Blue Hill—In a game that took extra innings to produce a winner, the top ranked George Stevens Academy baseball team was ousted from the playoffs in a 6-5 loss to the Orono Red Riots at home on June 8.
The Eagles hosted the Class C semifinal game, and were able to take the early 2-0 advantage in the first inning, as the team scored Caden Mattson from second off a passed ball and a double by Parker Allen later in the inning.
The George Stevens Academy infield huddles before the start of the first inning of the team’s quarterfinal game against Lee Academy on June 6. Photo by Monique Labbe
Orono responded in the second, and loaded the bases with one out. A single to right field scored two runners to tie the game, before Orono put an additional run across the plate due to a passed ball that put the Red Riots up 3-2.
Holding Orono scoreless in the top half of the third, GSA pitcher Garrett Parker settled in on the mound, striking out three consecutive Orono batters to record his second, third and forth strikeouts of the game. The team took advantage of a quick half inning and put runners on base in the bottom of the third to give themselves a chance to tie the game. Senior Ben Parker responded, nailing a triple to the right field fence that scored junior Austin Snow to put the score at 3-3.
With a scoreless fourth inning, the Eagles took the field in the top of the fifth to try to hold off the Orono offense. The Red Riots started the inning with a single before a pop fly to center put the first out on the board. Pitcher Garrett Parker threw a pick off attempt that went past Allen at first base, which advanced the Orono runner to third. Parker walked the next batter to put two men on base, and the third batter of the inning hit a double that scored both runners to put the score at 5-3, advantage Orono.
George Stevens Academy senior Ben Parker steps in for an at bat during a quarterfinal game against Lee Academy on June 6. Photo by Monique Labbe
Coach Dan Kane brought in senior Memphis Parker for pitching relief, and he was able to close out the inning without any more damage.
The Eagles kept the fight alive in the bottom half of the fifth. After a quick out to start the at bat, Mattson walked and stole second to put himself in scoring distance. Senior Tanner Ashley stepped to the plate and drilled a two-out single to right field that scored Mattson to put GSA within one. Ben Parker singled to put runners on first and second, and Kane called a double steal that advanced both to second and third. A balk call on the Orono pitcher put a run across the plate for the Eagles, and at the end of five, the game was at a stalemate.
After two scoreless innings, the game went into the eighth, where a one out Orono double proved to be the game-winning hit for the Red Riots.
George Stevens Academy pitcher Austin Snow keeps an eye on a Lee Academy runner at first during the team’s quarterfinal game against Lee Academy on June 6. Photo by Monique Labbe
The Eagles finished the season with a 16-1 regular season record, and 17-1 overall. The team beat Lee Academy in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals.
Orono is scheduled to take on Fort Kent in the Class C North regional finals on Wednesday, June 12.