Wiscasset High School Sports

Seniors sent off in exciting fashion

Fri, 06/05/2015 - 8:45am

The Wiscasset High School class of 2015 didn't go out quietly.

Playing for the either the last time ever or the last time this season, the Wiscasset High School girls softball team and boys baseball teams played Oak Hill on Thursday, June 4 on senior appreciation day.

While the softball team fell to Oak Hill, 22-0, in five innings, the boys baseball team, which will likely play again in the playoffs, lost a dramatic game that took extra innings to play.

The two teams played a 1-1 nail biter for four innings, until Oak Hill was able to bust out and score two runs in the fifth inning. Oak Hill southpaw Matt Arnold was able to keep Wiscasset off balance for most of the afternoon.

With Oak Hill leading 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, senior Matt Craig was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.

Junior Daren Wood reached on an Oak Hill error, and both moved up a base on a passed ball. Sophomore Conlon Ranta then spanked a line drive up the first base line that rattled around in the outfield, and both Wood and Craig would race home to tie the game at 3.

Oak Hill would wriggle out of a jam, however, and prevent a Wiscasset walk-off. In the top of the eighth, Oak Hill would win the game on a controversial call.

After an Oak Hill batter was hit by a pitch, a runner took out Wood at first as the Oak Hill runner was able to make it around the bases. Several fans in attendance yelled that it was interference, but the run counted, and it gave Oak Hill the 4-3 win.

But seniors Craig and Tyler Flavin will likely play another game in the red and black. Wiscasset finished the year 5-11, which placed them seventh among eight Western Class D playoff teams. Local rival Richmond (13-3) finished in first place while 2014 opponent Buckfield was second with an 11-5 record.

For Oak Hill, the win likely wasn't enough to propel the Raiders into the playoffs — they finished 11th, with the 10th and final playoff spot belonging to Gray-New Gloucester.

As of Thursday, June 4, Gray-New Gloucester possessed 39.64 Heal points, which determine the playoff bracket, while Oak Hill finished with 38.7.

The first round of the playoffs is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9 with the quarterfinals game on Thursday, June 11.

For the softball team, the 22-0 loss was bittersweet, as it was also the last game for seniors Kayla Gordon (who tried her hand at pitching in the fifth inning), Tylan Onorato (who caught Gordon) and Charlene Reed. All three seniors and their parents were honored following the game.

The Wolverines are unlikely to make the playoffs as they finished 10th in Western Class D. Like the boys, it was local rival Richmond who took the top spot, as the Wildcats finished with a spotless 15-0 record. The softball playoffs begin Tuesday, June 9.