PCHS’ season ends in 14-8 slugfest at Mattanawcook
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
LINCOLN — For the first time in a decade, and possibly first time since the late 1980s, the Piscataquis Community High School softball program made the regional semifinals. The eighth-seeded Pirates — who knocked off previously undefeated and top-seeded Narraguagus High School of Harrington 11-8 in a Class C North quarterfinal earlier in the week — traveled to No. 4 Mattanawcook Academy for a matinee on Saturday, June 11. The Lynx, no strangers to the semifinals having advanced that far for the fourth time in five seasons, would score in every one of the team’s trips to the plate to outpace the Pirates, 14-8, and advance to the regional championship.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PLAY BALL! — The PCHS softball team, introduced during the pregame ceremony, traveled to Lincoln on Saturday, June 11 for a Class C North semifinal against Mattanawcook Academy. The semifinal berth was the first for the Pirate softball program in at least a decade and possibly the first such appearance since the late 1980s. The fourth-seeded Lynx would defeat the No. 8 Pirates 14-8.
PCHS (who finished at 11-8 and had a seven-game winning streak snapped) scored twice to start the game. Senior Delani Bennett — who along with classmates Courtney Deane and Jordynne Littlefield were the three seniors on the Pirate roster — came to the plate with two runners on in the top of the first. Bennett singled through a hole in the left side of the infield to drive in sophomore Erin Speed and junior Jewel Lamb.
The Lynx, who won the team’s 11th straight game to improve to 15-3 on the season, would score twice in the home half of the inning and then built a 7-2 advantage after three innings.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, PCHS sophomore Lena Downes reached base on an error. Speed followed by dropping a single inside the leftfield line — she would end up reaching base in all five of her plate appearances — and she and Downes both got into scoring position on a wild pitch.
Lamb then stepped into the batter’s box and sent the ball down the leftfield line. Downes and Speed each were driven in get the Pirates within three at 7-4.
In each of the ensuing four half innings, both teams added two runs. In the top of the fifth freshman Rachel Beckwith singled into leftfield to send home Bennett and freshman Alivia Hunt scored on classmate Hope Adkins’ sacrifice fly to leftfield.
Trailing 11-6 in the top of the sixth, Speed led off by beating out the throw to first for the infield single. Lamb then drew a walk on a full count to put a pair of Pirates on base. Littlefield would end by flying out to leftfield, but she hit the ball deep enough for Speed to tag up at second and get to third safely — Lamb would then swipe second base to get into scoring position.
Bennett followed by sending the ball to deep leftfield, and as soon as the catch was made Speed was off from the base as she scored on the sacrifice fly and Lamb was able to advance safely to third. Lamb was driven in on a double to leftfield by Hunt to make the score 11-8. Hunt finished 3-for-3 at the plate, reaching on a fielder’s choice in her other at-bat.
The Lynx ended up adding three runs in the home half of the sixth to go ahead 14-8. Mattanawcook sophomore pitcher Haley McLaughlin, who like Lamb would toss a complete game for her team, used two strikeouts to counter a pair of baserunners in the seventh and help she and her team earn the victory.
Mattanawcook was scheduled to face second seed and defending Class C state champion Bucksport High School (17-1) in the Class C North finale on Tuesday night at Brewer High School.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MID-WINDUP — Junior Jewel Lamb fires in the pitch during the Class C North semifinal between she and the Pirates and the Lynx of Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SPEED ON THE BASEPATHS — Sophomore Erin Speed steals third base before Mattanawcook senior Laci Hanington can get the throw during the top of the first on June 11. Soon after Spped scored the first run of the game on a two-RBI single by senior Delani Bennett. Speed would end up reaching base in all five of her appearances at the plate.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THROW ACROSS THE DIAMOND — Pirate freshman Alivia Hunt heaves a fielded bunt down the third base line by Mattanawcook senior leadoff hitter Cheyanne Libby across to senior Delani Bennett at first during the fifth inning.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FALLING DOWN INTO THE GLOVE — PCHS sophomore Lena Downes makes the catch in the bottom of the first of Saturday’s Class C North semifinal in Lincoln.
SOFTBALL
Class C North
semifinal
No. 4 Mattanawcook 14,
No. 8 PCHS 8
PC 200 222 0 | 8
MA 241 223 X | 14
PCHS (11-8): Hunt 3-3 2B
RBI run SB; Speed 3-3
3 runs 4 SB.
MA (15-3): Libby 4-4 RBI
4 runs 4 SB; McLaughlin 4-4
2 2B RBI; Lyons 3-4 BB 2B
3 RBI 3 runs 4 SB; Tolman 3-4
HR RBI run 4 SB.
WP McLaughlin 6 IP 8 runs
9 hits 5 BB 6 K.
LP Lamb 7 IP 14 urns
16 hits 5 BB 4 K.