DOVER-FOXCROFT- The Old Town Coyotes scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning to earn a 7-1 extra inning victory over Foxcroft Academy on Tuesday afternoon.
Dana Ouellette struck out 14 Ponies batters, while only allowing one run on three hits, and one walk in seven innings. Ouellette left the game with an apparent serious ankle injury after a collision at home plate during the eighth inning.
The Ponies took the early lead when Chandler Rockwell drew a walk to start the bottom of the first inning and came around to score on a Nate Church triple.
The score remained 1-0 for quite some time as Church and Ouellette put on a pitching clinic. It looked like Church was going to be able to record a complete game shutout win. He got the first two outs in the seventh inning rather easily. TJ Crawford drew the two out walk, stole second, and came around to score on an infield single from Ryan Hoogterp. Crawford read the play very well, scoring all the way from second base on a ball that bounced off the pitchers glove and rolled towards second base. Ouellette retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game to extra innings.
Ouellette received a lead off walk in the top of the eighth inning. Jake Ketch came up to bunt the runner over. He did even better and reached on a bunt single. Coyotes coach Brad Goody sent Drew Coulombe to also put down a bunt and move the runners over. He did the same as Ketch and reached on a bunt single. With the bases loaded, Kaleb Gifford hit a fly ball to center, the runner didn’t tag up. With the bases loaded and one out, Austin Sheehan hit a fly ball to left fielder Billy Brock, Ouellette tagged up at third base, but Brock made a perfect throw to get Ouellette at the plate to end the scoring threat. Ouellette was on the ground until the ambulance came and took him to Mayo regional hospital.
Coulombe came in the game to pitch for the Coyotes. He struck out five in his two innings on the mound, including striking out the side in the ninth inning, Ouellette and Coulombe combined for 19 strikeouts.
Ethan Stoddard, Jake Dubay, Ketch, Gifford, and Sheehan each had a hit in the big six run ninth inning for the Coyotes. Ketch finished with three hits and made an outstanding catch in right field, while Sheehan had two hits and two RBI, and Hoogterp had two RBI. Old Town (4-0) will travel to Ellsworth on Thursday.
Church allowed one run on six hits and two walks, while striking out seven in eight innings. Church also had two hits to lead the Ponies offense. Tanner Strout pitched the ninth inning and took the loss on the mound. Foxcroft (3-1) will play at Ellsworth on Saturday morning.
