Six-run inning helps Ponies get past Nokomis
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Ahead 2-0 and cruising along, having only allowed one opposing base runner to get into scoring position, the Foxcroft Academy offense quadrupled its run total with six more in the fourth inning of a Class B East quarterfinal game on June 6 against Nokomis Regional High School of Newport. The 8-0 advantage would give the defending Class B champion and third-seeded Ponies some room for error as the No. 11 Warriors got three runs back during the team’s next trip to the plate, but then Foxcroft closed the door to earn a trip to the semifinal round of postseason play for the third straight season.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TRYING TO SLIDE IN UNDER THE RADER — Foxcroft senior Caleb Richard swipes second base ahead of the tag by Nokomis senior Spencer Hartsgrove during the first inning of a Class B East quarterfinal on June 6. The defending Class B East champion Ponies opened the postseason with an 8-3 victory to move to the semifinal round of the playoffs for the third year in a row.
Senior Jesse Provost began the fourth inning by drawing a walk off Nokomis sophomore Raymond Girroir and he then stole second base for one of the nine steals Foxcroft would accumulate on the base paths in six innings. Sophomore Brooks Law then laid down a bunt to move Provost to third, but the throw pulled Warrior junior first baseman Connor Allen off the bag to enable Law to reach safely and give the Ponies an extra out.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
EYE ON THE FLYBALL — Pony junior Hunter Law gets ready to snag the ball in leftfield during the top of the first inning against Nokomis.
After Law swiped second, senior Caleb Richard lined a single into centerfield to score both Provost and Law to double the Foxcroft advantage from 2-0 to 4-0. Two batters later junior Hunter Law dropped a double into leftfield to drive in Richard.
After the Law RBI-double, Nokomis opted for a pitching change with sophomore Andrew Dyer coming on in relief. The new pitcher ended up with the same result as senior Cameron Fadley hit a double over the head of Nokomis senior leftfielder Jeffery Ludden, with Law rounding third and scoring with ease.
Senior Luke Olson then had Foxcroft’s third double in as many plate appearances as a shot off his bat sailed right down the leftfield line and stayed fair to drive in Fadley for the 7-0 advantage — Olson would finish a perfect 3-of-3 on the afternoon with a bases on balls coming during his other at-bat. Two hitters later senior Forrest Law flew out to leftfield, but he hit the ball deep enough to send Olson home from third and change the home side of the scoreboard to eight. Law led all players with a game-high trio of RBI; his first two came on a double to deep centerfield to get the Ponies on the scoreboard in the second
Nokomis scored three runs, all coming with two outs, in the top of the fifth, but with two runners in scoring position Foxcroft senior Ryan Rebar struck out senior Chandler Foss to keep the Warriors more than a grand slam behind.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FINAL PLAY AT HOME — Senior Jesse Provost makes the catch for the last out of the quarterfinal victory over Nokomis. Third-seeded Foxcroft moved on to play at No. 2 Winslow in the Class B East semifinals.
During his next trip to the mound Rebar induced a fly ball out to senior Kaleb Smith at first, and he then struck out the ensuing two hitters for a pair of the five he would record in the complete game victory. Despite a walk in the top of the seventh, the Pony defense made three outs in the field to preserve the 8-3 advantage and get the win.
The quarterfinal victory improved Foxcroft to 15-2, and advanced the Ponies to a semifinal matchup against second seed Winslow High School (coincidently some of the Foxcroft and Winslow players got to face off again with their seasons on the line as the Ponies and Black Raiders met in the 2012 Class C state championship football game which Foxcroft won by a score of 22-20). Nokomis, who had upset No. 6 Oceanside High School of Rockland 6-3 in the preliminary round to earn a trip to Dover-Foxcroft, ended 2013 with a record of 8-10.
Before the game a moment of silence was observed for Foxcroft junior Dacano Arno, after which the Nokomis team presented a bouquet of flowers to the Foxcroft squad for the Arno family.