BANGOR – It was a gold medal performance for the Hampden-Newburgh Senior League baseball team in it first appearance on an international stage — the Senior League World Series at Mansfield Stadium.

The Maine District 3 champions beat Notre-Dame-de-Grace of Montreal 9-1 in the first game of pool play, scoring all their runs in the first three innings.

Tristan Gardner took care of things on the mound, giving up one run on two hits in six-plus innings. He recorded just one strikeout but walked only two.

The 10-team tournament features 15- and 16-year-old players. Hampden-Newburgh is the host team, and is joined by five U.S. regional champions and four international teams.

After four days of pool play, the semifinals are scheduled for Friday, and the championship game is 2 p.m. Saturday.

Hampden-Newburgh Manager Basil Closson said he tried to prepare his players for the big stage.

“I told the boys you don’t know what you’re missing until you experience it. It’s a chance of a lifetime. There was a little anxiety, but (they were) very confident.”

And that confidence showed. The hosts took advantage of three walks in the bottom of the first inning, as Cody Lyons hit a two-out, two-run single to give Hampden-Newburgh the early lead.

The local team put the game away with a seven-run third inning, sending 11 men to the plate. Michael Ward, Andrew Elston, Matt Closson and Cody Varney each drove in runs.

“After the first inning, the nerves kind of settled down and it was fun after that,” said shortstop Matt Palmer, who had two of Hampden’s seven hits.

Three years ago, Gardner and his younger brother sang the national anthem at the start of the World Series. Sunday afternoon, he hit all the right notes on the mound. He threw only 73 pitches before he was replaced by Cody Lyons after a leadoff walk in the seventh.

“I was trying to focus on first-pitch strikes. I was trying to be efficient and let my fielders field it.”

Coach Bobby Titleman thought a second straight appearance at the World Series might lead to a good start for the team from Montreal. It didn’t happen.

“We started a rookie pitcher (and) he got behind on counts. Five or six walks against a good team and they’re going to make you pay for it. But we’ll be back, we’ll be back.”

Next up for Hampden-Newburgh is a matchup at 5 p.m. Monday against Grand Rapids, Mich.

LEMON GROVE, CALIF. 4, BREVARD COUNTY, FLA. 3: Lemon Grove scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to rally past Brevard County.

Esteban Lierus drove in one run to cut the deficit to 3-2, and Deandre Simpson ripped a two-out, two-run double to right field to end the game.

Simpson also was the winning pitcher in relief.

HOUSTON 14, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND 0: West University Little League of Houston scored in every inning but one, as New Zealand pitchers walked 12 and hit three batters.

Three Houston pitchers teamed up for a five-hitter. Cole Stanley and Zach Pearson led the offense, combining for four hits and three RBI.

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 7, AUBURN, MASS. 6: Nick McNamara’s bases-loaded single capped a five-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.