H.S. softball: Morse swats Spruce Mountain

Spruce Mountain’s JuJu Doiron slides into home as Morse pitcher Marissa Parks put the tag on Doiron in the fourth inning of a softball game in Jay on Friday afternoon.

JAY — Morse High School’s hits fell like the endless rain that has turned the Pine Tree State into one giant marsh this month.

A young Spruce Mountain team tried to stymie Morse, but the Shipbuilders kept rounding bases for an 18-5 victory over the Phoenix in a softball game Friday.

The Phoenix (2-4) also made a handful of errors, which undoubtedly helped Morse’s (6-2) cause. The Shipbuilders hammered out 18 hits, a total that included five doubles, two triples and a home run.

“We have been hitting all year long,” Morse coach Will Laffely said. “We have been averaging about nine runs a game or so. The only game we didn’t hit was I think Wednesday night against Gardiner.

“We only had six hits and two runs. Gardiner for the last two years has really done a number on us. We gave up six hits to Gardiner and gave up seven runs. We had 10 walks that game and we didn’t hit.”

After just one inning Friday, the Shipbuilders were cruising with a 5-1 lead thanks to doubles by winning pitcher Marissa Parks and Micailah Albertson.

“This is her (Parks) second game this week,” Laffely said. “And the other pitcher (Dory Kulin) I have, she plays first base and she’s a freshman. We split the two pitchers.”

Pitcher Alex Bessey, who was tagged with the loss on the mound, scored Spruce’s first run in the bottom of half of the first with heads-up base running.

The Phoenix produced eight hits and a three-run inning in the fifth inning. JuJu Doiron smacked a two-run double in that inning. In the fourth inning, Hailee Perkins scored a run after getting base with a hit.

But the day didn’t get any better when the Shipbuilders erupted with another five runs in the fifth inning. For the day, Parks helped herself to a pair of doubles and a triple. Olivia Potter ripped a homer over the right-field fence.

“We knew they were a good club,” Spruce Mountain coach Clint Brooks said. “The only way we can track these teams is to look at Heal points, look and see who they have played, see if they have a common opponent and you kind of get read on them.

“They it the ball well. They had timely hits. As we’ve told the kids, and we say it over and over and we sound like a broken record, mistakes will absolutely kill you. We are still making mistakes of not throwing to right bases. They are still learning the game …”

Spruce Mountain first baseman Alyssa Black catches the ball to get out Maddie Mitchell (7) during a softball game in Jay on Friday afternoon. The Shipbuilders won, 18-5.Spruce Mountain third baseman Hailee Perkins waits for the ball as Morse’s Olivia Parker approaches the bag in a softball ball game in Jay on Friday afternoon. The Shipbuilders won, 18-5.