Cougar girls knock Rebels from unbeaten ranks
May 20, 2011 12:00 am
DIXFIELD -- To the victors go the spoils and the Dirigo softball team certainly fit the billing Friday afternoon in a Mountain Valley Conference game.
Junior Aylssa Wade pitched a complete game and the Lady Cougars scored two runs in the third inning and held on for a 2-1 upset win over previously unbeaten Telstar at Marble Park. The Rebels, who had beat Dirigo two weeks ago in Bethel, suffered their first regular season loss in three years.
In the big inning, Kyme Dolloff led off with a single and gave way to freshman Destiny Newton, who became a designated runner. Telstar ace Kayla Merrill struck out Brooke Kersey, but Natalie Bolduc singled. Ambyr Wilson followed with a shot up the middle to score Newton, however, the ball got by centerfielder Hanna Morin which followed Bolduc to score easily.
On the flip side, Wade baffled the Rebel batters with a heavy dose of outside pitches. The right hander allowed seven hits, seven strikeouts and walked one.
“We came in knowing what to expect,” said Wade. “I threw strikes and my defense was behind me.”
The Cougars' Natasha DeRoche made a heads up play in the third by throwing out Kayla Merrill, who had rounded second base too far. Catcher Aylssa Charity caught a pop up and threw to Dolloff for a double play. Wade recorded an inning-ending strike out with two runners on in the fourth.
Bolduc had a single, double and Miriah Larson had two singles.
“We played together,” said Bolduc, regarding the error-free dwfense.
Telstar catcher Lyndsay Merrill led off the fifth with a solo home run.
In the seventh, Wade retired the top of the Rebels batting order on five pitches. The Cougars had limited chances, stranded Bolduc, who had doubled on the first pitch, leading off the bottom of the first inning.
"Aylssa Wade pitched her best game of the season,” said Dirigo coach Clint Dolloff. "The defense made the plays and I had just brought up Destiny Newton from the JV's. It was a great win because I can't remember the last time Dirigo beat Telstar in softball."