EAST CORINTH- The Central Red Devils scored five runs in the fourth inning and got a 15 strikeout performance from Kaelyn Parks on Thursday afternoon, en route to an 8-2 win over the Sumner Tigers in a Class C North softball quarterfinal contest played at Central High School.
The Red Devils would score early in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Kaeyln Parks got hit by a pitch to lead off, and then Britni Grant reached on a bunt that went for an error on Tigers catcher Elsie Carter. An error by Sumner pitcher Brena Patten on a ball hit by Izzy Allen loaded the bases with no outs. Central would bring Parks and Grant home when Lexi Whitty was hit by a pitch, and Bayley Casavant walked to make it 2-0.
Sumner cut it to a 2-1 score in the fourth inning when Rachel Colby led off with the Tigers first hit with a single to center, and later came home to score an error by Central catcher Alexyss Curtis. The Red Devils would pull away though in the bottom half. Kaelyn Parks led off with a bunt single, and with one out Allen grounded a single to left. The very next pitch Whitty unleashed on for a three-run homer that cleared the fence in centerfield to increase the advantage to 5-1. Gabby Poulin followed that by reaching second base on an error by the shortstop, and Casavant singled to left. Poulin and Casavsnt then stole second and third base, and Brook Lunt came through with a line drive two-run single to left for a six run lead.
Sumner got their final run on a throwing error in the sixth, while Central did the same in the bottom half. While the offense did their thing, Kaeyln Parks did her thing in the circle. Parks struck out 15, throwing 90 pitches (68 for strikes) to lead the second seeded Red Devils into a semifinal contest on Friday in which they will host.
Casavant was 2-2 with two hits, two walks, and two runs scored for Central (13-3). Whitty reached base three times, with a hit by pitch, a homerun, an intentional walk, and three RBI. Parks helped herself with two hits and two runs scored. In the circle she allowed two runs (none earned) on two hits and walked two to go along with the 15 strikeouts in the complete game effort. Rachel Colby provided both hits and scored both runs for #7 Sumner, who ends their season at 10-7. Patten allowed eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits with four walks and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings. The Red Devils will play host to #3 Houlton (11-2) in a semifinal contest in East Corinth Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
SUM 0 0 0 1 0 1 0- 2 2 3
CEN 2 0 0 5 0 1 x- 8 10 1
Winning pitcher- Kaelyn Parks
Losing pitcher- Brena Patten
Singles- CEN- Casavant (2), K. Parks (2), Grant, Allen, Lunt, Curtis, Daigle/HR- Whitty (2 on, 1 out in fourth) SUM- Singles- R. Colby (2)
Stolen bases- CEN- Allen (2), Grant, Whitty, Casavant, Gray/SUM- none
Runs- CEN- K. Parks (2), Casavant (2), Grant, Allen, Whitty, Poulin/SUM- R. Colby (2)
Left on base- Sumner 2, Central 10
Photos courtesy of Chris Lessner- (Top) Central pitcher Kaelyn Parks winds up for a pitch and (Bottom) Sumner right fielder Clara Christiensen takes a turn at bat during a Class C North softball quarterfinal in East Corinth on Thursday afternoon. The Red Devils won 8-2
