Baseball, softball games begin

    The high school baseball and softball season began on Monday with the Houlton boys and girls hosting Penobscot Valley High School.
    In baseball action, the Shires tied the game 4-all and forced an extra inning, but in the eighth, Eddie Cobb hit a two-out, two-run triple to lift the Howlers to a 7-4 victory.
    For Houlton in their season opener, Ian Gervais tripled, singled twice and had an RBI. Parker Sanderson doubled and singled.
Photograph courtesy Dave Allen Graphics
SLIDES  — Katahdin’s Bailey McNally puts the tag on a Fort Fairfield runner during Monday’s game in Fort Fairfield. The Lady Cougars lost 21-9.
    The Howler’s Jake Jones threw 13 strikeouts as PVHS improves to 2-0.
    On the softball field, Houlton had taken the lead until PVHS powered back with an 11-run sixth inning for a 22-18 win.
    For the Lady Shires, Megan Hannigan had two singles and knocked in four runs, while Chelsi Murray doubled and singled twice. Alaina Stewart stroked three singles and drove in two runs.
    Houlton is 0-1, while the Howlers went to 2-0.
    In other baseball action, in a mutual season opener Woodland overpowered visiting East Grand, 17-0 on Monday.
    Dustin Laney and Ryan Lincoln combined on a five-inning no-hitter, with Laney striking out eight and walking two, while Lincoln struck out four and walked two.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
FIELDING — Houlton’s Marina Cameron fields the ball off her chest during Monday’s season opener against PVHS at Community Park. The Lady Shires were defeated, 22-18.
    The Katahdin Cougars powered by host Fort Fairfield on Monday, 15-2 in the teams mutual season opener.
    Kolby Gallagher hit an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, while Mickey Gallagher added an RBI single for the 1-0 Cougars.
    In Limestone, the Southern Aroostook Warriors shutout Limestone/MSSM, 5-0 in both team’s season opner behind righthander Pat Goodall.
    Goodall scattered four hits, while striking out nine and walking one.
    Providing the offense were Cody Robinson who doubled and belted solo home run and Jesse Boulier singled twice, doubled and knocked in two runs.
Photograph courtesy
Dave Allen Graphics
TAKES A PITCH  — Mark “Mook” McGraw of Katahdin takes a pitch during Monday’s game in Fort Fairfield. The Cougars won, 15-2.
    Monday on the softball diamond, East Grand edged host Woodland, 7-3 behind Kaitlyn Beaudoin’s pitching. Beaudoin struck out 12 and allowed no walks.
    Backing Beaudoin from the plate were Cassie Parent, who hit two singles and scored two runs and Jen Armstrong, who singled twice and had an RBI. Beaudoin also singled.
    In Fort Fairfield on Monday, the Lady Tigers raced away from Katahdin, 21-9.
    Megan Merry singled twice and had an RBI for the Lady Cougars.
    The Southern Aroostook Lady Warriors were outlasted by host Limesetone/MSSM, 25-20 on Monday.
    In the mutual season opener,  the Eagles erased a 20-17 deficit with six runs in the fifth inning on five walks, two hit batsmen and singles by Pelkey (RBI) and Kirk.
    Olivia Raymond tripled, doubled and rapped three singles for Southern Aroostook, while driving in five runs. Kaitlyn Sommers belted a three-run homer and three singles, while knocking in five runs.
Pioneer Times photograph/Kevin Sjoberg
HIGH FIVE — Kaitlyn Sommers, left, gives a teammate a “high-five” after scoring in Monday’s game in Limestone. The Lady Warriors lost their opener, 25-20.