Shires nearly pull upset in prelims

By Gloria Austin  
Staff Writer
    The No. 9 Houlton Shiretowners almost had their upset in the Class C preliminary round against No. 8 seed Orono.
    However, the Red Riots took advantage of errors leading to a 4-3 win in the decisive seventh inning.
Contributed photograph
SENIORS – Playing their last season with the Houlton Shiretowner baseball team are graduates, from left, Josh Harvey, Jordan Bragan and Corey Woodworth.
    The Shires scored their first run in the second inning, as pitcher Ian Gervais led off with a single up the middle and moved into second on a fielder’s choice. Jordan Bragan then knocked in Gervais with a one-out single.
    In the third, the Shires put two more runs on the scoreboard for a 3-0 lead. Jimmy Fitzpatrick walked and Parker Sanderson followed with an RBI-double to left center. Josh Harvey put down a sacrifice bunt to move Sanderson onto third with one out. Mike Ring then poked a single to score Sanderson.
    “Orono got three runs in the bottom of the fifth without the benefit of a single hit,” said Houlton coach Shawn Graham.
    The Shires committed four infield errors on what Graham called “routine ground balls”, allowing Orono seven outs in the fifth.
    “That was pretty much the story,” Graham added.
    In the last of the seventh, the game tied 3-all, Orono’s Charlie Boyle drove a shot down the right field line for a triple.
    “That was the only hard hit ball they had all day,” said Graham.
    Boyle then scored the game-winner on a wild pitch.
    “I thought Ian pitched a great game for us,” Graham said. “He kept the hitters off balance all day and gave his team a very good shot to win.”
    Gervais, a junior, finished the game allowing four hits, while striking out six and finishing the season with a 4-2 record and a stellar 1.11 earned run average.