OLD TOWN- The Orono Red Riots scored two runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings on Thursday afternoon and improved their record to 7-0 with a 6-3 baseball win over the Old Town Coyotes.
Old Town (6-2) jumped ahead first in the bottom of the opening inning. Gabe Gifford led off and reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a two out RBI single by Casey Downs to make it 1-0 Coyotes. Orono then jumped ahead for good in the top of the fourth. Cam Shorette reached on an error to start it, and was driven home on an RBI single by Zack Dill. Jason Desisto then reached first on a fielders choice, stole second, and got to third base on a wild pitch. With Ellis Spaulding batting and on a 2-1 count, Desisto broke for home on the pitch and slide in safely with the steal when the catcher dropped the ball for a 2-1 advantage for the Red Riots.
The guests padded the lead to 4-1 in the fifth. Dana Crocker had a one out single, Zach Needham had a bunt single, and Caleb Ryder grounded a single to center field to load the bases. The hosts nearly got out of it though when Shorette hit one right back at Old Town starting pitcher Gifford who came home to cut down the run on a force out, but the attempted double play on the throw to first by catcher Noah Thibodeau hit the runner and allowed Zach Needham to score. After Dill walked to load them again, Desisto then got hit by a pitch to force in another run. The Coyotes started a one out rally in the bottom half of the inning. Connor McConnell had an infield single, Seth Haverloch walked, and Issac Hayes grounded a single to left to load the bases. Gifford foul popped out to the third baseman, but Matt Seymour came through with an RBI single to left and Tanner Evans walked to bring home another to cut the deficit to 4-3. Walks to four of the first five batters in the top of the sixth allowed Orono to make it 5-3, and Shorette also got hit with a pitch with the bases loaded to end the scoring on the day.
Shorette picked up the pitching win for Orono allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 4.2 innings. He also reached base three times- on an error, a fielders choice and an error, and was hit by a pitch. Ryder and Desisto each had an RBI and a run scored, and Dill also added an RBI. Dill also pitched the final 2.1 innings and didn’t give up any runs on two hits. Gabe Gifford took the loss on the mound for Old Town allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Hayes had two hits, and Downs, Seymour, and Evans had the RBI for the Coyotes on the day. In relief Hayes pitched 1/3 of an inning and was charged with two runs, while Evans pitched the final 1.2 innings and didn’t give up any runs on one hit.
ORO (7-0) 0 0 0 2 2 2 0- 6 5 3
OLD (6-2) 1 0 0 0 2 0 0- 3 6 2
Winning pitcher- Shorette
Losing pitcher- Gifford
Left on base- Orono 8, Old Town 7
Cam Shorette throws a second inning pitch for Orono during a 6-3 win over Old Town on Thursday, May 13. Photo by Chris Lessner
Caleb Ryder hits for Orono in a game against Old Town on Thursday, May 13. The Red Riots won 6-3. Photo by Chris Lessner.
