Last updated on May 18, 1998.
The Searsport Middle School softball team had a busy week, but that
didn’t deter them as they won all 4 of their games.
Their first victory was probably the most dramatic, as they hosted Troy
Howard Middle School of Belfast. Searsport took the early lead in the first inning
on an Erica Curtis sacrifice fly, which scored Brandi Nickerson. Lura Carroll
singled in 2 runs, then scored on a pair of Belfast errors. In the second, Nicole
Shute led off with a single, followed by a walk to Ashley Curtis, Brandi Nickerson
then singled in Shute, making it 5-1. Holly Gracie singled in Curtis, then Jessica
Larrabee singled in Nickerson, making the score 7-1.
Belfast scored single runs in the third and fourth, then Searsport
countered with 3 in the bottom of the fourth, thanks in part to a triple by Erica
Curtis and a home run by Carroll. The score was 10-3, Searsport.
Belfast came alive in the top of the fifth with 13 runs, due to 5 walks, 3
Searsport errors, and several key hits. Searsport pitcher Gracie was relieved by
Larrabee, who struck out a Belfast player to finish the fifth inning.
Things looked bleak for the Vikings, but they refused to give up. In the
bottom of the fifth, they scored two runs on a single by Nickerson, a walk to
Gracie and a single by Larrabee. Erica Curtis made the second out, and it
looked like Belfast would maintain the lead, but Searsport refused to quit.
Carroll singled, Lindsey Seekins doubled, Heather Hruby and Katrina Madore
singled, and Jessie Plourde walked, making the score 16-15 Belfast.
Still the Vikings kept up the pace. Nickerson doubled in 2 runs, then
Gracie tripled in 2 more runs. Larrabee then tripled in Gracie, and Erica Curtis
singled in Larrabee, before Belfast was able to record the final out of the fifth.
Searsport now led 21-16, as Larrabee retook the mound for the Vikings.
She struck out the first two Belfast batters, before walking the bases full. The
next Belfast batter then swung hard but the ball stopped dead in front of the
plate. Gracie, who had moved to catcher, grabbed the ball and stepped on the
plate to finish off the inning and the game. Larrabee picked up the win in relief,
in the first game she ever pitched.
Searsport played again the next day, beating Camden 21-3. Holly Gracie
pitched the complete game, allowing just 4 hits while striking out 9 batters.
Larrabee had 2 singles, a double and a home run, while driving in 5 batters.
Erica Curtis had 2 singles, a double and a triple, and Carroll added 4 singles.
Gracie had a single, double and home run, with 4 RBI. Nickerson and Shute
each added a single and a double. Plourde tripled.
Searsport defeated Lincolnville on Thursday, 18-7. Larrabee picked up
the win, pitching the first 3 innings, while striking out 5 batters. Gracie pitched
the last 3 innings, retiring all nine batters she faced, also striking out 5. The two
pitchers combined on a 2-hitter. Larrabee, Curtis, Shute and Madore each had 2
hits.
Finally, on Friday, the Vikings defeated Deer Isle/Stonington 22-4. Gracie
pitched the complete game, allowing just 5 hits, striking out 4. Curtis pounded
out 4 hits, and Lindsey Seekins added 3 more.
The Searsport Middle School softball team won their first two games of
the season in convincing style, defeating Appleton, 42-5, and Lincolnville, 26-0.
The Vikings were the Busline League runners-up last year, and are looking to
make it to the championship game once again.
In their first contest, Searsport pounded out 9 home runs en route to the
42-5 victory over Appleton. Brandi Nickerson led the Vikings with 2 home runs
and 3 triples, driving in 7 runs. Erica Curtis also drove in 7 runs, as she hit 2
singles, a double, a triple, and a home run. Sixth grader Lindsey Seekins picked
up 6 runs batted in, while smashing a home run, a triple, and a single. Jessica
Larrabee also drove in 6 runs, on 2 homers, a double and a single. Other
Vikings to hit home runs included Holly Gracie, Jessie Plourde, and Kristy
Raymond.
Lura Carroll smashed a triple and 3 singles. Nicole Shute added a triple
and 2 singles. Heather Hruby and Ashley Curtis each roped a triple and a
single. Lucienne Merrill had 2 singles. Katrina Madore, Jessica Carroll and
Jessica Wilson singled as well.
Holly Gracie picked up the complete game victory on the mound, while
striking out 3 Appleton batters.
The Vikings picked up another victory in Lincolnville, 26-0. Gracie (picture at right)
pitched the shut out, allowing just 4 hits, walking only 3, and striking out 7
batters. The six scoreless innings lowered her earned run average on the
season to 1.80.
At the plate, the Vikings pounded out 24 hits. Leading the way was Erica
Curtis with 3 singles, a double and a triple. Gracie added 4 singles, and Jessica
Larrabee blasted a triple and a pair of singles. Nicole Shute had a bases loaded
double to drive in 3 runs. Nickerson added 3 singles and Heather Hruby had 2
singles. Lura Carroll had a single and a triple. Other Viking batters to get hits
were Jessica Carroll, Kristy Raymond, Lindsey Seekins, and Katrina Madore.