WALES – For two innings, the pitcher’s duel that everyone expected started to unfold. Danielle Sargent mowed down six consecutive batters to start the game for Oak Hill, and Maranacook’s Abby Pullen kept pace, allowing a stray hit and a walk through two.
In the fourth inning, though, after surviving the previous frame in a 1-1 tie, the proverbial wheels fell off.
The Raiders (7-2) plated eight runs on four hits, four walks and three errors to take a 9-1 lead
and never looked back, posting an 11-1 victory
over previously unbeaten Maranacook (8-1) Wednesday.
“Anytime we can beat this team, it’s a good thing for us,” said Oak Hill coach Julie Boucher. “We knew coming in that they were going to be a tough team, and we were ready for it. The team has been playing really well lately, and the girls were really pumped to play this game.”
Sargent started things off in the fourth with a bloop single, stole second and advanced to third after two consecutive walks. Ashley Medeiros followed with a bloop single over first base to score Sargent. Emily Grondin scampered home on a passed ball, and after two strikeouts, another walk again loaded the bases.
“None of the hits were huge hits,” said Boucher, “but they fell into the right places.”
A single, a walk, a fielder’s choice and two costly errors helped Oak Hill plate six more runs, effectively putting the game out of reach.
“After the mistakes and the play in the field that gave them three runs, we kind of lost our focus,” said Maranacook coach Kathy Heselton. “We usually turn it on in the middle innings, but that definitely was distracting.”
Melissa Piper, the Black Bears’ starting shortstop, left the game and was taken to the hospital with a hip injury after a collision with a teammate while tracking down a fly ball in shallow center field.
“It’s this kind of game that helps to humble you, though,” added Heselton. “This keeps you honest and keeps a respect for the game. There are no hard feelings at all.”
Oak Hill scored its final two runs in the sixth on a walk, two singles an an error. Jill Lizotte finished the game 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored to pace the Raiders.
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