By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
CARIBOU – After being able to come up with a pair of close wins at Old Town during a regular-season doubleheader, the Viking softball team took some confidence into Thursday’s Eastern Maine Class B home quarterfinal against those same Coyotes.
However, a dominant pitching performance from Kendra Hayward led to a 1-0 victory for Old Town.
The game’s lone run was scored in the top of the fifth. Ashley Abbott reached on a single and was replaced by pinch runner Michaela Milton, who stole second and third before coming across on a throwing error by Caribou catcher Kristin Plante.
“We had the mentality, and I’m sure Caribou did too, that if we got someone on base we had to do everything we could to get them to third and hope they would score,” said Coyote coach Jennifer Plourde.
The Vikings had their big chance in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, leadoff hitter Aneesha Hersey beat out a bunt and Jamie Martin also bunted and reached on a fielder’s choice. A throwing error by Hayward put the runners on second and third, but Jordyn Doucette was retired on a pop out to first and Rebecca McDougal struck out to end the threat.
“The inning set up a lot like the sixth inning we had in Hermon a month ago,” said Caribou coach Ryan Deprey. “That one was a 0-0 game and we had no outs. I had Jordyn and Rebecca bunt, and we didn’t score, so I just figured I’d let the girls hit this time.
“I learned my lesson, especially since Jordyn already had a hit in the game.”
Both Hayward and Viking pitcher Emily Staples were on their game. Hayward struck out 11 batters and did not allow a walk while surrendering just three hits, while Staples fanned 12 and allowed four hits. She also did not walk a batter.
“The pitching on both sides was incredible, some of the best I’ve seen in my seven years as coach,” Deprey said. “At times you’ll see a dominating performance on one side, but rarely both. Both came at the hitters with plenty of power and were hitting their spots. Simply impressive.”
The Caribou coach spoke with his team at length in the dugout following the game and challenged the players not to let the loss ruin what was one of the best regular seasons in the history of Caribou softball.
Last Tuesday, the Vikes had advanced with a 17-5 victory at home over Presque Isle in a prelim contest.
Staples had an uncharacteristic rough first inning, allowing four runs, but then settled down and limited PI to a single run the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Caribou was able to score five times in its half of the first and then tallied seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the contest on the 12-run rule.
Martin had four singles and scored four runs and Plante went 4 for 4 and scored twice to lead the Viking attack. Doucette added three hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in two runs.
Courtney Colligan’s three hits paced Presque Isle’s offense.
