BREWER—– To win a championship you need good pitching, solid defense, and clutch hitting. Dexter got all three in a 3-2 victory over Narraguagus in a Maine Principals’ Association Class C softball Northern Maine Final played Wednesday night at Coffin Field.
The Tigers got things started quickly by putting a run on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Caitlin Hardy walked, made her way to third base on a single from Tory Asbury, and scored on a wild pitch. Dexter kept the momentum as Avery Herrick struck out the side in the bottom of the first inning.
The Knights did respond in the bottom of the second inning. Lanie Perry led off with a double, stole third base, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Kylee Joyce.
The Tigers didn’t keep the game tied for long as they took advantage of a Narraguagus error and got a clutch double from Cheyenne Beem to take a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Herrick retired the side in order in the Knights half of the third inning.
Narraguagus got a leadoff single from Kirstin Kennedy in the fourth inning. Kennedy stole second base, advanced to third base on a passed ball, and scored on a Perry groundout.
The score would remain 2-2 for the rest of regulation as Perry and Herrick were dealing in the circle. Both pitchers finished with 12 strikeouts. Herrick allowed only two runs on three hits and one walk. Herrick threw 108 pitches/73 strikes. Perry allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks. Perry threw 139 pitches/91 strikes.
In the top of the eighth inning, Perry was able to strike out the first two batters. Beem was the second of those strikeouts, but she hustled her way down to first base on a wild pitch on the strikeout. Beem would come home to score the eventual winning run on a double off the bat of Herrick.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Herrick issued her only walk of the game to Madison Pray. Herrick struck out the next two batters and got the final out on a fly ball to centerfielder Cloe Mountain. Narraguagus finishes the season with a 17-2 record.
Asbury had two hits for the Tigers, while Hardy scored two runs. It is the first regional title for the Tigers since 2011. Dexter (14-5) will take on defending state champion Madison in the class C state game at noon on Saturday, June 15th at Coffin Field.
Box Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E L
Dexter 1, 0, 1,0,0,0,0,1-3 6 0 7
Nar 0,1, 0,1,0,0,0,0- 2 3 3 2
WP: Herrick LP: Perry
2B: Dex- Beem, Asbury, Herrick: Nar- Perry
SB: Dex- Mountain (2): Nar- Kennedy, Perry, Pray
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Dexter gets ready for their regional final game against Narraguagus on Wednesday.
