Dexter bats explode in 16-4 victory over Bangor Christian

Kristen Roemmich of Bangor Christian gets ready to deliver a pitch against Dexter on Friday afternoon. Dexter defeated Bangor Christian by a score of 16-4. Photo by Terry Robichaud/Moments n life photography

Dexter-- Most teams would be happy with winning four games in one week. The Dexter Tigers not only won four games in five days, they also outscored their opponents 69-13 during that stretch.

The Tigers finished the very impressive week by putting up 15 hits in a 16-4 victory over the Bangor Christian Patriots. Coach Galen Chapman knows his Tigers will be tough to beat if they continue to hit like they did in the past week.

"We have talented kids with the bats," Chapman said. "We hit like that we are going to go a long ways. I am very pleased. We have a well rounded team. We have kids on the bench that can come in and hit. This is one of the better teams I have had in 11 years."

The Patriots jumped out to a 2-0 lead during the top of the first inning. Ashley Levasseur and Gabby Melcher started the game by reaching base. Both came around to score.

The Patriots lead did not last long. Kirstie Mower led off for the Tigers and hit a single to right field. Libby Kain followed with a single to center. Maicee Gustin drew a walk to load the bases. Eva Wing hit a single that scored Mower. Lauren Crane drilled a two run double. Crane finished with three doubles and five RBI. Crane credits the rejuvenated Tiger offense to good practice and some new bats.

"I just think we really hit the ball well," Crane said. "We practiced a lot. I know our offense was not hitting like we wanted it to be at the beginning of the season. We just worked really hard at practice. Some people tried some new bats and that seemed to work well."

The Tigers scored five more runs in the second inning. Crane highlighted the inning with a run scoring double. Other highlights in the inning included, Devyn Bell hit a single that scored two runs, Maicee Gustin hit a double and Kain hit an RBI single. Kain has been doing the job on the mound all season for the Tigers. Now her and her teammates have confidence in all aspects of the game.

"I think a lot of us have more confidence and that is helping us out a lot," Kain said. "We are getting more into the season and I think it is going to get even better."

Kain was doing her thing on the mound. She held the Patriots scoreless in the second and third innings while the Tigers were building a big lead. Kain and her catcher, Harley Ponte may only be sophomores but they work together like seniors. Ponte was not the only one with a mask on that thought Kain was throwing well on Friday afternoon.

"Today she (Kain) only threw two pitches. It was her fastball and change up," Ponte said. "She was throwing pretty good. The ump even made a comment and said, she was throwing really well."

The Tigers put up some very impressive numbers against a pitcher (Kristen Roemmich) and a team (Bangor Christan) that they only beat 5-1 just seven days earlier.

Dexter got production from one through nine in the lineup. Crane and Wing had three hits each. Devyn Bell had two hits and three RBI. Wing scored three runs and had two RBI. Kirstie Mower and Kain had two hits each at the top of the order. Gustin scored four runs. Ponte had a single and one RBI from the number nine spot.

"Coach knows how to line us up very well," Ponte said. "We do not have one weak person on the team. We are 9-0, we have one team that we haven't faced, which is Orono. That is scary in one way but we can't look past them."

Kain was very efficient on the mound. She gave up two earned runs, six hits and one walk. Kain only struck out one. Kain knows she has a solid defense behind her so a low strikeout game is not a concern.

"It was kind of a short game. Usually when you play short games their is not a lot of time to get many strikeouts," Kain said. "I have a really great defense and I trust them. I do not need to get any strikeouts."

Dexter (9-0) will next play at Penquis on Monday, May 16th. They will follow that up with back to back games against Orono. Currently the Tigers are number one in the class C heal point standings with Orono right behind them. Coach Chapman and the Tigers know that the Red Riots will be a big test.

"We haven't seen Orono," Chapman said. "They will be a good test for us as will Central and Guilford. Just because we beat a team once it will be even harder to beat that team the second time."

Kain added, "We are going to take it one game at a time. We are not going to look past Orono. We are going to bring it."

Bangor Christian (3-5) will get right back on the field on Saturday when they host Searsport. First pitch is schedule for 1 PM.