland.
The Cougars led 6-0 after the third inning. The game started off with Shey Lane of Katahdin doubling, stealing third and scoring on a passed ball. The Cougars next two runs off the inning came when Cody Brownlee hit an RBI-single and the Cougars capitalized on an Ashland fielding error.
In the top of the third, Katahdin had loaded the bases after singles by Tyson Porter and Devin McGraw.  Another Ashland fielding miscue combined with aggressive running, said Katahdin coach James Zabierek, allowed Katahdin to score three times.
That was all the scoring Katahdin would do, as Ashland erupted for a two-out, eight-run rally in the bottom of the third. After a single and RBI-double, Ashland took advantage of three walks and an error by the Cougar’s defense, along with striking for six hits to take an 8-6 lead.
The Hornets scored twice in the fourth on RBI-singles by Tim Tarr and Alex Kaiser. Ashland took advantage of a couple more fielding errors by Katahdin in the bottom of the fifth and a two-run walk off single by Lucas Craig inflicted the mercy rule.
Last Tuesday at Shead, the Cougars earned a 7-4 win.
In the top of the first, McGraw hit an RBI-double to bring in Katahdin’s first run, while Shead took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, 4-1.
“In the bottom of the third, we let up two runs via two hits and two errors,” said Zabierek.
The Hornets scored twice in the last frame of the fourth on singles by Joe Newell, Matt Harris and Ryan Eylar.
Katahdin came back in the seventh with a two-out rally, scoring five runs to take the win.
Brody Guiggey started it off with an RBI single plating Porter. TJ Young walked to load the bases and then, with two outs and an 0-2 count, Rigoberto Otero hit a two-run single to put Katahdin on top, followed by another two-run single by Cooper Drew.
Porter was perfect in relief for the Cougars. He retired nine straight batters and struck out three to shut down Shead in final three innings.
EastGrand/GHCA softball team bow to top
Class D team
Last Thursday, the East Grand/Greater Houlton Christian Academy cooperative softball team finished their season with a 7-0 loss to No. 1 Limestone/MSSM.
The Eagles showed why they are atop of the Class D standings, as Elly Bencivenga threw a one-hit shutout, striking out eight and walking one on her 15th victory of the season.
Kim Stoddard of EG/GHCA reached Bencivenga for a sixth-inning single.
The EG/GHCA girls softball team finishes the year with a 9-6 record.
In their preliminary game last Wednesday in Presque Isle, the No. 9 EG/GHCA girls overpowered the No. 8 Ashland Hornets, 13-2.
The EG/GHCA girls were led by senior Chelsea Winiarski who drove in three runs on four singles, while Jennah Carver singled twice and drove in three runs and Allison McEwen hit a two-run double.