PI squads eyeing post-season berths
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The Wildcat baseball and softball teams are hanging on in their bid to make it into the playoffs.
Contributed photo/jMavor Photography
THIRD BASEMAN Corey Belanger of the Presque Isle varsity baseball team puts the tag on Caribou’s Mike Selander for an out in last Tuesday’s baseball game played at Caribou High School. The Vikings blanked the Wildcats, 4-0.
Both teams were ranked 13th in Eastern Maine Class B entering Tuesday’s home matchups against Fort Kent, and only the top 13 teams qualify in the 19-team division.
The baseball team, with a 4-6 record, held a 7.6-point lead over No. 14 Belfast for the final spot, while the softball team, at 5-5, was just 1.7 points ahead of Camden Hills and 2.8 in front of Ellsworth.
The Wildcat squads had five games remaining after Tuesday’s contests.
John Bapst is scheduled to visit the Star City for a doubleheader this afternoon. Presque Isle also hosts Hermon Saturday and then closes out the regular season with a home game next Wednesday against Caribou.
The baseball team lost two of three last week, but the one win was a point-worthy one over Old Town at home Saturday as part of a doubleheader.
After losing the opener, 3-1, PI bounced back for an 8-3 victory in the nightcap.
Last Tuesday, the Wildcats were shut out by Caribou, 4-0, in the team’s final road game of the season.
The PI softball team defeated Caribou last Tuesday, 13-7, and were competitive in a pair of home losses to Old Town Saturday. The Coyotes are undefeated and the No. 2-ranked team in the standings. The scores on Saturday were 3-1 and 6-3.
The local ‘D’ teams also wrap up regular season play next week.
The Central Aroostook softball team has made the biggest push. After starting out with a 2-3 record, the Panthers are on an eight-game winning streak. Last week, CA recorded wins over Ashland (22-6), Washburn (19-7), Southern Aroostook (25-4), Fort Fairfield (12-11) and East Grand (29-11) since last Tuesday and are currently in third place in the rankings, behind only Limestone-MSSM and Penobscot Valley.
The Panthers play Hodgdon, Madawaska and Fort Fairfield to finish their slate.
Fort Fairfield is fifth, Ashland sixth and Washburn ninth.
In Class D baseball, only Fort Fairfield is in the playoff hunt. The Tigers are in fifth with their 8-3 record.
