Mascenic knocks off undefeated Newport

NEWPORT- The Mascenic Vikings came to Newport Saturday looking to end the Tigers’ undefeated season. They accomplished that goal, beating Newport 10-0 and bouncing the Tigers from the postseason.

While in their last contest Newport was able to avoid disaster in the first inning, they had no such luck on Saturday. The Vikings would put runners on second and third with no outs, a sacrifice fly off the bat of Summer Bilodeau put her team ahead 1-0.

Sarah Hughson doubled home another run, before a bomb off the bat of Elizabeth Letters would make the score 4-0. “Those four runs in the first inning really put us on our heels,” said Tigers head coach Sam McNeel.

Newport would keep Mascenic off the board in the second, when Shortstop Hailey Perry snagged a line drive and made a heads up throw to first, doubling off the runner and ending the inning.

Mascenic would pull more ahead in the top of the third. Two consecutive singles would make it 6-0, before a fielder’s choice would give the Vikings a 7-0 lead.

On the mound for Mascenic, Mariah Labrie was tossing a gem. Labrie struck out the first 11 Tigers she faced, before a Kendall Hamilton groundout in the bottom of the fourth would end the streak. “She was a true buzzsaw,” said McNeel. “Her pitches were moving, the strong wind helped move the ball.”

In the top of the fifth, the Vikings would continue to pile on. An error and a single from Letters would make the score 9-0. Another error in the sixth would give Mascenic a 10-0 lead.

With the game out of reach, Newport looked to at least break up Labrie’s perfect game. They would do this in the sixth, as Libby Tremblay would step to the plate and line a pitch to right-center for a double. They would get another hit in the seventh from Hamilton, but failed to bring any runners across, losing their undefeated season in shutout fashion, 10-0.

Mascenic now moves on to the semifinals against seventh-seeded Belmont. The loss for Newport ends their season at 16-1.

Postgame, McNeel was was able to reflect on the season. “I am proud of the way this team held together. So many teams have drama, we had no drama at all and that was the key to our success.” He also praised the way his team gelled from the get go. “We had a group of freshman that clicked with the [older girls]. We had 17 girls on the field and they became friends.”