Sacrifice fly gives FA walkoff win over Caribou

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom OUT OF THE PICKLE — Foxcroft Academy Chandler Rockwell slides back safely into third base after getting caught in a rundown during the bottom of the seventh inning on June 10 vs. Caribou High School in a Class B East prelim. Trying to make the play are Caribou juniors Michael Hunter, left, and Tyler Dombroski, and the failure to get Rockwell out would be huge as he then scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by senior Brooks Law.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The late innings of a June 10 Class B East prelim between No. 4 Foxcroft Academy (13-4) and 13th seed Caribou High School (6-11) had the Ponies score three time in the bottom of the sixth inning for the team’s first lead, 4-2, only for Caribou to tie the game with two two runs in the seventh. Foxcroft overcame being just an out away from getting the win by using a senior Brooks Law sacrifice fly to drive in sophomore Chandler Rockwell for the walkoff run of the 5-4  victory.

In the bottom of the seventh the Vikings made a pitching change by bringing in junior Justin Ouellette in relief of junior starter Gunnar Bondeson. None of Ouellette’s first four pitches passed through the strikezone as Rockwell drew a leadoff walk.

With junior Nate Church at the plate, Rockwell took off for second base and he was able to slide into the bag ahead of the throw. The ball ended up rolling into rightfield as Rockwell advanced toward third and got to the base safely to put the winning run 90 feet away from homeplate.

Rockwell had a big lead at third when Church put the ball in play on a grounder. The Caribou defense paid him no attention as the baseball was quickly relayed to senior catcher Dylan Conroy. Rockwell was briefly caught in a rundown, but he was able to get back to third to keep the potential winning run there (Church ran to second as the defense was focused on his teammate further along the basepath).

Ouellette then recorded a strikeout for the first out of the inning to keep Rockwell from attempting to move beyond third base.

Law followed by stepping into the batter’s box for the Ponies. He made contact on a pitch and sent the ball through the air over leftfield. Viking junior Mason Huck settled under the ball and made the catch for the out.

As soon as ball met leather Rockwell tagged and ran home. Huck was ready to make the throw in, but Law hit the ball deep enough that Caribou had no chance for a play at the plate as Rockwell scored and the Ponies won.

The Vikings had a 2-1 lead for much of the game before three runs put Foxcroft ahead 4-2 in the home half of the sixth. Senior Clay Carroll hit a double over the head of junior rightfielder Jacob Burdy to drive in Law and senior Nick Decker — who would earn the victory on the mound after pitching the seventh — to put the Ponies on top 3-2. After a steal of third base, Carroll scored on an RBI-ground out by senior Dylan Duff for what would turn out to be a valuable insurance run.

With four runs on its side of the scoreboard, Foxcroft was tied with Caribou when the Vikings added a pair of runs to its two in the seventh. After two flyball outs,  Caribou had three straight hits to make the game 4-3 with the tying run at third. Junior Michael Hunter scored on a passed ball to make the game 4-4 and set up the events of the bottom of the seventh.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

STARING AT DEFEAT — A sacrifice fly by Foxcroft senior Brooks Law was hit too deep for Caribou to have a chance to get sophomore Chandler Rockwell out after tagging up at third. Here Viking senior catcher Dylan Conroy can only look on as Rockwell scores the walkoff run in the Ponies’ 5-4 Class B East preliminary victory.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

GLOVEWORK — Senior Nick Decker makes the play on an infield flyball in the first inning vs. Caribou on June 10, as senior second baseman Eli Olson and sophomore rightfielder Billy Brock look on. Decker would later take to the mound to pitch the seventh and final inning for the Ponies.