DEXTER— Ava Rayfield picked up the win with a complete game effort in the circle and also had the biggest hit in the game to lead the Foxcroft Ponies to a 7-4 softball win over Dexter on Tuesday afternoon.
Dexter took the lead in the first inning when Cheyenne Beem ripped a double that scored Avery Herrick. The Ponies scored two runs in the second inning. Olivia Hill scored a run and drove home one during the inning.
Foxcroft continued putting up runs in the third inning. Sheryl Chase and Kaitlyn Lord started the inning with back to back doubles. Amber Richard followed with a single to score Lord. Richard would come around to score on an error, passed ball, and wild pitch.
Dexter would cut the four run deficit in half with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Peyton Grant and Beem each got a hit. Jillean Poliquen and Grant each scored a run, while Beem got her second RBI of the game.
Both pitchers settled down in the middle innings. Herrick retired 11 out of 12 batters, including nine straight for the Tigers. Rayfield didn’t get to a three ball count the entire game and was helped by a neat double play turned by second baseman Chase to end the fourth inning.
The Ponies took advantage of two walks and got a big hit from Rayfield to score two runs in the sixth inning. Dexter would come within three runs of the Ponies when Jasmine Lewis knocked a hit that scored Hannah Dean.
Herrick retired the Ponies in order in the top of the seventh inning. That kept Dexter within three with one last turn at the plate. The inning started with Rayfield retiring the top two hitters in the Tigers order. Herrick and Beem followed by reaching on errors. Rayfield finished the game with a strikeout.
Beem reached base three times, including two hits for the Tigers. Poliquen, Grant, Herrick, Dean, and Lewis had one hit each. Poliquen, Grant, Herrick, and Dean each scored a run. Poliquen, Beem, and Jozlynn Paige each had a stolen base. Herrick allowed six hits, seven runs, six earned, four walks, while striking out seven. Herrick threw 123 pitches/83 strikes. Dexter (1-1) will play at Nokomis on Friday.
Rayfield, Chase, Richard, Meghan Spooner, Kam Commeau, and Olivia Hill each had one hit for the Ponies. Olivia Hill scored two runs, while Chase, Lord, Richard, Spooner, and Commeau each scored one run. Rayfield had two RBI, while Lord, Richard, and Olivia Hill each drove home one. Spooner stole two bases, while Rayfield, Leah Hill, Chase, and Olivia Hill each had one stolen base. Rayfield allowed seven hits, four runs (three earned), she struck out seven and didn’t issue a walk. Rayfield threw 100 pitches (75 strikes). Foxcroft (2-0) will play at Old Town on Thursday.
