PARIS — Oxford Hills catcher Kaydence Morse’s first-inning three-run home run stunned Camden Hills and set the tone for the remainder of Friday’s Class A North softball quarterfinal.
The third-seeded Vikings kept on coming against 11th-seeded Camden Hills and eventually made off with a 10-2 victory in front of packed crowd of schoolmates and fans behind Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.
The Vikings (14-3) move on to face second-ranked Skowhegan (15-2) — a 13-1 winner over No. 7 Brewer in five innings on Friday — in the semifinals on Saturday.
“I liked how Kaydence came right out in the first inning,” Oxford Hills coach Cindy Goddard said. “We got people on, and she hit a powerful home run, which kind of starts it all.
“Obviously, it was nice having all these fans here, especially considering (the players) didn’t to get to go on their class trip (which was today). It kind of made it a fun atmosphere for them. It was just fun to get out play and be in a happy atmosphere.”
Morse, who finished with two hits, said once the entire team started making things happen on offense and defense, it all came together for the Vikings.
“I think we did pretty good,” she said. “We just have a connection that get’s us through the game.”
Morse’s mighty swing to left field brought home Gigi DeVivo and Trinity Bernard, who each got with a single, and provided the Vikings with a 3-0 advantage.
Oxford Hills continued to nibble away at the Windjammers (4-14), who tried to hold their ground. The Vikes picked up two more runs in the second inning thanks to RBI singles from Bernard and Morse.
The Vikings added to their lead with a three-run third inning that came to fruition with the help from Devivo’s RBI double and a Makenna Pomerleau’s single.
Sophomore Tristen Derenburger, who batted for Pomerleau, belted a solo homer in fifth, and Bernard converted her double into a run on a throwing error in the sixth inning.
Camden Hills got its two runs in the fourth inning with the help of a Lillia Stone hit and an Oxford Hills error.
Winning pitcher Maddy Miller gave up five hits, but she kept the Windjammers at bay, with support from Oxford Hills’ defense. The Vikes had 16 hits for the day.
“I am very impressed with idea that we were in it the entire game,” Camden Hills coach Rowena Motilewski said. “We didn’t give up. Things right there got a little dicey from the start, but we didn’t hang our heads and gave them a competitive game.”
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