Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Presque Isle baseball put Houlton back in their place in the mixed-class rematch last Wednesday at the Wildcat diamond. Catcher Steven Ford sealed the deal for PIHS blocking a pitch with bases loaded and tagging home for the last out.
“He consistently blocks wild pitches,” commented head coach Tim Olore.
The Wildcats reclaimed the upper hand over Houlton 5-3 having lost to the Shiretowners earlier this season.
Pitcher Brennan Shaw threw for the win on the mound striking out six over six innings while allowing only three hits. Bennett Cassidy had the save.
While coaching staff saw well played team defense, they continue to look for improvement. “We need to think ahead of pitches and be thinking about different situations,” said Olore.
However, the Wildcat’s young defensive lineup of six sophomores and one junior is quickly absorbing the experience gained from playing veteran-filled teams, and showing their seasoning on the field.
Seniors led the batting statistics for the Wildcats. Cassidy hit a triple and single and gained one stolen base. Adam Kingsbury struck a double, and ran on the sly to capture two stolen bases. Nic Gallant singled twice and had one RBI and two stolen bases.
Dillon Kingsbury also contributed to the win with a successful suicide hit.
“It’s always good to be home and be up last,” commented Olore. “That was a big game for us.”
The scoreboard showed 7-7 going into the seventh inning of mixed-class softball between Houlton and Presque Isle. The Shiretowners took advantage of a string of errors to score four runs, and took the win 11-7.
Head coach Alan Curtis puts the loss down to youth and the six physical errors. “In the final two or three innings we would start every inning booting a ball and letting their lead runner on base,” explained Curtis.
However, PIHS played a solid second inning keeping the bases loaded for a series of runs. “They laid down a couple of good bunts,” said Curtis.
Allisen Donovan singled twice and hit an RBI single for PIHS while Abbie LaPointe had one RBI single.
Bapst doubleheaders go both ways
Presque Isle softball benefited from the home field advantage Saturday to topple John Bapst 14-4 in the opening game of the Class B doubleheader. PIHS fell to the Crusaders 4-3 in the tight-knit second game.
In the opener, Emilee Currie cracked out a double for two runs, and Kayla Legassie hit two singles, one double and an RBI for the Wildcats. In the final game, Bapst put in a run in the top of the ninth for the victory. Jenna Stephenson led PI with three singles and one double.
At the baseball field, Bapst surprised PIHS for a 16-1 victory in the first game, but the Wildcats came back to take the second game 7-2.
In the opening game, Cassidy hit two singles and a home run for PIHS. In the winning game, A. Kingsbury singled twice and added an RBI for Presque Isle.
