Presque Isle played host to the 2009 Northern Maine Community Recreation Association Junior Girls Softball Tournament Aug. 5. Six teams took part, providing fans of all sides with some exciting play.
Fort Fairfield jumped out to the early 5-0 lead over Washburn, but couldn’t hold on as Washburn scored four runs in each of the last two innings for the come-from-behind 10-5 win. Mackenzie Worcester and Shanae Burtt paced the comeback for Washburn by scoring three runs each.
Ashland plated nine runs in the top of the fifth inning en route to knocking off Caribou by a final of 12-6. Pitching was the name of the game early as Marissa Chasse of Ashland and Morgan Outing of Caribou kept the game tied 3-3 through the first four innings. Chasse was also the leader at the plate for Ashland, scoring two runs and roping two doubles in the game, while Cassidy Pelletier also scored two runs.
Erin McBrearty of Caribou made one of the best defensive plays in the tournament as she tracked down a fly ball in shallow left field, then fired the ball across the diamond to double up an Ashland base runner.
Semi-final matchups saw Ashland taking on Presque Isle and Washburn meeting up with Madawaska.
Ashland started game two as they ended game one, jumping out to the early 5-2 lead thanks to runs by Marissa Chasse, Caitlin Paradis and Savannah Flint. Presque Isle came back to tie it up with three runs in the third courtesy of Taylor Williams, Kalie Ward and Olivia Hudson.
Chasse scored in the top of the fifth to put Ashland back on top, but PI answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the game by a final of 8-6.
The Washburn-Madawaska showdown was equally thrilling. Alexis Levesque scored in the bottom of the sixth inning as Madawaska eked out the 7-6 win. Washburn seemed to have the game in hand as they took a lead of 6-1 into the bottom of the fifth. That’s when Madawaska’s bats came to life. Jen Michaud started the comeback by reaching base via a walk. Levesque followed with a single, then Haley Landry also singled. After Katie Cyr walked, Jasmine Pelletier smashed a double. Pelletier later scored on Erica Thibeault’s hit to tie it up.
Presque Isle’s bats were too much for Madawaska to handle in the championship game, belting 14 hits en route to the 18-4 win. Krystal Kingsbury paced a balanced attack, reaching base all five times up with three hits and two walks. Taylor Williams also had three hits, including a bases-loaded triple in the pivotal fifth inning.
The trio of Olivia Hudson, Kalie Ward, and Hailey Cameron chipped in with two hits apiece while Jordi Legassie and Tori Harvath also had base hits.
Paige Brown led Madawaska with two hits and two runs. Levesque also had two hits and a run scored in addition to a fantastic catch in left field, robbing Williams of extra bases.
Legassie and Kingsbury teamed up for a double play in the field for PI. Legassie snared a line drive at short, then fired the ball to Kingsbury at first base before the runner could return.
Ward and Hudson did a great job on the hill for PI by limiting Madawaska to six hits over six innings.
