OLD TOWN, Maine — Old Town senior pitcher Rachel Martin pitched a three-hit shutout and senior Kayla Madden hit a two-run home run to help the Coyotes cruise by rival Orono 22-0 in five innings Monday in high school softball action.
The Coyotes (3-0) batted around in the first inning to score 10 runs on nine hits, then scored nine in the second to put the game away for good.
Old Town head coach Jenn Plourde was happy with the team’s effort considering they had played seven games in Florida over a six-day trip last week.
“We didn’t hit nearly as well as I thought we could in our opener,” said Plourde. “Today, we hit very well. We had some nice line drives.”
Martin struck out 12 Red Riots on her way to picking up her first win of the season. Martin, the reigning Penobscot Valley Conference player and pitcher of the year, was in complete control the entire game and didn’t let a base runner reach third base until the fifth inning. She also went 3 for 4 with two triples and a double while driving in two runs.
After striking out the first three batters of the game, Martin drove in the game’s first run in the bottom of the first, hitting a triple to send Brittany Cousins across home plate. The Coyotes would then collect five straight hits to extend their lead to 10-0 by the end of the first.
They continued their onslaught in the second inning, highlighted by Madden’s home run, which put Old Town up 17-0.
“We wanted to work on our hitting,” said Plourde. “When we got up big, we practiced on things we don’t necessarily work on in practice.”
The top of the order for Old Town did most of its damage as leadoff hitter Brittany Cousins finished 4 for 4, driving in three runs. Madden finished the game going 3 for 3, including RBIs.
Despite the loss, Orono head coach Kristen Espling was pleased with the Riots’ effort in their first game of the season.
“We have a lot of youth but Old Town is very talented. I’m looking forward to the rest of our season,” she said. “We play Old Town again in the last two weeks of the season so I’m excited for that.”
Orono’s first hit of the game came in the top of the second from right fielder Mollie Burr. However, she was picked off at first by catcher Michaela Milton to end the Riots’ chance of a rally.
The Riots picked up two singles in the bottom of the fifth from third baseman Katie Walker and first baseman Ally Jones, but failed to score as second baseman Lizzie White popped out to third base to end the game.
Old Town has a quick turnaround as it heads to Foxcroft Academy on Tuesday, while Orono will look to get its first win of the season when it hosts George Stevens Academy on Wednesday.