Sports Editor
HOULTON — No lead is ever safe when it comes to high school softball. Just ask Caribou coach Ryan Deprey.
Caribou built a 17-4 lead through five and a half innings in its May 4 contest with Houlton, only to see the Shiretowners come surging back with an eight-run, sixth inning. Caribou held on for the wild 19-12 victory.
Staff photos/Joseph Cyr
In top photo, safe at the plate is Caribou’s Shelby Damboise as Houlton catcher Chelsi Murray is unable to hang on to the ball. Ready to make the call is umpire Andy Coiley.
Viking hurler Emily Staples gave up 12 runs on 14 hits, seven walks and one hit batter, with seven strikeouts. Vanessa Sanderson and Marinna Cameron shared pitching duties for Houlton and allowed 19 runs on 15 hits, 11 walks and one hit batter, with one strikeout.
“Emily pitched a heck of a game,” coach Deprey said. “She has the ability to keep us in games. She throws hard enough to keep enough hitters off-balanced and she changes her speed really well. When it mattered the most, we were able to make some plays.”
Sophomore Emily Staples fires in a pitch to a Shiretowner batter. The Vikings won the game, 19-12.
Caribou’s Ashley Doucette hit for the cycle with a home run, triple, double, single and four runs. Other hitters for Caribou were: Brittany Doak (double, single, run), Rebecca MacDougal (3 singles, run), Shelby Damboise (double, 2 singles, three runs), Jordyn Doucette (single, 2 runs) and Kristen Plante (single, 2 runs).
Leading Houlton were: Sanderson (3 singles, 2 runs), Cameron (2 singles, 2 runs), Chelsi Murray (double, single, 2 runs), Megan Hannigan (2 singles, run), Madison Lezotte (double, triple, run), Taylor Bailey (single, 2 runs), Tori Hanson (single, run), and Makayla Folsom (single, run).
“Ashley tore the cover off the ball today,” coach Deprey said. “That was her best hitting performance all season, and we were able to get runners on ahead of her, which was good.”
The Vikings did a nice job on the base paths, which pleased coach Deprey.
“We stole more bases than we have all season, which was a good thing to see,” he said. “We also executed a few hit-and-run situations, which was good to see.”
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
Viking first baseman Rebecca McDougal makes a nifty running catch during Caribou’s game against Houlton last Wednesday, May 5. MacDougal also chipped in at the plate for Caribou, hitting safely three times in the 19-12 victory.
