The Madawaska Owls took advantage of some errors by the visiting Highview Christian Academy Knights on Tuesday afternoon to rally for a 10-5 win in a Northern Maine Class D semifinal softball game in Madawaska. The Owls advance to the regional final to be played Wednesday night.
Highview (9-9) broke on top first 2-0 in the second inning and held that lead until the bottom of the third. The Owls would take the lead to never be relinquished when Highview catcher Michaela Hill dropped a third strike on the third out that would of ended the inning, but instead Madawaska went on to score four times with two outs to take a 4-2 lead.
The Knights got back within 4-3 in the fourth, but the homestanding Owls put one on the board in the fifth to make it 5-3, and after Highview cut it to one again at 5-4 in the top of the sixth, Madawaska responded with five more in the bottom half to pull away.
Highview was led on offense with singles from Kelsea McDonald, Hill, Cassidy Burns and Cheyenne Fernald. Rachel Pomerleau, Hill, Burns, Cassidy Lessner and Cece Allard all scored runs. McDonald pitched six innings allowing 10 runs, seven earned, 13 hits, two walks and had eight strikeouts.
#10 Highview Christian was coming off their first ever quarterfinal win last week when they beat the second seeded Southern Aroostook Panthers. The win was the first ever quarterfinal win in school history in any sport.
For Madawaska Aspen Cote had a pair of singles and two RBI while Desiree Belanger had a triple and an RBI. Hannah Nadeau and Gabby Cyr each scored two runs for the Owls. Jenna Dugal got the win in the circle allowing five runs, three earned, only four hits, 10 walks and had one strikeout.
Third seeded Madawaska (11-4) will now play top seeded Stearns (18-2) in the Northern Maine Regional Class D Final in Brewer at Coffin Field on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.
Highview Ch. (9-9) 0 2 0 1 0 1 1- 5 4 3
Madawaska (11-4) 0 0 4 0 1 5 x- 10 13 2
WP- Dugal LP- K. McDonald
