Ashey helps Vikings pillage Patriots

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SEARSPORT – Its status as reigning Class C state champion is wearing quite well on the Searsport District High School baseball team.

The Vikings have merely picked up where they left off at the end of last spring’s run to the program’s first state crown since 1975, stretching their winning streak to five games with a 12-2 six-inning victory over Bangor Christian on Thursday.

In some areas the team is improved – most noticeably on offense where Searsport now boasts a batting average more than 60 points higher than the collective .288 the Vikings hit a year ago.

“We’re a little sloppy on the defensive side, and we need to correct that for when we get to the big games,” said junior catcher Casey Ashey, “but our hitting’s a lot better than last year. We’re hitting for a better average, and we have kids coming up big when the game counts.”

Searsport (6-1) pounded out 12 hits against Class D Bangor Christian, nine during the first three innings as the Vikings displayed the confidence they have acquired as champions and built a 10-0 lead.

“There’s no question these guys have a little swagger to them,” said Searsport coach Dave Pepin. “I tell them there’s a fine line between being cocky and confident, but they’re not cocky. We don’t show people up. We play hard and the right way, and if they do get behind they don’t quit. They’re a very confident group.”

Ashey had three hits, including one of the Vikings’ five doubles, while classmate Nate Adams drove in three runs, two with a double down the left-field line that highlighted a five-run first inning.

Nine different Searsport players had at least one hit. Josh Pederick added a double and a single while leadoff hitter Caleb Ashey scored three runs and hit an RBI double and cleanup hitter Josh Nickerson contributed an RBI double and two runs scored.

Casey Ashey, making his first pitching start, also earned the win by allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings before giving way to Adams and junior righthander Tom Cameron.

“We’ve gotten off to a really good start,” said Adams. “The last two games have been [won] by 10 runs, but we’ve also been competing with our rivals. We’re playing really good baseball right now. We’re really hitting the ball well.”

Searsport also has fielded the ball well, committing just 10 errors in seven games heading into Saturday night’s key doubleheader against once-beaten Central of Corinth. That twinbill is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor.

“We’re even above and beyond what I thought we might be right now,” said Pepin. “I figured 5-2 right now might be decent, because we opened up against Deer Isle-Stonington and Bucksport and GSA, and they’re probably three teams that are right at the top of their divisions. Now we’ve got a big doubleheader coming up against Central, and if we can do well there we should be in good shape points-wise.”

Bangor Christian scored both of its runs without a hit in the fourth, capitalizing on four walks and a hit batter.

The Patriots (4-6) got a solid relief effort from righthander Brett Bradford, who allowed no earned runs over 3 1/3 innings.

Phil Dougherty and Jeremy Leong had Bangor Christian’s lone hits, both singles.

VIKINGS 12, PATRIOTS 2

Bangor Christian (4-6) Searsport (6-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Dougherty, ss 4 0 1 0 Cal. Ashey, ss 4 1

Johnson, cf 3 0 0 0 Cas. Ashey, p-c 5 2 1

Theriault, p-3b 2 1 0 0 Cameron, 2b-1b-p 1

Durkee, 1b 3 0 0 0 Nickerson, 3b 2 2 1

Potter, 2b 2 1 0 0 Beeton, 3b 2 0 1

Smith, lf 0 0 0 0 Bagley, 1b 1 0 0

Fowler, lf 0 0 0 0 Brassbridge, lf 2 0 0

Leong, c 3 0 1 0 Adams, c-p-1b 3 1 3

Bradford, 3b-p 1 0 0 1 McHatten, lf 2 1

Washburn, rf 2 0 0 1 Brazier, 2b 2 0 0

Vicnaire, rf 0 0 0 0 Pederick, rf 4 2 0

Ritchie, cf 1 1 1 0

Totals 20 2 2 2 Totals 31 12 12 9

Bangor Christian 000 200 – 2

Searsport 523 002 – 12

E-Dougherty 4; Cameron, Beeton; LOB-Bangor Christian 8, Searsport 10; 2B-Cal. Ashey, Cas. Ashey, Nickerson, Adams, Pederick; DP-Searsport; SF-Adams; SB-Cal. Ashey, Nickerson, Bagley, Ritchie

Bangor Christian IP H R ER BB SO

Theriault (L, 1-3) 2 1/3 8 10 8 3 1

Bradford 3 1/3 4 2 0 2 2

Searsport IP H R ER BB SO

Cas. Ashey (W, 1-0) 3 1 0 0 1 3

Adams 1 0 2 2 4 2

Cameron 2 2 0 0 1 2

Two outs in 6th when game ended

HBP-Washburn (by Adams), Bradford (by Cameron); Cameron (by Theriault); WP-Theriault; Adams; T-2:12; ATT-75 (est.)