DEXTER- The Dexter Tigers baseball team needed to win games on consecutive days on the final three days of the regular season for an opportunity to advance to the class C quarterfinals without playing a preliminary round game.
The Tigers defeated PCHS 11-1 on Wednesday afternoon and got by Mattanawcook 4-2 on Thursday behind a solid pitching performance from freshman Nathan Richards.
On Friday afternoon, Jacob Bickford allowed one unearned run to lead the Tigers to a 3-1 win over Bucksport.
The Bucks had an opportunity in the first inning, but the Tigers cut a base runner down at second base to end the inning.
The Tigers had their own opportunity in the bottom of the first inning. Bucksport got out of a jam when shortstop Tanner Stegner turned a double play to end the inning. Stegner tagged Brayden Miller going to third base and threw Bickford out at first base.
The Bucks took the lead in the fourth inning when Stegner reached second base on an error to start the inning. Stegner came around to score on a single from Jake Ames.
Dexter responded quickly in the bottom of the fourth inning. Miller and Bickford each hit a single. Matt Hanscome put down a bunt that Miller beat Bucks pitcher Chase Carmichael’s throw to third base. Zach White hit a sacrifice fly to score Miller. Bucksport limited the damage by picking Bickford off the bases.
The Tigers took advantage of wildness from Carmichael in the sixth inning. Miller walked to lead off the inning. Bickford got hit by a pitch. Hanscome smacked a single that scored a run, Matt Richards scored Hanscome on a ground out.
Bickford retired the side in order to close the game in the seventh inning. Bickford allowed five hits on three walks and three strikeouts. He threw 98 pitches to get throw the seven innings.
Miller reached base three times on two hits and a walk. Nathan Richards recorded two hits. Dexter (10-6) finished as the fifth seed in the Maine Principals’ Asdocation class C heal point standings. The Tigers will travel to Mattanawcook for a quarterfinal game currently scheduled for June 8th.
Carmichael allowed three runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out four on 87 pitches for the Bucks. Ames had three hits. Bucksport (8-8) will host Calais in a preliminary round game currently scheduled for Tuesday, June 6th.
