FAIRFIELD – Portland second baseman Joe Apon didn’t think much of his team’s chances of winning two games in sweltering heat Saturday at the Babe Ruth baseball state tournament for 14-year-olds.
“I didn’t think we had any chance,” Apon said.
Not only was Apon wrong, but he had a lot to do with Portland’s two victories against Central Maine, going 6 for 8 in the doubleheader.
Portland won the first game 11-6 with a six-run seventh inning. That forced a final game, and again Portland rallied late, scoring five in the sixth for a 9-4 victory.
Portland advanced to the New England Regional, scheduled for July 29 through Aug. 3 in Westfield, Mass.
Central Maine knocked off Portland 7-4 on Friday, taking advantage of five errors. Saturday, Central Maine committed seven errors in the first game and three in the second. Portland totaled one error in the two games.
Pat Ball of Portland pitched a complete-game victory in the opener despite giving up four runs in the first inning.
“That’s one thing you’ve got to love about Pat Ball,” Portland Manager Ian Boyle said. “He digs down deep and guts it out.”
Apon and Dom DiMillo each singled twice and doubled in the first game.
In the second game, Portland led 4-1 after two innings, but Central Maine rallied for two in the third and another in the fourth. Travis Godbout started for Portland but gave way to Sam Luebbert in the fourth. Luebbert went the distance Friday.
“Sammy pitched (Friday), 104 pitches,” Boyle said. “He came up to me today and said ‘Coach, if you need me, I’ll be there.’ “
BABE RUTH 13-YEAR-OLD
CENTRAL MAINE 16, COASTAL SOUTH 2: Dan Pooler drove in three runs, and Ben Frazee added two hits and two RBI to lead Central Maine at the state tournament at Harrison.
AUBURN SUBURBAN 8, PORTLAND 5: Llewellyn Jensen struck out seven to earn the win and also had a pair of singles, and Kyle Romero hit two doubles as Auburn Suburban won an elimination game.
Dom Bernard tripled, and Chris Cooke added a single and a double for Portland.
COASTAL SOUTH 6, AUBURN SUBURBAN 2: Ethan Winglass hit a pair of singles and drove in three runs, and John Parker struck out six to lead Coastal South in an elimination game.
Coastal South will face Central Maine for the title at 3 p.m. today. If Coastal South wins, a second game would follow.
BABE RUTH 15-YEAR-OLD
APPLE VALLEY 8, WESTBROOK 1: Kyle Fletcher pitched a five-hitter and Brady Dion had three hits as Apple Valley advanced to the final of the state tournament at Westbrook.
Austin Blake drove in a run for Westbrook.
FRANKLIN COUNTY 7, MIDCOAST 6: Andrew Pratt had three hits and three RBI as Franklin County eliminated Midcoast at Westbrook.
FRANKLIN COUNTY 4, WESTBROOK 3: Andrew Pratt drove in the winning run in the seventh inning as Franklin County advanced to the final.
Derek Bouchard hit a two-run homer and Trey Arsenault added an RBI single for Westbrook.
JUNIOR LEGION
GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER 10, CUMBERLAND 2: Jimmy Alt, Adam Healey and Ethan Ridge each had a pair of hits and an RBI to help Gray-New Gloucester (9-9) defeat Cumberland (5-13) at Gray.
SEACOAST LAW & TITLE 11, LIBBY-MITCHELL 1: Cale Bollig struck out 10 in a one-hitter as Seacoast Law & Title (16-2) beat Libby-Mitchell (7-11) in five innings at Westbrook.
FAIRFIELD 6, FREEPORT MEDICAL 4: Isiah Fleming struck out 14 in a five-hitter and Alex Chesley hit a three-run double in the fourth inning as visiting Fairfield (13-5) held off Freeport (6-12).
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