CORINTH, Maine – A solid start on the mound and 12 hits on offense propelled the No. 6 Bucksport High School Golden Bucks to a 7-3 victory over the No. 3 Central High School Red Devils in a Class C North quarterfinal matchup.
After escaping a one out, bases loaded jam in the first inning, Jake Gauvin settled in to allow only two runs on four hits. He struck out nine Central batters in five innings. Matt Vincent replaced Gauvin in the sixth inning, allowing one hit and one run in two innings of work.
“That was a big one for him [Gauvin] to get himself out of the jam and just keep on going and get a little momentum,” said Bucksport head coach, Michael Cowing.
Tanner Stegner led the Bucksport offense with two hits, including an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning to put his team ahead after a leadoff triple from Dustin Colson. Stegner also scored two runs in the game. Chase Carmichael, Austin Mason and Vincent all had two hits each for the Bucks.
“I think we just had to put things together,” said Cowing. “We hadn’t really strung it all together in any one game this year defensively, offensively and pitching wise. I think we did.”
Andrew Speed led the Central offense with two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Zach Randall, Caleb Shaw and Micah Wood all had one hit each.
Randall pitched all seven innings for the Red Devils, allowing 12 hits and striking out two. Randall kept Central within two runs until the seventh inning, when a string of defensive errors allowed Bucksport to score three runs.
“The wheels kind of fell off in the last inning,” said Central head coach, Peter Speed. “That’s what we need to work on. That’s been our downfall all year long.”
Central finishes the season with a 9-8 overall record. The teams split the two games they played during the regular season, with Central winning in Bucksport, 9-4, on April 27, and Bucksport winning at Central, 5-1, on May 16.
“I’m very proud of these guys. Last year we finished fourth. This year we finished third. Before that, I couldn’t tell you the last time they reached the playoffs, said Speed. “I was glad, especially for the seniors today, that they had a couple of playoff runs.
With the win, Bucksport advances to play the No. 2 Houlton High School Shiretowners in a semifinal game on Saturday. Houlton finished the regular season with a 16-0 record, and advanced to the semifinal with a 12-9 victory over No. 7 Washington Academy on Thursday. Bucksport and Houlton did not meet in the regular season.
“I just hear they’re really, really tough,” said Cowing. “It’ll be fun.”
Bucksport will travel to the Houlton for the semifinal game. The start time has not yet been announced.
