Eight seed Caribou upset number one seed Medomak Valley softball 1-0 on June 9, to eliminate them from the East Class B playoffs. Viking pitcher Emily Staples struck out 16 Panther batters (1B, 4H) for the win.
Medomak pitcher Desiree Benner pitched well enough to win (1B, 2K, 1H), but was not supported at the plate. Twice Medomak had runners on third, but were unable to find a way to bring them home. The Panthers left five runners on base in the 1-0 loss.
Kasey Benner singled in the 1st and was left hanging. Vanessa Davis beat out an infield single in the 3rd, and stole second, but advanced no further. Medomak had runners on second and third in the 4th, when K. Benner singled, Lindsay Ranquist walked and both moved over on an Alanna Vose sacrifice bunt. Staples struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam. Ranquist hit a two out triple in the 6th, but once again, the Panthers were unable to come through with their bats.
Medomak played sterling defense for the first four innings. Infielders made nine of 12 putouts in the first four innings.
Caribou scored the game’s only run in the top of the 5th inning. With two outs, Sare’ Damboise reached on an outfield error. K. Benner attempted to pick her off at first base on a throw to Ericka Christensen, but Damboise was called safe on a close play. Rebecca McDougall made Medomak pay with an RBI double. An infield error put Staples on base, but K. Benner picked her off at second.
Hitting for Medomak were K. Benner with 2 singles, Ranquist a triple and Davis a single. McDougall had the only hit for Caribou.
