By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The weather caused a few postponements and cancellations, but the spring sports season is now under way in the region as local baseball, softball and track and field teams all were able to hit the fields.
jMavor Photography photo
Lance Jandreau clears the bar during this attempt in the pole vault at Friday’s meet in Orono. Jandreau was the winner of the event by clearing 10 feet.
The tennis season was also supposed to get going Saturday, but the threat of rain postponed Caribou’s match against John Bapst to May 17.
The baseball and softball seasons officially opened Thursday as Caribou made the trip to Hermon and was swept in a doubleheader, 15-0 and 12-2. The Vikings were no-hit in the opener as Hermon won in five innings due to the 10-run rule. Dean Walker took the pitching loss as Hermon banged out 14 hits in the contest.
In game two, Caribou did manage four hits, but the Hawks had a six-run third inning to come out on top. Royce Landeen and Cody Thibodeau both had hits and scored runs for Caribou. Caleb Chapman was saddled with the pitching loss.
On Monday, Limestone-MSSM and Fort Fairfield hosted teams from the southern Aroostook region.
The Eagle baseball team was blanked by Southern Aroostook, 5-0, as Patrick Goodall spun a complete-game four-hitter and collecting nine strikeouts along the way.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
Audra Kirk receives a high five from coach Ryan O’Neal after the Limestone/MSSM center fielder made a running catch to end a second-inning rally by Southern Aroostook. The host Eagles won the slugfest, 25-20.
The game was scoreless after four innings before the SA offense came alive behind Cody Robinson, who homered and doubled, and Jesse Boulier, who had three hits and two RBIs.
Cody Bryant had a double to lead Limestone-MSSM at the plate. The Eagles’ Arron St. Pierre went the distance on the mound, but suffered the loss.
The Tiger baseball team dropped a 15-2 decision to a very highly-regarded Katahdin Cougars team, who took advantage of 10 Tiger errors to come out on top. Kolby Gallagher and Mickey Gallagher had RBI singles for Katahdin, who scored all its runs over the first three innings. The game was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule.
Brandon Robinson earned the pitching victory.
Tyler Churchill knocked in a run with a double and Ryan Pelkey contributed an RBI single for Fort Fairfield. Austin Bernier took the pitching loss, with Ian Towle pitching well in a relief role as he didn’t allow a run in either the fourth or fifth innings.
A wild softball game was played between Limestone-MSSM and Southern Aroostook. The Warriors struck first behind Kaitlyn Sommers three-run home run in the first inning, but the Eagles answered with a 14-run uprising in the second inning to take a 16-4 lead. SA regained the lead by scoring 14 runs in the third and fourth frames, but the hosts put six runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth and held SA without a run over the final two innings.
Amanda Allen, Daniele Pelkey and Audra Kirk all had three hits and three RBIs to lead Limestone-MSSM offensively. Ashlyn Kelly and Chelsea Leighton had two hits and two RBIs each for the winners.
Olivia Raymond had five hits and five RBIs to lead the Warriors, while Sommers added three more hits and finished with five RBIs.
The Fort Fairfield softball team came away with a 21-9 triumph over the Cougars, with an 11-run fifth inning rally breaking open a close game up to that point. The game was called after five due to the 12-run rule.
Emily Blaisdell had three singles and three RBIs to pace Fort at the plate. Rebekah Pelkey and Abby Player both had hits and scored three runs each, while Jordann Coiley pitched all five innings and gained the win on the mound.
Megan Merry had a pair of hits for the Cougars.
Dave Allen Graphics photo
The Tigers’ Camille Huffman is tagged out at third base by Katahdin’s Bailey McNally during Monday’s game in Fort Fairfield. The Tigers came away with a 21-9 victory.
The track and field teams from Caribou and Fort Fairfield were in action Friday with a meet at Orono and both had strong showings.
The Caribou boys and girls came out on top in both competitions out of nine teams, while the Tiger boys placed third and the FF girls were fourth. MDI, Ellsworth, Foxcroft Academy and the host Red Riots were among the other schools participating.
Leading the way for the Caribou boys, which totaled 211 points on the day, were Brendan Wood, first in the 110-meter hurdles in 18.79 seconds and first in the 300 hurdles in 47.2 seconds; Christian Sleeper, first in the 1,600-meter run in 4:46.95, first in the 800 in 2:03.71; and third in the pole vault at 9 feet, 6 inches; Matt Till, first in the 400-meter dash in 54.09; first in the high jump at 5 feet, 6 inches; and second in the 200 in 24.43 seconds; Kjetil Rossignol, second in the 400 in 57.76; Nick Dobson, second in the 110 hurdles in 18.89 seconds and third in the 300 hurdles in 48.77 seconds; D.J. Flynn, second in the 3,200-meter run in 11:01.76; Jake Michaud, third in the 3,200 in 11:27.45; Nick Michaud, first in the javelin at 113 feet; and Lance Jandreau, first in the pole vault at 10 feet.
