Falcon girls roll past Cougars

DIXFIELD -- It’s extremely important to remain focused because anything can happen and the Mountain Valley softball team certainly took advantage of the situation at cozy Marble Park.

Hannah LaPointe doubled home teammates in a five-run second inning and Lindsay Gallant pitched a complete-game six hitter as the Lady Falcons triumphed 5-3 against Dirigo. It was the second straight win for MV, who had flew past Livermore Falls by 17-6 three days earlier.

MV jumpstarted things in its second at bat against Dirigo pitcher Alyssa Wade. Brooke Dolloff led off with a walk and Kristin Ridge reached on a fielder's choice. Jesse Kane reached on an infield error and LaPointe followed with a smash to left field. Darbi Brown bounced back to the circle, but Bri Roberts triple scored LaPointe.

“I think the Livermore game helped,” said MV coach Brian Mills. “But these girls can hit the ball pretty well. Any time you win a game your confidence has to improve.”

Gallant made the 5-0 lead stand up and received help by the Mountain Valley, which played errorless ball. Centerfielder McKenzie Paterson sprinted back and suffered a cut on her arm, following getting tangled up in the chainlink fence.

“Lindsay Gallant pitched a heck of a game, and we made all the plays on defense,” said Mills. “Bri Roberts had a huge hit triple to cap off the second inning and made a couple of plays at first base.”

Dirigo broke through when Paige Murphy led off the fourth with a single and scored on Kyme Dolloff’s RBI ground out.

The Cougars scored again in the fifth as Wade smashed a two-run homer. Second baseman Natalie Bolduc (five assists) had led off with a single. Tasha DeRoche followed Wade with a single and advanced on a wiild pitch, but was gunned down by Paterson at third base.

“McKenzie Paterson played a awesome center field and everyone else did their job,” said Mills. “I realize this is a rivalry game but we don't think it's going to end here. We have some very winable games coming up so let’s keep the train a rolling.”

In the seventh, Gallant snared a line drive off the bat of Brooke Kersey and Ambyr Wilson grounded out to end the game.

Falcon triple Photo:

The Falcons' Bri Roberts slides safely for a triple as Dirigo third baseman Brooke Kersey's tag is late during a key five-run second inning. (Times photo by Bruce Farrin)