CORINTH– Jacob Bickford fired a one-hitter to lead the Dexter Tigers to a 9-1 win over Central on Wednesday afternoon. Bickford allowed one unearned run, while walking one and striking out 10.
“My fastball was working really well. I tried to lay off my slider a bit to give my arm a break,”Bickford said. “I have nine days (off) after this. I was just trying to pound the fastball, pound the zone.”
Bickford was very efficient. He only needed 88 pitches (59 strikes) in his complete game effort. Bickford is the Tigers ace. The Red Devils ace Gage Poulin lifted them to a win over Bucksport on Monday.
“He (Bickford) is just going to compete. Any time he goes out there, he wants to finish what he starts.”Dexter coach Chad Graffam said. “We got lucky we didn’t get Gage Poulin, Gage would keep them in any game. But when we have Jake going we always have a good chance to win. As long as he can go, we are pretty good.”
The Tigers offense also put up some early runs. Bickford started a first inning rally when he hit a two out single and came around to score the first run. Logan Perkins sparked a three run second inning when he drilled a lead off home run over the left field fence. Perkins reached base three times, including a double, two runs scored, and two stolen bases.
“Logan (Perkins) has been coming along. It has been a work in progress,”Graffam said. “Today he hit the ball right on the button twice.”
Perkins and Trevor Richards scored three runs from the bottom two spots in the Tigers order.
“I am very proud of both of them and how they have been playing lately,”Bickford said. “Logan (Perkins) is pounding the crap out of the ball.”
Bickford had two hits and scored two runs. Each player in the Tigers batting order had at least one hit, one run scored, or one RBI.
Austin Morency had the Red Devils only hit. Micah Ward scored a run, while James Doucette had the RBI on a sacrifice fly. Central (3-5) will travel to Dexter (5-3) for another clash on Friday. Eastern Maine Sports will have live audio starting at 4:25 PM.
