WALDOBORO — Matt Rousselle pitched a three-hitter to lead Biddeford to a 5-0 victory against Hall-Dale in the championship game of the Little League baseball state tournament for 11- and 12 year-olds Thursday at Clyde Sukeforth Memorial Field.
A Biddeford team won the state title for the first time since East Biddeford did it in 2004. Two years ago, East Biddeford merged with Biddeford.
Biddeford advanced to play in the New England tournament Aug. 10-16 in Bristol, Connecticut.
Rousselle, who struck out six and hit a batter, allowed only three balls to be hit out of the infield in the six-inning game.
“We could hit him,” Hall-Dale Coach Ben Lucas said. “We just couldn’t hit him clean. Most of the kids got the bat on it but the (pitch) moved so well that it was in the infield.”
Rousselle retired the last 10 batters to face him.
“I was hitting my spots,” he said. “My off-speed pitches were working well and that was about it.”
In Saturday’s tournament opener, Rousselle, a right-hander, collaborated with Brady Wildes on a three-hitter during a 13-1 win against Bangor West in a game halted at the end of the fourth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule.
“He has command of three pitches,” Biddeford Manager Josh Edgerton said. “We can locate with him wherever we want. Usually when he makes a mistake, it’s not detrimental to the team.”
Biddeford scored its first run in the bottom of the second. Scott Kelly, the leadoff batter, bounced a single up the middle. After moving to third on two wild pitches, he scored when Cody Albert slammed a two-out, opposite-field ground-rule double to right.
Biddeford scored two runs in the third to open up a 3-0 lead. Rousselle led off with a single and Curtis Edgerton followed with a walk. Tommy Gonneville bounced a single through the left side for one run. After Kelly reached on an infield error to load the bases, Edgerton scored on a wild pitch.
Biddeford scored its last two runs in the fifth. With one out, Gonneville singled to right for his second hit and pinch-hitter Alec Descoteaux reached on a bunt single. One run scored when Kelly’s fly to deep right was dropped. A passed ball produced the final run of the game.
Biddeford outscored its first three opponents in the six-team tournament, 36-10.
“I thought our players (did) a great job against the best team in the state,” Lucas said. “We stayed with them for six innings and only gave up five runs.”
Achira Warren, Drake Bickford and Nick Leighton singled for Hall-Dale, made up of players from Hallowell and Farmingdale.
Rousselle hit a double and a single as the leadoff hitter for Biddeford.
“He’s just a phenomenal player,” Edgerton said. “He’s worked on his game since I had him in kids’ travel baseball when he was 9 years old. He’s progressed, and has gotten better and better.”
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