Lady Vikings’ season ends with 1-0 loss in semis to DI-S

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    DANFORTH — In a true pitcher’s duel, the team that gets that one fortunate break is often the one to emerge victorious.
    Such was the case Saturday afternoon as No. 5 Deer Isle-Stonington (14-0 overall) squeaked past No. 1 East Grand 1-0 in an Eastern Class D semifinal. The Vikings finish their season with a 13-3 overall record.
    After battling to a 0-0 stalemate behind the strong arms of East Grand pitcher Kaitlyn Beaudoin and Deer Isle-Stonington’s Sydney Ouzts, DI-S got the fortuitous bounce it needed in the top of the sixth inning.
    DI-S pounded opponents during the regular season, outscoring foes 200-20, while East Grand outscored its opposition 107-35.
    With two away in the top of the sixth inning, a passing shower started pouring rain on the players. DI-S took advantage of the situation as Ouzts slapped a drag bunt to safely reach first and was replaced by Katie Haskell as a courtesy runner. Haskell promptly stole second to get into scoring position.
    Mariner Chelsea Brown grounded to Elisha Farley at shortstop for what appeared to be the final out of the inning, but Brown was ruled safe at first. In the ensuing confusion as to whether the runner was safe or out, Haskell smartly rounded third and scored the game’s only run as the throw to the plate was not in time.
    “That was by far the toughest game we have played all season,” said DI-S coach Terry Siebert. “They (East Grand) are a good defensive team.”
    Siebert said his decision to send his runner from second was easy since Haskell was already past Farley by the time the shortstop fielded the ball.
    “She was playing deep in the hole, so I kind of had a feeling the throw was going to be late to first,” he said.
    Ouzts was dominant inside the pitching circle, allowing just two hits and no walks, with 12 strikeouts. Beaudoin was equally sharp for the Vikings, scattering four hits and one walk, with eight strikeouts.
    Jayne Cousins collected both hits for East Grand, while Amber Jones had two singles and Ouzts and Brown each had one for the Mariners.
    A late-game rally fell short for the Vikings. Cousins led off the bottom of the seventh inning with her second single of the day, but could advance no further as the next three batters were retired in order.
    “This was a heck of a game,” East Grand coach Shawn Beaudoin said. “They (DI-S) were impressive. I’m sure this game will bother some of my girls, but life goes on. You can’t learn by winning all the time.”
    Coach Beaudoin said he was extremely proud of how his squad handled themselves on and off the field Saturday and already has plans to start working on next season. One element that he will be missing, however, is his eldest daughter, Kaitlyn, who graduated last week. She plans to play softball at the University of Maine at Presque Isle next year.