WALDOBORO — The Troy Howard and Medomak eighth grade softball teams squared off Tuesday, May 18 in Waldoboro for what turned out to be a thrilling back and forth game. 

In the end, however, the visiting Lions were able to edge out the host Riverhawks 6-5. 

At the plate for Medomak were Kytana Williamson (two singles, walk), Audrey Jackson (three singles, walk), Skylar Hills (single, walk), Abby Young (walk) and Lillian Harvey (hit by pitch). 

At the plate for Troy Howard were D. Gray (two singles), Tripp (two singles), Cortez (single) and Bennett (double). 

Williamson worked the pitcher’s circle for Medomak (12 strikeouts, three walks, six hits) while Mackey pitched for Troy Howard (16 strikeouts, four walks, hit by pitch, six hits).

Troy Howard jumped out to a two-run lead in the first inning that started when Gray reached first base on an error and stole her way around the bases before Tripp singled her home. Tripp, herself, then stole her away around the bases and scored. 

Williamson, in the bottom half of the frame, put Medomak on the board after stealing her way around the diamond and scoring. 

In the second inning, the visiting Lions were retired back to the dugout 1-2-3 before Williamson once again singled and stole her way around the diamond to knot the contest at 2-2. 

K. Luce scored Troy Howard’s third run after stealing her way around the bases, initially reaching base on a dropped third strike, to make it a 3-2 contest through a trio of innings. 

Medomak tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning, following a 1-2-3 top half of the inning, when Young reached base on a dropped third strike and then stole her way to third before being driven in on a Jackson single. Jackson stole her way to third, as well, before being driven on a single by Hills to put the host Riverhawks up 4-3. 

Both squads’ defenses recorded 1-2-3 frames in the fifth inning to keep it 4-3 in Medomak’s favor. 

Troy Howard tied the contest 4-4 in the sixth inning when Mackey, who was walked, stole second and was able to advance home thanks to a pair of Medomak errors. 

The host Riverhawks stole the lead back in the bottom half of the inning when Williamson walked and stole her away around the bases. 

In the seventh inning, Cortez and Luce were positioned on second and third base, after each stole a base, when they were driven in on a single by Tripp to take a 6-5 advantage. 

After fanning the three Medomak batters, Troy edged a 6-5 victory. 

“It was a great battle for both teams, both pitchers worked hard and it was a great day of softball by all,” said Medomak coach Andrea Williamson.