By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The season is coming to a fast close for local ball teams, with many having some work to do in order to secure post-season berths.
One team with no worries there is the Limestone-MSSM softball team, which is currently in first place in the Eastern Maine Class D rankings with its 11-2 record. They hold a decisive advantage over second-place Deer Isle-Stonington (8-2) and third-place Central Aroostook (10-2).
Dave Allen Graphics photo
Kristi Sperrey of the Washburn Beavers tosses the ball to first base for an assist in last Wednesday’s game against Central Aroostook in Mars Hill.
The Eagles helped themselves last week with wins over Fort Fairfield last Wednesday, Van Buren Friday and most recently a 13-4 victory Monday at home against Wisdom, which is currently ranked sixth with a 6-2 mark.
Limestone-MSSM continued its slate yesterday with a game at Fort Kent and finishes with road games Thursday (at Fort Fairfield) and Tuesday (at Madawaska).
Washburn is 1-11 and Fort Fairfield 4-8. They are 12th and 13th, respectively, in the standings and only the top eight advance into the playoffs.
Also in softball, Caribou continues to make its bid for the post-season. The team beat Presque Isle at home last Tuesday, 6-2, but lost two close games in a doubleheader Saturday against Mattanawcook by scores of 3-0 and 2-1. Still, at 5-7, coach Ryan Deprey’s team is in eighth place out of 19 teams in EM Class B, with the top 10 moving on.
Caribou played at Houlton last night and plays a doubleheader Saturday at John Bapst before wrapping up its slate at PI next Wednesday night.
In baseball, Fort Fairfield appears to be the only local team with a legitimate chance to qualify for the playoffs.
The Tigers went 0-4 last week, including a doubleheader loss to Hodgdon, but with a 5-7 mark are ninth out of 17 teams in EM Class D. They are in the final qualifying position and played Madawaska yesterday, are home with Limestone-MSSM Thursday and conclude their year next Wednesday at home against Central Aroostook.
Limestone-MSSM holds a 5-7 mark as well, but is in 14th place. Washburn is 1-12 with two games remaining.
The Caribou Vikings split a twinbill against Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln over the weekend, but fell to Presque Isle earlier in the week and are 4-8 and in 15th place in ‘B’ as they faced Houlton last night and get ready for Saturday’s doubleheader against Bapst and next Wednesday’s regular season finale at Presque Isle.