OLD TOWN, Maine — At times, the Old Town High School softball team has resembled a MASH unit this spring. But, fortunately for coach Lester Cowan, he has plenty of depth to go around.
And when junior shortstop Whitney Leland was a late scratch for Tuesday’s Eastern Maine Class B preliminary clash with John Bapst of Bangor, sophomore McKayla Gastia stepped right in.
Gastia and her teammates played solidly behind junior pitcher Hannah Morin, who tossed a two-hitter, and the fifth-ranked Coyotes punched their ticket to the quarterfinals with a 6-0 win over the 12th-seeded Crusaders at the high school field.
Old Town (12-5) takes on Bucksport on Thursday afternoon at 4:30 while Bapst completes its season 5-12.
The Coyotes split with the Golden Bucks on the regular season with each winning at home.
Old Town jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, taking the Crusaders out of their small-ball game.
Sarah Wilcox plated Micayla Hussey, who led off with a walk, with a groundout while Amy Singer knocked in the first of her two runs with a sharp single to left.
“We were very on today, we came out and focused and we were ready to go,” said Singer, who was the Coyotes’ offensive leader with three singles.
After Morin plated OT’s third run with a deep double to center in the third, Singer legged out an infield single to drive in her second run on the afternoon.
“Oh jeez, I was running for my life on that one,” she admitted. “Our hitting seems to be contagious.”
Old Town collected single runs on the fourth and fifth, with Hussey driving one in on a groundout to shortstop in the fourth and Wilcox scoring on a passed ball one inning later.
Morin pitched a very effective game for the Coyotes as she allowed just two singles and struck out six while walking four.
Her mates made just two errors and Gastia handled all three balls hit to her including a nice running catch on a sinking liner to end the top of the first.
“McKayla stepped right in and did exactly what I asked her to do,” Cowan said. “It’s been like that all year, with all the injuries and everybody being away.”
Knowing that the Class B tournament is certainly up for grabs, the Coyotes had to bring their A-game.
“We love our seniors, with this potentially being our last game we just gave it our all and came out on top,” said Singer.
Despite chilly, raw conditions and a few showers early in the game, the elements didn’t seem to bother either team.
“We’re strong, we fight through anything,” Singer said.
Laura Jordan and Dayna Detour did a fine job themselves in the circle for a young Crusader team which only graduates three seniors.
The two limited Old Town to five hits on the day.
“I think we have to be pleased. We’re fairly young in some positions, they worked pretty hard and we had some good wins,” said John Bapst coach Shannon Whiting. “It’s a [good] foundation for years to come.”
Tori Mason and Riley Boyle stroked fourth-inning singles for the Crusaders.
