By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
The Houlton Shiretowners came from behind in the bottom of the seventh last Wednesday to overtake Mattanawcook Academy, 4-3.
The Shires will be facing the winner of Mattanawcook Academy/Madawaska in tomorrow’s quarterfinal action in Houlton at 3 p.m.
The Lynx held a 3-1 lead after the fifth before Houlton’s offense took over in the latter innings. The Shires scored a run in the sixth inning to close the scoring gap heading into their last turn at the plate.
Houlton’s Dan Howe started the sixth with a lead-off single down the right field line and stole second on a passed ball. With two outs, Kole Buzzeo lined a single to center to bring in Howe.
Trailing 3-2, Houlton’s Ian Bauersfeld reached base on an infield error to start the bottom of the seventh. Doug Dickison’s bunt attempt to move Bauersfeld to second backfired, as the ball was hit too close to the mound and the Lynx pitcher threw Bauersfeld out at second.
With one out, Gage Hunt reached on an infield error to third and Jimmy Fitzpatrick followed with an infield hit to score Dickison with the tying run. Then, Dan Howe singled down the right field line to bring Hunt in with the game-winning run.
Howe went 3-of-4 from the plate, including a double and two singles. Hunt delivered two singles, while Buzzeo collected two RBI singles.
Isaiah Straubel fired a two-hitter, with Chase Vicaire reaching him for a two-run double.
In girl’s softball action last Wednesday, the top-ranked East Grand Lady Vikings blew by Southern Aroostook 16-1 in Dyer Brook.
East Grand’s Kaitlyn Beaudoin pitched a no-hitter through five innings to earn the win, with 11 strikeouts, two walks and an unearned run. Allie McEwen hit an RBI double and RBI single, while Chelsea Winarski hit two singles and knocked in four runs. Jayne Cousins added an RBI double, reached base twice on errors, had three RBIs and scored three runs.
Southern Aroostook finished the regular season at 6-8. Olivia Raymond reached on a fielding miscue then scored the team’s only run from third on an error.
