MV girls take 5-3 win over Dirigo

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 flew past Livermore Falls three days earlier. The momentum from the 17-6 win carried over.

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 Bree 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 chain-link fence.

“Lindsay Gallant pitched a heck of a game, and we made all the plays on defense,” said Mills said. “Bree 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 groundout.

The Cougars scored again in the fifth when 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 wild 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.

Swinging bunt Photo:

Dirigo pitcher Alyssa Wade quickly fields a swinging bunt by Briana Roberts of Mountain Valley and throws her out at first. (Times photo by Bruce Farrin)