GREAT START — The Raider softball team is off to a good start at 2-0 with the help of sophomore pitcher Nicole Bennett, who knocked two home runs in a win over Traip Academy and kept Poland's bats quiet in a 2-1 victory. (Rivet Photo)

SOFTBALL

Raiders 23, Traip Academy 0: Nicole Bennett rocketed two home runs to spark a 17-hit attack as the Raiders blanked Traip in a game called after 4½ innings at Fryeburg last Friday.

Bennett hurled a no-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk. She was also 4-for-4 with four RBI.

Kristen Chipman was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI, while Makayla Cooper was 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three RBI. Julia Quinn was 1-for-4 with four RBI.

FA scored five runs in the first highlighted by a triple by Chipman, which sailed over the rightfielder’s head out to the fence, and RBI singles by Bennett and Cooper along with a sacrifice fly by Quinn.

The Raiders added five more runs in the second inning on a solo homerun by Bennett, and a two-run single by Lexi L’Heureux-Carland.

The Raiders plated seven runs in the third with Bennett’s second blast accounting for two runs. Mackenzie Buzzell knocked a two-run RBI double.

The Raiders closed the game out with six runs in the fourth highlighted by Makayla Cooper’s two-run single and Julia Quinn’s two- run double.

Raiders 2, Poland 1: Monday’s trip to Poland was a good measuring stick for this young Raider team early in the season versus a veteran Knights squad led by senior pitcher Kylie Martin.

Fryeburg jumped out fast with Mackenzie Buzzell leading off with an infield hit. Kristen Chipman hit a hard grounder, but right at the shortstop for a fielder’s choice. Nicole Bennett then took a 0-2 changeup and drilled it in the left-centerfield gap for an RBI double plating Chipman.

Poland evened things up in the bottom of the second inning as Haley Whitworth reached on an infield hit and advanced to second by a throwing error. With two outs and the Raiders looking to escape, another throwing error allowed Whitworth to score and even it up 1-1.

Martin then shut down Fryeburg over the middle frames, allowing just two hits and striking out nine in that span.

Bennett was as effective and was cruising until the bottom of the fifth when Poland started the inning with back-to-back hits, resulting in a first and second with no outs. Bennett got the next three to hit into three groundouts to end the threat.

Coach Apt then challenged his team to make some adjustments at the plate, and Amanda Gillette started off the seventh inning with a low line drive to center for a hit. After a fielder’s choice by Faith Pelkie, and then another by Julia Quinn, the Raiders used their speed. Quinn stole second and set the stage for Mackenzie Buzzell, who laced a line drive hit straight to center. Coach Apt wasted no time sending Quinn around to score to put the Raiders up 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, Poland went quietly as Pelkie made a nice defensive play at third to start the inning, and then Bennett retired the final two batters on strikeouts to end the game.

For Fryeburg (2-0), Buzzell was 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Chipman was 3-for-4.

Bennett gave up four hits, walked one and struck out three.

Coach Apt told the team after the game that they “battled” today. “We willed our way to a win,” he said.

The coach knows the Raiders are a young team, but very athletic. “Learning the game and understanding situations has been a work in progress, but I am very excited and encouraged by the work ethic and excitement the girls show in practice every day,” he said.

Next: The Raiders travel to Yarmouth on Friday, host Falmouth on Monday and go to York on Wednesday. All games are at 4 p.m.

BASEBALL

Poland 6, Raiders 3: Fryeburg Academy (0-2) jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a double with the bases loaded by junior Nick L’Heureux-Carland, but was unable to maintain the lead, committing four errors and giving up four unearned runs.

Sophomore Keegan Jones pitched five innings, struggling at times with not his best stuff, but continued to compete and throw strikes, FA Coach Gregg Corbin said.

Senior Brandon Ludwig had two hits including a double, and hit the ball hard in all four of his at bats.

TRACK & FIELD

Last Wednesday, the Raiders joined 11 other schools at the South Portland High School Red Riot Invitational.

