Teams making final playoff push
Panther softball team on 9-game winning streak
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
It’d be difficult to find anyone hotter than the Central Aroostook Panther softball team.
Staff photos/Kevin Sjoberg
ABBEY PLAYER, the first baseman for the Fort Fairfield Tigers, reaches out to tag Eagle baserunner Sara Hemphill during Thursday’s game in Fort. Limestone-MSSM won the game, 15-11.
FORT FAIRFIELD’S Kyle Doody runs off the mound, past catcher Dalton Cassidy, after getting out of a jam during Thursday’s home game against Limestone-MSSM. The Tigers were unable to hold a nine-run lead, falling to the Eagles, 17-13.
Following a 2-3 start, coach Ryan Guerrette’s squad has reeled off nine consecutive victories to move into the No. 3 position in the Eastern Maine Class D Heal Point rankings.
The Panthers will end the season with a pair of road games. The first will be played this afternoon at Fort Fairfield and the other is set for Thursday at Madawaska.
“We started playing well once we got everyone healthy,” Guerrette said.
The team’s top two pitchers suffered injuries in the team’s opener against Ashland April 23. Starting pitcher Karli Levesque was lost for five games, while her back-up, Carly Grass, continued to pitch through the injury, though not at 100 percent, according to Guerrette.
The two have split time and have what Guerrette calls “a great friendly rivalry.”
Levesque has six wins to her credit, while Grass has the other five.
“I mixed and matched them throughout the season and will continue to do that as long as it works,” Guerrette said.
It is the offense, however, that has carried the Panthers during their winning streak. The team has averaged 20 runs per game during the stretch while allowing 6.5 per contest. Eight of the team’s starters hold batting averages of .400 or better. Senior first baseman Michaela King leads the way with a .673 average, while classmate Kayla Cushman is at .580 and junior designated player Megan King is at .571 and has clubbed a pair of home runs.
Seniors Paige Garrison (.490) and Page Fletcher (.472) are other top hitters.
The third aspect of the game, defense, has been solid as well over the last nine contests. The starting shortstop, Garrison, has committed only one error all season. Fletcher is the starting catcher and has thrown out seven of 19 runners attempting to steal, while picking off another five. Center fielder Whitnie Bradbury has been consistent throughout the season as well.
“The girls have worked really hard on defense and we will continue to work on it as the post-season approaches,” Guerrette said.
Last week’s rain had the Maine Principals’ Association extending the regular season until this Friday.
In Class D, Fort Fairfield is in fifth place at 9-4, with Ashland in sixth at 6-7 and Washburn in ninth at 6-6. The top-12 teams will qualify for the playoffs
In Class B softball, Presque Isle has an 8-7 record and is in 14th place and must defeat Caribou at home tonight to have a chance to make the playoffs.
In baseball, PI is in 12th place and in position to qualify with its 6-9 mark. Fort Fairfield, at 9-4, is the only Class D team in contention.
