THOMASTON — The fourth-seed Oceanside (16-2) and fifth-seed Medomak Valley (15-3) softball teams have become well-acquainted with each other this season having split a pair of regular season showdowns already before meeting for a third time in the regional quarterfinals Thursday, June 8 in Thomaston. 

In the opening contest of the season, the Lady Panthers were able to pull off a 9-5 victory over the Lady Mariners in Thomaston before Oceanside evened the series by claiming a 3-2 win in Waldoboro. 

In a nail-biting contest on Thursday that went to extra innings, the Lady Mariners were able to squeak out a 2-1 victory in eight innings to extend their winning streak to 12.

Oceanside will host eighth-seed Ellsworth Saturday, June 10 in Thomaston for a regional semifinal showdown at 4:30 p.m. The two squads did not meet in the regular season. Ellsworth stunned top-seed Gardiner 6-2 in a regional quarterfinal contest. 

Medomak Valley opened the scoring by plating a run in the top of the first inning. Oceanside didn’t answer offensively until the bottom of the sixth when they made it a 1-1 affair. The game went into the eighth inning where Alexis Mazurek blasted a walk-off home run in the bottom half of the inning to end the game. 

“I was definitely surprised when they gave me something to hit in that situation; I was ready and just turned on it,” Mazurek said after the game. “The intensity is always here when we play Medomak, it’s always a great feeling to win, especially in the playoffs.” 

Mazurek also hit a walk-off home run May 24 against the Lady Panthers that resulted in a 3-2 Oceanside victory. 

The Oceanside softball team is comprised of Haylie Witham (senior; center field), Casey Benner (senior; second base), Lauren Hatch (senior; third base and center field), Abby Veilleux (sophomore; catcher), Casey Pine (junior; shortstop), Mazurek (senior; first base), Hannah Moholland (sophomore; right field), Raechel Joyce (sophomore; second base), Kalli Grover (sophomore; left field), Chloe Jones (sophomore; pitcher) and Morgan Heal (sophomore; third base and left field). The team’s head coach is Rusty Worcester, who is assisted by Rachel Campbell and Mike McGuire. 

The Medomak Valley softball team is comprised of Addie Jameson (sophomore; pitcher and right field), Madelyn White (sophomore; second base), Cassandra Smeltzer (sophomore; second base and shortstop), Cheyenne Nash (freshman; center field), Gabby DePatsy (junior; pitcher and right field), Aubrey Schaeffer (sophomore; center field), Abigail Nelson (junior; left field), Kaylan Donlin (freshman; catcher), Hallie Kunesh (junior; third base), Melayna Benner (sophomore; third base), Lydia Simmons (sophomore; first base), Emily Wotton (freshman; shortstop) and Sadie Cohen (freshman; shortstop). The team’s head coach is Richard Vannah, who is assisted by Lindsay Ranquist, Audra Carlson, Vanessa Davis and Kyle Santheson.

In the pitcher’s circle for Medomak Valley was DePatsy who went eight innings with four strikeouts and two walks. 

In the pitcher’s circle for Oceanside was Jones who went eight innings with a whopping 14 strikeouts and two walks. 

At the plate for Medomak Valley, Simmons and Kunesh each singled. 

At the plate for Oceanside, Mazurek had a single, home run and two RBIs, Veilleux had a single and double and Jones had two singles. 

Worcester noted that the game was an “[o]utstanding game today for Oceanside” and featured “[g]reat [p]itching and defense and timely hitting.” 

On Mazurek, Worcester noted the senior “has been carrying” the team this season and “has tied the Oceanside [single-season home run record] with [eight]. Her [walk-off home run] tonight was amazing.” Former Oceanside player Brooke Dugan also blasted eight homers in a single season once. 

On Jones, Worcester stated the sophomore “once again was dominate on the mound” and remarked how Jones and Mazurek “have been amazing all year long.” 

Worcester also stated Veilleux “has been outstanding on the year as well at the top of our line up” and called today’s outcome a “[g]reat team victory.” 

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.