“We only had 15 athletes, as it was school vacation. However, these 15 all performed at the highest standards against primarily Class A competition,” Coach Kevin McDonald said.

On the girls’ side, Skye Collins finished fourth in the 100m and sixth in the 200m out of 44 girls. Following Skye was freshman Olivia Pelkie, who finished 12th in both races.

Kara Holtgrefe and Mackenzie Herlihy both threw the javelin, shot put and discus.

“We look for both these young ladies to be factors throughout the season,” the coach said.

The performance of the meet on the girls’ side belonged to Colleen Bullard. Only a freshman, Colleen threw the shot 27-feet, 7-inches for a 4-foot improvement and a fourth place finish overall out of a field of 34, mostly Class A throwers.

“A fantastic day for Colleen. We look for Colleen to be on the bus to the State Meet as she almost met the standard in her first meet,” Coach McDonald said. “Coach Cummings is doing a great job with all the throwers and the results are showing.”

On the boys’ side, Spencer Thomas and Max Hummer competed in the dash events and both ran well. Gage Fowler threw the javelin and had a great meet, improving with every throw.

“Gage has taken to this event and we look for steady improvement throughout the season,” the coach said. “Gage also ran the 300 hurdles and may be a factor in this event, as well.”

Liuke Yang opened his season in the long jump, finishing ninth out of 47 jumpers.

Christian Bedell ran very well in both the mile (eighth place) and the 800m (fourth).

The performance of the meet on the boys’ side belonged to Ryan Hewes. Only a freshman, Ryan finished 10th in both the mile and the 800m. There were 36 athletes in the 800m and Ryan came home 10th.

“Outstanding performance by this young man. Where Ryan goes with his talent, we will have to wait and see. I will say this athlete could go very, very far,” Coach McDonald said. “Coach Miller is working with this mid-distance, distance group and results are showing early. She has a few athletes on the injured list, but when they come back, look for great results. If this team pulls together, great things are possible. Will that happen, we shall see. For now, the future looks very bright.”

Next: The Raiders hit the road to compete against Wells, Falmouth, North Yarmouth Academy and Kennebunk this Friday at 3:30 p.m.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

Freeport 11, Raiders 10: After trailing early, 5-1, the Raiders took a 8-7 lead with 53 seconds left in the third quarter on a goal by Corey Thibodeau, assisted by Jeremiah Scharder.

But, Freeport tied the contest twice in the fourth quarter, including a goal with 3:28 left in regulation to force overtime. Senior Sam Wogan tallied his fourth goal of the game in the third overtime session to lift the Falcons past the Raiders (0-2).

Wogan took the ball at midfield, dodged a couple of Raider defenders, and beat the FA goalie high for the game winner.

Ryan Caracciolo put the Raiders on the scoreboard in the first on a goal at 7:33, assisted by Thibodeau. Fryeburg carried play in the second quarter as Thibodeau netted two goals, assists to AJ Worcester and Schrader.

Trailing 6-3 after two frames, the Raiders battled back to take an 8-7 lead on goals by Schrader (two, assisted by Thibodeau), Owen Feider-Sullivan (assist to Caracciolo), Thibodeau (assist to Schrader) and Caracciolo (assist by Huxley Lovering).

Raider goals in the fourth were scored by: 9:57, Marcus Schneider; 4:24, Caracciolo (assist by Thibodeau).

Freeport outshot the Raiders 31-25. Raider goalie Malik Mobley recorded 20 saves.

Kennebunk 12, Raiders 5: Fryeburg fell behind 5-1 in the first quarter, and were unable to catch the Rams, who lead 7-3, 10-4 en route to the season opener victory.

Kennebunk held a 29-18 shot advantage as Raider goalie Malik Mobley made 17 saves.

Corey Thibodeau led the Raider attack with two goals, while Ryan Caracciolo and Joe Schrader each had a goal and an assist. Isaac Wakefield netted a goal, and AJ Worcester collected two assists.

Next: The Raiders travel to Waynflete on Friday and then host Falmouth on Tuesday. Both games start at 4 p.m.