ORONO, Maine — Two of the best pitchers in the region hooked up in a masterpiece on Monday afternoon when Bucksport High junior Natalie Simpson squared off against Orono High sophomore Jillian Severance.
The Bucks finally emerged with a 1-0 win in eight innings when Bucksport junior catcher Jetta Shook fought off six two-strike pitches in an epic 11-pitch at-bat to deliver Lexi Raymond from third with a sharp ground ball single to left.
Defending Class C North champ Bucksport improved to 7-1 with its seventh straight win while Orono fell to 5-2 after having its five-game winning streak snapped.
Orono’s other loss was also to Bucksport, 6-2 on April 19.
Simpson finished with a five-hitter. She struck out 18 and walked just one. She threw 89 strikes among her 111 pitches, which amounts to an 80.2 percent strike rate.
Severance allowed six hits and struck out 11 while also walking only one. Ninety-one of her 133 pitches were strikes for a 68.4 percent strike rate.
“It was a heckuva game. Both pitchers did a phenomenal job,” said Orono coach Kristen Espling.
“It was a great battle. Severance was a machine for Orono today and Simpson was equally as impressive,” said Bucksport jayvee coach and varsity assistant Rich Rotella who, along with fellow assistant Corey Bires, was filling in for head coach Mike Carrier.
Carrier missed the game for personal reasons.
Sophomore Raymond started the eighth inning rally by fouling off three two-strike pitches before hitting a little pop-up behind third that glanced off the glove of the shortstop and fell into foul territory for what turned out to be a double as Raymond aggressively raced to second.
Raymond went to third on a passed ball and scored when Shook ripped her single to left.
“That felt so good. Finally!” said a relieved and smiling Shook, who fouled off four 0-2 pitches and two 1-2 deliveries. “It was so stressful. I just wanted to get her home. I’m glad I did.”
Orono’s Sophia Pitt drilled a single to center to open the bottom of the eighth but Simpson registered a strikeout and got the final two outs on pop-ups to the infield.
Simpson said she felt “pretty good” about her outing.
“It was a combination of using a lot of rise balls and throwing a lot of inside pitches because that’s what the umpire was calling,” said Simpson. “You’ve got to hit that zone.”
Simpson said she was impressed with Severance.
“She was amazing. I can’t wait to play her more,” said Simpson, who had recorded 11 consecutive outs via the strikeout until the final two pop-ups.
Both pitchers pitched out of jams in the sixth inning.
Shook grounded a double down the left field line and Lily Chiavelli walked to open the sixth for the Bucks.
But Severance got two strikeouts and a pop-up to pitch her way out of it.
In the bottom of the sixth, Emma LaBelle hit a sharp single to center and Severance rifled a one-out single to left to put runners on first and second.
But Simpson struck out the next two hitters.
Raymond had two doubles to pace the Bucks and Shook had a pair of singles. Sam Cyr and Simpson had the other hits, both singles.
Pitt had two singles for Orono. LaBelle, Severance and Audra Brooks each had one base hit.
Bucksport played errorless ball and Orono had two miscues.
Orono will travel to take on Houlton on Wednesday at 4:30 while Bucksport will play again on Friday at 4:30 when it travels to Bar Harbor to take on Class B Mount Desert Island.
