Fifteen runs help Pirates sail to victory over Schenck

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    GUILFORD — Before the team’s first trip to the plate, the Piscataquis Community High School trailed 2-0 during a May 9 contest vs. Schenck High School of East Millinocket. The deficit would turn out to be a minor inconvenience as the Pirates got a run back in the home half of the first and then the team’s bats erupted for seven runs in the second on the way to a 15-4 victory.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
    A GRAY DAY, FOR SCHENCK — PCHS junior shortstop Morgan Gray gets ready to throw the ball across to first as senior Danica French looks on during a May 9 game vs. Schenck High School of East Millinocket. The Pirates put seven runs on the scoreboard in the second, four in the sixth and one in each of the other four innings to earn a 15-4 victory.

    Senior Courtney Richardson, who would earn the win on the mound with a complete-game effort, got PCHS on the scoreboard when she scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first. Schenck sophomore pitcher Taylor McLaughlin ended up dropping the throw from senior catcher Ashley Leavitt as Richardson slid in for the run.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
    EYE ON THE BALL — Junior catcher Jade Lamb looks to make a play on a foul ball during the contest against Schenck on May 9. Lamb finished with three of her team’s 13 hits.   

   Another McLaughlin wild pitch in the second enabled senior Danica French to score to tie the contest at two runs apiece. Freshman Jewel Lamb then stepped back into the batter’s box and singled through a hole in the left side of the infield to drive in junior Morgan Gray for the go-ahead run.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
   SPEED IN THE OUTFIELD — Junior Alex Speed makes the play in the centerfield during the top of the fifth on a ball hit by Schenck sophomore Cayleigh Bernier.   

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
    HERE’S THE PITCH — Senior Courtney Richardson tossed a complete game to help pick up the victory for the Pirates on May 9. In the field on the pitch is senior Danica French at second and sophomore Jordynne Littlefield in rightfield.

   Three hitters later Richardson dropped a single into centerfield for a pair of RBIs as both Lamb and junior Alex Speed scored. Richardson later got to complete the trip around the bases as she scored on junior Grace Riitano’s RBI single up the middle to make the game 6-2 in favor of the Pirates.

    The bottom of the second turned to be seventh heaven for PCHS as French, in her second at bat of the inning, sent a McLaughlin pitch up the middle for the single. Sophomore Jordynne Littlefield and Riitano both came home on the play to give the Pirates runs No. 6 and 7, going ahead 8-2.
    PCHS would end up scoring in each of the team’s six innings at the plate. The Pirates picked up 13 hits and nine walks against McLaughlin and freshman relief pitcher AbiGayle Austin, who tossed the final three innings. The entire PCHS starting nine reached base as the squad finished play having had 28 total base runners.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
    SQUEEZE PLAY — Sophomore Delani Bennett gets the softball in her glove just after Schenck sophomore Chantel Lane touches the bag.   

   In the bottom of the third Lamb grounded out, but her putting the ball in play enabled freshman Jewel Lamb to score. The younger Lamb drove French in during the fourth and Littlefield brought Speed home in the fifth on an RBI groundout to make the score 11-4.
    The Pirates’ busy day at the plate was not finished after five innings. During the bottom of the sixth Jewel Lamb hit a single down the leftfield line to drive in junior Allison Morin, who served as a courtesy runner for Richardson. The RBI was Lamb’s second of the afternoon as she picked up three hits. Jade Lamb followed by dropping a single into centerfield to drive in French, who led all players with three runs scored.
    Speed finished the day on the scoreboard as she hit a two-RBI single. Gray came home and Jewel Lamb was right behind for the 14th and 15th Pirate runs.
    Schenck did get out of the inning to avoid having the game end on the 12-run mercy rule but the Wolverines were unable to chip away at the 11-run deficit. After a lead-off single, the PCHS defense then got a groundball out. Richardson finished her day on the mound in strong fashion by striking out a pair of pinch hitters, giving her five strikeouts in total.
    With the victory the Pirates improved to 3-3 on the season, and handed 1-4 Schenck the team’s fourth consecutive loss. The two teams are scheduled to play in East Millinocket on Friday, May 23 at 4:30 p.m.