Big third inning helps Tigers win at PCHS
GUILFORD — Dexter Regional High School did most of its damage in the top of the third, scoring five runs on the way to a 7-0 Class C North victory at neighboring Piscataquis Community High School May 15 to start the second half of the regular season for both teams. The Tigers (7-2) won for the seventh time in eight games since the 2019 opener while the host Pirates dropped to 2-7.
Following two perfect innings for PCHS, Dexter had two runners on with one out in the top of the third. In her second trip to the plate, leadoff hitter junior Caitlyn Hardy sent a single to leftfield to drive in senior Addyson Herrick for the game’s first run. Sophomore Peyton Grant followed with a single to centerfield to drive in junior Cloe Mountain.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SAFE AT FIRST — PCHS senior Hope Adkins beats out the throw to first for an infield single during the home half of the third inning of a May 15 softball game vs. Dexter. Tiger sophomore pitcher Avery Herrick flips the ball to junior Caitlyn Hardy at first while senior Addyson Herrick looks on after coming over from second base. Dexter won the game 7-0 behind a 5-run third inning.
Hardy and Grant then moved up to third and second base respectively on a groundout by sophomore Avery Herrick. The pair of baserunners both came home on a throwing error for a 4-0 lead. Two batters later senior Victoria Asbury doubled to leftfield to drive in sophomore Cheyenne Beem for the fifth and final run of the inning.
The Tigers added runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth Mountain reached base on a 2-out single, she tied for the game-high with two hits on a 2-for-3 afternoon. A throwing error enabled Mountain to touch homeplate for the second time.
An inning later Beem scored on a throwing error for run No. 7 as Beem and Mountain each scored a pair of runs to lead all players.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
GETTING THINGS STARTED — Tiger senior Addyson Herrick turns at third and heads for home during the top of the third on May 15 at PCHS. Herrick’s run would be the first of five Dexter scored in the inning. PCHS freshman Grace Buehne fields the ball in leftfield while junior Macee Pearl awaits a possible throw at third.
Avery Herrick earned the victory as she scattered four hits (PCHS had only five baserunners across seven innings), walked none and struck out seven batters in as many innings during Dexter’s second shutout of the season.
Hope Adkins went 2-for-3 for PCHS. In the bottom of the first she sent the ball down the rightfield line where it bounced off the grass in fair territory and rolled into the nearby brush in foul territory for a ground rule double. In the home half of the third Adkins hustled down the basepath to beat the throw for an infield single and her second hit to tie for the contest-best total.
The two teams are both scheduled to conclude the regular season against each other with a rematch in Dexter at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29.
SOFTBALL
Dexter 7,
PCHS 0
DEXT 005 110 0 | 7
PCHS 000 000 0| 0
Dex: Mountain 2-3
2 runs SB;
PCHS: Adkins 2-3 2B
WP — Av. Herrick 7 IP
0 runs 4 hits 0 BB 7 K
LP — Riitano 7 IP
7 runs 7 hits 1 BB 3 K
LOB — Dex 6,
PCHS 3
Records — Dex 7-2,
PCHS 2-7
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
WIN ON THE MOUND — Dexter sophomore Avery Herrick earned the victory on the mound in her team’s 7-0 win at PCHS on May 15. She struck out seven batters in as many innings, scattering four hits and walking none.