AUGUSTA — Sam Troiano’s two-run triple highlighted a five-run fourth inning Saturday afternoon that carried Yankee Ford of South Portland to a 9-7 win over Coffee News of Bangor in the American Legion baseball state tournament.

It was the first loss of the double-elimination tournament for Coffee News, the two-time defending state champion, but the Comrades will play for the championship Sunday afternoon against the winner of a noon elimination game between Yankee Ford and Rogers Post of Auburn.

Yankee Ford (22-2) opened a 7-1 lead with its fourth-inning outburst. Anthony Degifico and Henry Curran each contributed an RBI single, and the fifth run in the inning scored on a throwing error.

Griffin Kelley (6-0) pitched into the seventh inning for Yankee Ford, allowing just two runs through the sixth before tiring in the seventh, when Coffee News pushed across four runs to cut its deficit to 9-6. Ben Conti worked the last three innings.

Sam Huston had three hits for Coffee News (21-6). Andrew Hillier drove in two runs with a pair of hits.

ROGERS POST 6, SKOWHEGAN 3: Gavin Bates broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Rogers Post of Auburn won an elimination game.

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Drew Lashua reached on an error to start the winning rally and was bunted to second. Grant Hartley then drew a walk, and both runners scored when Bates sliced a pitch into the gap in right-center.

Bates scored an insurance run on a wild pitch.

Rogers got a strong outing from seldom-used pitcher Tyler Libby, who allowed three runs (two earned) in 61/3 innings. Ethan Brown was credited with the win in relief, pitching the final 22/3 innings.

Skowhegan starting pitcher Dustin Crawford hit a two-run double in the third inning, giving his team a 2-0 lead. Crawford injured an ankle, however, while trying to field a comebacker in the fourth inning and had to leave the game.

Lew Jensen hit a two-run single in the bottom of the third inning for Rogers, which also got three hits from Austin Cox.

NECBL

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SANFORD SPLITS: Johnny Slater hit a two-run single as part of a three-run eighth to help the Mainers beat the Valley Blue Sox 7-3 at Goodall Park.

Christopher Gaetano went 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Cole Townsend picked up the win with two innings of relief.

Later in the day, the Mainers lost 8-7 to the Keene Swamp Bats in Keene, New Hampshire. Michael Young hit a solo home run for Sanford, and Nelson Mompierre went 2 for 5 with two runs scored.

EMPIRE LEAGUE

WATERTOWN 6, OLD ORCHARD BEACH 2: Luc Pomales went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI for the Surge (27-28) in a loss to Watertown (33-20) at The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach.

Jacob Fabry and Joshua Martinez each added two hits for the Surge.


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