BUCKFIELD — Ask Buckfield senior shortstop Abi Prokey about the Bucks’ adept base running skills and she will answer with a wide smile.
The Bucks took advantage of just about every error, stolen base and walk to score runs in their 13-2 victory over Mt. Abram in a five-inning game Friday afternoon.
The antsy Bucks’ (8-1) heads-up base running allowed them to score four runs in the second and a seven-inning extravaganza in the third with the help of several errors, key hits, stolen bases and walks.
“We came out with energy and we ended with energy,” Prokey said. “We always work well together and we always find a way to do it — either on defense or at bat.”
Prokey didn’t hesitate when asked about the Bucks’ strong base running.
“Oh yeah! We have a fast team this year,” she said with a grin. “They get it done. They know what they are doing. We are just having a great season and I hope it stays that way.”
“She put the ball in play quite a bit,” Buckfield coach Shawn Prokey said of Abi Prokey.
The Bucks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Brittany Carrier walked, stole second and moved to third on Prokey’s sacrifice bunt. She then scored on a passed ball. The second run came when Emma Stevens-Belanger took advantage of an error in left field and raced all the way home.
Buckfield’s blitz in the second inning was the result of a couple of Mt. Abram errors. Addison Stevens-Belanger and Lillian Scharples reached on throwing errors and came home on Prokey’s two-run single to make it a 4-0 game. Carrier eventually scored on a passed ball and Amelia Hill also scored after getting on with single.
“I think we went right out and played great defense,” Shawn Prokey said. “Carmen (Crockett) pitched the first three innings — unbelievable. We put the bats on ball and we put the ball in play, and the girls did a good job with base running. Overall, I think we played exceptionally well.
“These girls are playing great softball right now. They are a great team and, you know, we’ve got great pitching and great defense and that’s what keeps us in games. Once they got on base, you see them run.”
A seven-run surge in the third inning gave Buckfield a 13-0 lead.
Cora Brewster started it off with a walk and Addison Stevens-Belanger singled, and both came home on Sharples’ two-run single that highlighted the third inning. Errors and passed balls played right into the hands of the Bucks, who brought five more runs home with solid base running.
The Roadrunners (2-8) brought across two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Ayanna Savage got on with an infield error and Kate Holt walked, and both scored on Jany Pepin’s single.
“This team doesn’t know how to quit so we are lucky,” Mt. Abram coach Bridget Blood said. “They didn’t give up. We had a long couple of innings out there, but they stuck with it. They didn’t give up. They had a few errors that they knew they should have. The shook it off …
“(Buckfield) is solid and they are a good team. We knew it was going to be a battle today…”
Winning pitcher Carmen Crockett pitched three solid innings, striking out seven batters and giving up just two hits. Sharples came on in the fourth and finished out the victory.
Mt. Abram pitcher Adrianna Stinchfield went the distance, striking out five batters and giving up six hits.
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