ORRINGTON — Scarborough completed its unbeaten run through the Little League state tournament for 11- and 12-year-old baseball players Friday with a 14-0 victory against Biddeford.
Sam Clark pitched a one-hitter to run his record to 6-1 in tournament play for Scarborough, which hit four home runs to finish the six-team, double-elimination tournament with a 4-0 record.
The game ended after four innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Scarborough outscored its four opponents in the tournament 58-10 with three games ending by the mercy rule.
It was the 12th consecutive win for Scarborough, which began tournament play with a 5-2 loss to Portland American in the districts.
“One of the reasons, I think, that really motivated them after that first loss is it’s not just about winning with them,” Scarborough Manager Corey Frink said. “They want to continue to play baseball with each other, and the only way to do that is to win.”
“Most of us have been together three years and we just didn’t want to break that bond too soon,” third baseman Ryan Gambradella said. “We wanted to keep playing.”
Two years ago, Scarborough won the Little League state tournament for 9- and 10 year-olds, then went 1-3 in the New England regional in Cranston, Rhode Island. Last summer it won the Little League state championship for 10- and 11-year-olds.
“Losing that game created a perfect storm,” Frink said. “From that point on it’s been tunnel vision for them. They’ve really focused.”
Scarborough will play the Vermont state champion at 1 p.m. Aug. 7 in Bristol, Connecticut, in the first game of the six-team New England regional. The game will be televised on ESPN3.
“(Scarborough) hit the baseball as good as any team we’ve seen this year,” said Biddeford Manager Marcus Crowell. “Certainly their pitcher was spot on today. He didn’t throw many balls and he was really challenging our hitters. He kept our guys off the basepaths.”
Clark, a hard-throwing right-hander, was unhittable for the first 32/3 innings. He allowed just two balls to be hit out of the infield while striking out six and walking two.
Pinch-hitter Nick Littlefield broke up the no-hitter when he beat out a bunt for a single with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.
Scarborough took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when T.J. Liponis belted a homer after Joseph Townsend and Nic Frink reached on errors.
In the second inning, Jack Simonton and Nic Frink slammed two-run homers for a 7-0 lead.
Scarborough added six runs in the top of the fourth to complete the scoring.
After Clark hit a two-run homer, Scarborough loaded the bases on a walk, and singles by Gambradella and Cade Sullivan. The runs scored on two fielders’ choices, a passed ball and a single by Nic Frink.
“Give credit to Scarborough for staying in the winners’ bracket and winning this game today,” Crowell said.
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