Houlton junior high boys off to fast start

The Houlton junior high boys’ baseball team opened its first week of the season with three wins, defeating Southern Aroostook, Hodgdon and Presque Isle Blue. The team is made up of eighth-graders Hunter Hanning, Parker Sanderson, Dan Swallow, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Dalton Cloney, Brandon Ward and Alex Donovan, along with seventh-graders Tyler Bartlett, Nick Guiod, Kole Buzzeo, Lucas Grant, Lucas Sewall, Alex Casillas, Gage Hunt, Jon Tuttle, Cecil Gogan and Chase Brewer.
     Last Tuesday, Houlton hosted Southern Aroostook in the opener for each team. It was a close game early with Houlton holding on to a 4-1 lead after the fourth. Southern Aroostook scored in the top of the fifth to make it 4-2, but Houlton broke it open in the bottom of the fifth scoring four.  The Shires scored six more in the sixth for the 14-2 win.
Hanning picked up the win striking out five in three innings. Sanderson picked up six strikeouts in three innings of relief. Hanning also led the hitting attack slamming two triples and a single, while driving in four runs. Sanderson added a double and a single, while Guiod and Fitzpatrick each had two singles.
Last Thursday, the Shires hosted the Hawks from Hodgdon. This was another close game early as Hodgdon held  4-3 lead after three. Houlton once again pulled away, scoring three in the fourth and four in the fifth to take the 10-4 lead. The final score was 11-6. Sanderson struck out five in three innings of work. Cloney struck out six in his three innings of work to pick up the win. Sanderson had a double and a single, while Hanning and Fitzpatrick had two singles each.
Last Friday, the Shires traveled to Presque Isle to play the Blue team. Houlton jumped out to an early 6-2 after two. Presque Isle cut the lead to 7-6 after four.  By the time the sixth inning was over, the score was tied at eight. Hanning tripled in Sanderson, then Fitzpatrick singled him in as Houlton won 10-9.
Ward homered and singled, while Hanning tripled, doubled and singled. Hunt had a double and a single and Fitzpatrick had two singles.