BAR HARBOR – When Jared Brooks finished the game with a strikeout, the Scarborough Little League team knew what to do:

• Jump up in celebration on the infield.

Additional Photos

The banner says it all after Scarborough won the Litttle League state title as 12-year-olds, adding to state titles the players won as 10- and 11-year-olds. Photos by John Ewing/Staff Photographer

These Scarborough 12-year-old baseball players know how to celebrate, and they were doing it again Wednesday, mobbing pitcher Jared Brooks after beating Dirigo 12-1 to win the Little League state title.

Scarborough catcher Owen Garrard throws out a Dirigo runner at first base after dropping a third strike Wednesday. Scarborough won 12-1 and will represent Maine in the regionals.

• Pose for a picture behind the championship banner.

• Take a victory lap.

This group of Scarborough players has had practice. It won its third straight championship Wednesday, beating Dirigo 12-1 in the state final.

The game was shortened to five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. When Scarborough won the 10-year-old and 11-year-old titles, it was also by the mercy rule in the championship game.

“We wanted it super bad,” said Brooks, who struck out 10.

This title — for 11- and-12-year-olds although Scarborough uses just 12-year-olds — is the crown jewel of Little League Baseball. Scarborough will move to the New England regional next week in Bristol, Conn. That winner will advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

As 11-year-olds, Scarborough didn’t play in a regional. As 10-year-olds it reached the regional semifinal, losing to Rhode Island.

“We want to see that Rhode Island team again,” said Manager Neal Pratt, whose team is 27-3 over the past three years.

But Pratt wasn’t looking past Wednesday, especially when the game was 0-0 through two. Scarborough stranded four, leaving the bases loaded in the first.

But in the third, Connor Kelly led off with a walk. Singles by Brooks and Zoltan Panyi loaded the bases again. Alex Dobecki walked in a run. Another run scored when Ogden Timpson reached on an error.

Owen Garrard made it 4-0 with a two-run double.

In the fourth, Morgan Pratt led off with a double. After an error and a single loaded the bases, Scarborough got RBI singles from Panyi and Dobecki, and a two-run double by Timpson for an 8-0 lead.

Dirigo, which had three hits, scored in the fourth on a single, walk and two passed balls.

In the fifth, Nick Anderson reached on a bunt single, Kelly doubled, and Brooks doubled in two runs. Panyi followed with a two-run homer to center.

Glade Fredenburg also singled in the inning, one of the 16 Scarborough hits.

Tyler Dostie of Dirigo reached on an error in the bottom of the fifth, but then Brooks struck out three straight.

The celebration followed. The team, which includes Andrew Goodwin, Justin Tanguay and Zach DeQuattro, rushed to the infield, enjoying another title.

“If you’ve won before, you sort of have a target on your back, which sort of makes you the underdog,” said shortstop Morgan Pratt. “So you have to power through every team, working together to prevail.

“And we work very well together. I think we just mesh.”

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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