East Grand captures first postseason win

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    DANFORTH — For the first time in at least a decade, East Grand has collected a postseason victory on the softball diamond.
    The No. 1 Vikings (13-2 overall) handily beat No. 8 Shead 11-2 Wednesday in an Eastern Class D quarterfinal to advance to Saturday’s semifinal against No. 5 Deer Isle-Stonington (see accompanying story).
    Viking senior Shaunna Beaudoin twirled a gem as she allowed just two hits and three walks, with 15 strikeouts. For Shead, Randi DeWitt scattered 10 hits and two walks, with three strikeouts.
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
TAKE IT EASY — East Grand coach Shawn Beaudoin talks with a player before she hits, bringing a smile to her face, while calming her down.
    Keying East Grand offensively were Jayne Cousins (2 runs), Allie McEwen and Chelsea Winarski (2 runs), each with two singles. Theresa Cousins, Elisha Farley, Kaitlyn Beaudoin and Cassidy Woo each added one single.
    For the Tigers of Eastport, Kristie Conti and Arika Mitchell each had one single.
    Coach Shawn Beaudoin said he was glad his squad was finally able to taste success in the postseason after making first-round exits the previous two seasons. Shead was one of just two squads to beat the Vikings during the regular season — a 3-2 loss at Eastport May 22.
    “They were quite confident coming into this game, maybe a little more confidant than I would have liked to see,” he said. “But they know they have their work cut out for them in the next game. Now we can really get moving.”
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
HUM FIRE — East Grand pitcher Kaitlyn Beaudoin winds up and throws to home. The No. 1-ranked Lady Vikings ended their season Saturday in a 1-0 loss to Deer Isle-Stonington.
    Shaunna Beaudoin got stronger inside the pitching circle as the game wore on.
    “I tend to throw harder as the game goes on,” she said. “I guess I get more excited from the crowd and it makes me try to do better.”
    She admitted the entire team started the game with jitters, but those quickly disappeared after the team plated three runs in the bottom of the first. Shead cut that lead to 3-2 in the top of the third inning, but East Grand broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth scoring four times on three Shead errors in the inning. The Vikings added two insurance runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth for the 11-2 lead.
    One runner from each team was called out for leaving first base early in an attempt to advance.
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
NICE CATCH — East Grand center fielder Theresa Cousins does a nifty job hauling in this fly ball during Wednesday’s win over Shead.