The Vikings swept the top three positions in the 1,600-meter racewalk, with Flynn first in 7:56.76, Josh Kovach second in 8:20.38 and Kyle McEwen, third in 9:39.09. The Caribou 4 X 100-meter relay team of Aaron Ellis, Jandreau, Sleeper and Till came in first in 3:44.45.
The top individual efforts for the Fort boys came from Jahleel Williams, who was first in the long jump at 19 feet, 2 inches; first in the triple jump at 41 feet, 6-1/2 inches; and third in the 100-meter dash in 12.24 seconds; Andrew Lewis, first in the discus at 114 feet, 7 inches; first in the shot put at 36 feet, 10-1/2 inches; and third in the high jump at 5 feet, 2 inches; and Legeorge Williams, second in the triple jump at 36 feet, 8-1/2 inches.
The Caribou girls, with a total of 271 points, were paced by Morgan Swan, first in the shot put at 32 feet, 4-1/4 inches; second in the discus at 75 feet, 7 inches; and second in the javelin at 80 feet, 4 inches; Sarae Sager, first in the 100 hurdles in 18.64 seconds and first in the 300 hurdles in 53.23 seconds; Olivia Sleeper, first in the 100 in 13.96 seconds; second in the 400 in 1:05.85; and second in the 800 in 2:33.37; Hannah Hebert, first in the long jump at 13 feet, 8-1/2 inches and first in the triple jump at 29 feet, 10-1/2 inches; Sam Murchison, first in the javelin at 82 feet, 2 inches and third in the discus at 68 feet, 2 inches.
jMavor Photography photo
Fort Fairfield senior Kaitlyn Kinsey stretches over the bar during this attempt in the high jump at Friday’s track and field meet held in Orono. Kinsey placed fifth with a height of 4 feet, 4 inches.
Swan broke her previous school record in the shot put, set last year at 31 feet, 8 inches.
Other top scorers were Laura Collins, third in the long jump at 13 feet, 4-1/2 inches; Kendra Stephens, third in the 200 in 30.86 seconds; Reanna Plourde, second in the 100 in 14.43 seconds and third in the high jump at 4 feet, 6 inches; Mackenzie Belyea, second in the 1,600 in 6:05.63 and second in the 3,200 in 13:03.92; Mary Jo Sheehan, third in the 1,600 in 6:16.46 and third in the 3,200 in 13:45.9; Katie Plourde, second in the triple jump at 29 feet, 1-1/2 inches.
Caribou had four of the top five fastest times in the 1,600-meter racewalk, with Emily Soderberg leading the way in 8:07.54 and Paige Small second in 8:40.98. The 4 X 400 relay team of Sager, K. Plourde, Dayna Michaud and Sleeper won in 4:35.59 and the 4 X 100 relay team of Sager, Annie Collins, Demarre Doody-Corriveau and R. Plourde came in first in 56.48 seconds.
High scorers for the Fort Fairfield girls were Kaitlyn Kinsey, second in the 100 hurdles in 19.04 seconds; and third in the triple jump at 28 feet, 1-3/4 inches; Katy Donovan, first in the discus at 79 feet, 6 inches; Janae Libby, second in the 300 hurdles in 55.61 seconds; and Logan Bubar, third in the javelin at 70 feet.
The Tiger 4 X 100 relay team of Libby, Jessica Goshorn, Nicole Giberson and Kylie Plourde took fourth in their race in 58.3 seconds.
The Caribou track team goes back to work Saturday when they participate in the Mount Desert Island Relays in Bar Harbor.
The Viking tennis team has a busy week ahead. If the weather cooperates, Caribou will have road matches Thursday (at Presque Isle), Saturday (at MDI) and Monday (at Houlton) before finally hosting its first match next Wednesday against Madawaska.
Caribou will host Fort Kent Thursday in baseball and softall games. It will be the first games of the season for the Viking girls.
Washburn’s teams will next play Thursday in Danforth against East Grand. Fort Fairfield has games scheduled Friday in Mars Hill against Central Aroostook. Limestone-MSSM hosts Ashland Thursday afternoon.
Dave Allen Graphics photo
Ian Towle fires a pitching toward the plate for Fort Fairfield during Monday’s game against Katahdin. The Cougars won, 15-2.
jMavor Photography photo
Caribou’s Morgan Swan broke her own school record in the shot put during the track and field meet at Orono Friday.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
Daniele Pelkey of the Limestone-MSSM Eagles looks toward second base to keep a SA baserunner close during Monday’s contest.
