Red Devils stay red hot with win at Dexter

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — After opening the season with seven straight victories, Central High School of Corinth had its winning streak snapped with an 8-2 defeat in Lincoln at the hands of Mattanawcook Academy. The Red Devils would not drop two in a row as the team defeated Dexter Regional High School, 7-2, and put an end to the Tigers’ five-game winning streak.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    UNFINISHED PICKLE — Central High School junior Konnar Kirlin runs back to first base safety while being pursued by Dexter Regional High School junior Michaela White during a May 16 game in Dexter — also pictured is Tiger junior Macie Melvin (15) and senior Abbie Melvin (8). The Red Devils won the game by a score of 7-2, improving to 8-1 in 2014.

    Central (8-1) would score five runs before Dexter (5-3) would get on the scoreboard. Red Devil senior Rebecca Kelley scattered three hits and a pair of walks in the complete game effort to help her team pick up the victory.
    Dexter had one base runner in the first three innings — sophomore Christie Nicholas dropped a single into leftfield in the third — before junior Abbey Jordan’s one-out single in the home half of the fourth. Senior Abbie Melvin followed with a single down the leftfield line to put a pair of Tigers on base.
    Junior Peyton Watson then put the ball in play as Central opted for the force out at second base. The throw to the bag was made before Melvin could get there, but Jordan was able to get to third on the fielder’s choice.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

   I GOT IT! — Junior Carla Wyman makes the play in centerfield, on a ball hit by Central sophomore Tiffany Smith, as sophomore rightfielder Christie Nicholas runs toward her for the first out of the top of the sixth inning on May 16.

    In the ensuing at-bat, junior Natasha Miller sent a shot toward third base. Red Devil junior Konnar Kirlin mishandled the ball, enabling Miller to reach and Melvin to head home safely to put Dexter on the scoreboard at 5-1.
    Kelley and the Central defense would not surrender any more hits after the fourth inning, but the Tiger offense was not done yet. Junior Michaela White led off the bottom of the sixth by reaching on an error, and she then swiped second base with Jordan at the plate.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    IN TIME, FOR THE TIGERS — Sliding in ahead of the throw to Central junior Konnar Kirlin is Dexter junior Michaela White at third base during the sixth inning. Two hitters later White was driven in by junior Peyton Watson for the Tigers’ second run.

    Jordan then grounded out, but White was able to get to third base ahead of the throw across the diamond. Following a 3-2 count, Melvin then walked to put runners at the corners for Watson.
     A pitch from Kelley rolled off of Watson’s bat on the dirt, and Central opted to go to first for the force out. The softball got to the bag before Watson, but she drove in White for run No. 2 and made the game 5-2 in favor of the visitors.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    READY TO AIM AND FIRE — Dexter junior Tasha Pratt looks to make the throw to first base.

    The Red Devils got the two runs back in the seven, placing Dexter in a five-run deficit at 7-2. After the team’s final trip to the plate, the score remained the same as Central earned the victory.
    Jordan matched Kelley by also tossing a complete game, as both pitchers recorded four strikeouts.
    The two teams are scheduled to play again in Corinth on Thursday, May 29 at 4:30 p.m.

Jordan