MILLINOCKET, Maine — On the same day that four members of their team — Kaycee Cintron, Molly Cunningham, Courtney Stevens and Sophie Vetter — marched through the halls of Katahdin High School one last time for graduation, the Cougar softball team traveled to Millinocket June 11 to take on the top-ranked Minutemen.
Stearns scored early and often en route to a 14-6 semifinal victory over No. 4 Katahdin. The Cougars end their season with a 12-5 record, while Stearns improves to 16-2.
Katahdin took a brief 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Georgia Landry scored on a throwing error, but in the home half of the inning Stearns answered by plating five runs. Katahdin never lead again.
Jess Girsa struck out six for Stearns and also sparked her team offensively with a solo home run in the first inning. Abby Russell added two doubles, a single and three RBIs while Peighton Ingersoll homered, singled and drove in three runs. McLeod had a double and a single and Maddy Morrison doubled and singled twice.
The Cougars were led by Landry’s double and two singles and Bailee Moody-Kay’s two singles. Molly Cunningham drove in two runs.
In the quarterfinals June 9, the Cougars bashed 22 hits as they pummeled No. 5 Penobscot Valley of Howland 19-7. Lindsey Drew smacked five hits and two RBIs, while Cunningham knocked in five runs with a triple, double and single. Courtney Stevens chipped in with four hits.
PVHS, which wound up 12-5, was led by Eryn Williams, Malloree Workman, Elizabeth McKinnon and Ryley Buck, who had two hits apiece.
