Having squandered an 8-4 lead in the top of the seventh inning, the Bucksport Golden Bucks rescued themselves with a walk-off single from junior Jason Terrill on Friday afternoon, defeating the Orono Red Riots 9-8.
The Class C North matchup was highly entertaining from the get-go, beginning with a two-run home run from Bucksport first baseman Gavyn Holyoke (2-for-2, three RBIs, three walks) in the first inning, which hit a parked car on Summer Street past the right field fence.
The fireworks continued from there, as Bucksport plated three more runs in the third, and Orono scored a combined seven runs in the fifth and seventh innings — a total of 21 hits, 12 walks, three hit batsmen and four errors were recorded on Friday afternoon.
“It was definitely a wild game,” Bucksport head coach Josh Jackson said. “Orono-Bucksport games are always fun to be a part of. The bats really got hot.”
In the top of the seventh, Bucksport senior Gunther Cyr misplayed a ground ball to short, allowing the two tying runs to cross the plate.
Flash forward to the bottom of the frame, Orono junior Noah Schaff retired the first two Bucksport batters he saw, before giving up a triple to sophomore left fielder Ryan Winchester (2-for-3, one walk, three runs scored; five innings pitched, four earned runs) and then intentionally loading the bases.
Terrill (3-for-5, one double, one RBI) proceeded to do the honors, driving Winchester home on the first pitch he saw, on a fly ball to left field.
“There’s a reason you play all seven innings,” Jackson said. “After Wednesday’s loss, the game was a great confidence booster.”
The Golden Bucks played a similarly thrilling game versus Ellsworth two days ago, giving up two runs in the top of the seventh and ultimately losing their home opener 2-1.
Friday was Orono’s season opener, and eight members of its starting lineup got on base at least once. Junior left fielder Logan Williams led all Red Riots with two hits (single, double, run scored), and sophomore first baseman Andrew Barrett had two RBIs (single, walk, run scored).
Next up, Bucksport (1-1) will host Foxcroft Academy at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Then Orono (0-1) will travel to play Foxcroft at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
