Smith, Provost pitch Ponies to sweep at Caribou

Smith, Provost pitch Ponies to sweep at Caribou


Caribou, Maine - The Foxcroft Academy baseball team improved to 9-5 with 14-7 and 4-1 victories over the Caribou Vikings in Caribou on Saturday afternoon. The crisply-played doubleheader was completed in less time than it took the Ponies to get from Dover-Foxcroft to Caribou High School.

In the opener, Kaleb Smith celebrated his 17th birthday with his third victory on the mound. The lanky right-hander held the Vikings to seven hits and one earned run in six innings of work, lowering his ERA to 3.14. He struck out four and walked just one batter. Sophomore Colby Snell pitched the seventh and yielded one run. The Ponies fell behind 3-0 in the game but exploded for eight runs in the top of the third when nine straight batters reached to open the inning.

Jesse Provost was a model of efficiency in game two, limiting the Vikings to four hits, two walks, and one unearned run in a complete-game effort that required just 85 pitches. The junior improved to 2-2 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.15. The Ponies provided Provost with all the offense he would need in the opening two frames, plating three runs in the first and one in the second.

Shortstop Ryan Rebar led the way offensively for the Ponies, finishing 4-7 with 3 runs, 3 stolen bases, and an RBI. The junior now paces the Ponies with a .409 batting average and 13 stolen bases. Hunter Law continued his run of outstanding play, going 3-7 with 3 runs, 3 RBI, and a stolen base while once again playing Gold Glove caliber defense in left field. The sophomore has gone 8-16 over the past five games to raise his average to .324. Senior outfielder Matt Chapman went 3-4 , drove in two runs, and scored a run, upping his average to a season-high .318. Leadoff man Caleb Richard had two hits, three runs, an RBI, and a stolen base. The junior middle infielder is now hitting .383 and leads the team with 15 runs. Junior third baseman Forrest Law (two hits, two runs, SB), senior DH Shinsuke Mikame (two hits, two SB, run, RBI), junior center fielder Cameron Fadley (double, two runs, two RBI, SB), and junior ourfielder/second baseman Luke Olson (1-3) also contributed to the Ponies' 18-run attack. First basemen Provost (2-4, two runs, two SB) and Smith (1-3, run, SB) contributed with their bats and gloves as well as their arms.

Cody Coiley had two hits and two RBI and caught all 14 innings for the Ponies. The senior captain threw out 3 of 5 attempted base stealers and has now gunned down 12 runners while allowing just 21 opponents to steal bases in 14 games. (By contrast, Ponies' base stealers are now 65-77 on the year.) Coiley's outstanding work behind the plate helped the Ponies' pitching staff lower its season ERA to 1.96.

Photos by John You '13.