Golden Bucks’ Hall makes short work of Medomak in 3-0 win

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BUCKSPORT – Graduation was scheduled to begin four hours after the start of Friday afternoon’s Eastern Maine Class B quarterfinal, but Bucksport pitcher Terren Hall didn’t feel any need to rush through the game.

It ended up being a quick contest anyway. That’s what happens with two good pitchers, a few quick runs, and flawless defense.

Hall tossed a three-hitter in 55 minutes of work while freshman Alex Sullivan hit two doubles and drove in a run as the No. 2 Golden Bucks earned a 3-0 victory over No. 7 Medomak Valley of Waldoboro at John Wardwell Field.

Bucksport will take its 17-0 record into Saturday’s 2 p.m. semifinal to host No. 3 Ellsworth, which beat No. 6 Hermon 1-0 Friday afternoon.

Neither team committed an error. Medomak (11-7) had one double play and Bucksport had two.

That meant the Bucks had to work for their runs.

“It was a great defensive game,” coach Mike Carrier said. “They hit the ball well, we hit the ball well. If you don’t get any errors, with two pitchers that throw strikes, the only way you’re going to score runs is over the fence. And that doesn’t happen very often. … I’m very happy with [the game].”

Bucksport’s second double play came in the top of the seventh as Kayla Winchenbach led off the inning with a single. April Baker, the next batter, hit a ground ball to Bucks second baseman Brittni Adams, who tagged Winchenbach as the runner was heading to second. Adams tossed the ball over to Bucks first baseman Keely Sullivan for the second out.

Hall, now 11-0, struck out the final batter of the game and retired 10 in a row at one point.

Hall and Katie Hurd, the heart of Bucksport’s powerful lineup, each had just a single in the game, although Hurd’s hit plated the second run of the game.

“They scouted us well,” Carrier said. “They knew Terren could hit and they didn’t pitch to her. They knew what was going on.”

Alex Sullivan doubled to drive in Keely Sullivan, who reached on a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, in the second inning.

In the third, senior Katie Allen drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on an Adams groundout, got to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Hurd’s infield single.

Sacrifices were key to the Bucks’ third run. Alex Sullivan led off with her second double and went to third on junior Katie Allen’s sacrifice bunt. Lindsay Lenor then hit a fly ball to left, deep enough to score Sullivan after Winchenbach made the catch.

Alex Sullivan was the only repeat hitter of the game.

“It was pretty easy to time,” Sullivan said of the pitching from Panther ace Brittany Barbour, who struck out two and walked two.

Hall fanned seven and walked one. The Golden Bucks’ fielders recorded 13 outs.

“Today we just tried to keep them off-balance more with a lot of riseballs,” Hall said.

Medomak coach Glenn Barbour was pleased his team got their bats on so many of Hall’s pitches.

“When we can find the ball like that, pull the trigger and also see the balls coming, play the game, that’s all I can ask for,” he said. “… The girls did an excellent job.”

Brittany Barbour and Tessa Dodge each added a single for the Panthers.

GAME NOTES: Wardwell Field was more than playable Friday because softball groundskeeper Gerald Guse spent much of the morning getting it back into shape after Thursday’s drenching rain.

Guse, a retired mill worker from Orland, was at the field Friday at 5:30 a.m., soaking up standing water around the bases.

“He just did a fantastic job,” Carrier said. “Home plate was under water, first base was under water, second base was buried. He was out there with a bucket and a sponge, got every bit of water off the ground and spread some Speedy Dry. He’s a great guy.”

GOLDEN BUCKS 3, PANTHERS 0

Medomak Valley (11-7) Bucksport (17-0)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Bradstreet, 3b 3 0 0 0 K.A. Allen (sr.), lf 0

Je. O’Jala, 2b 3 0 0 0 Adams, 2b 2 0

Winchenbach, lf 2 0 1 0 Hall, p 2 0 0

Baker, 1b 3 0 0 0 Hurd, c 3 0 1 1

Sweeney, cf 3 0 0 0 Saunders, pr 0 0 0

Lee, ss 2 0 0 0 K. Sullivan, 1b 2 1 0

Barbour, p 2 0 1 0 Breidt, ph 1 0 0

Hunt, c 1 0 0 0 Winters, 3b 3 0 0

Ja. O’Jala, c 1 0 0 0 A. Sullivan, ss 3 1

Olson, rf 2 0 0 0 K.A. Allen (jr.), cf 2 0

Dodge, ph 1 0 1 0 Lenor, rf 1 0 1

Totals 23 0 3 0 Totals 21 3 6 3

Medomak Valley 000 000 0 – 0

Bucksport 011 100 x – 3

E-none; LOB-Medomak 2, Bucksport 4; 2B-A. Sullivan 2; DP-Barbour-Baker; Lenor-Winters, Adams-K. Sullivan; S-Allen (jr.), Adams; Bradstreet; SF-Lenor

Medomak Valley IP H R ER BB SO

Barbour (L, 11-7) 6 6 3 3 2 2

Bucksport IP H R ER BB SO

Hall (W, 11-0) 7 3 0 0 1 7

WP-Barbour 2, Hall; PB-Hurd; T-55 min.; ATT-100 (est.)