MACHIAS — Saco had a six-run lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning of the Little League state championship game Wednesday against Lewiston.
The team didn’t wait to secure its spot the New England regional.
Saco scored five runs in the fifth inning, including a three-run home run by Henry Lausier, to win 11-0 in a game shortened by the mercy rule.
“I mean you dream of stuff like that, you know, kids stepping into a situation like that and taking advantage of it. Winning in a walk-off is something that he’s going to remember forever,” said Saco Manager Kirk Purvis of Lausier’s home run.
Saco will now represent Maine in the Little League Baseball New England Regional, which kicks off on Aug. 5 in Bristol, Connecticut. Saco will play its first game on Aug. 6.
Once he connected with the pitch, Lausier was hustling down the first base line – until he saw Saco Coach Kevin Kezal celebrating.
“I saw my first base coach and that’s when I knew it was gone,” said Lausier. “It feels really good. I’m really happy for our team to go to regionals.”
Josh Penny and Jeremiah Chessie both scored in the fifth to set the table for Lausier. Matt Kimball and starting pitcher Mac Lowe were on base when Lausier came to the plate.
“That was just crazy … it was a great way to end it for sure,” said Chessie.
Lowe set Lewiston down in order in the top of the first. In the bottom half, Penney reached on a single and scored later on an error off the bat of Kimball to make it 1-0.
Saco’s Ryan Camire started a two-run second inning with a single off the pitcher’s leg. After a bunt single from Josh Ney, Penney sent a ball down the right-field line that would go off the defender’s glove and allow Camire to score.
Ney was thrown out at home, but Penney was on third after the play. Chessie then made it 3-0 Saco with an RBI groundout.
Saco added three runs in the third and Lowe looked confident with the lead.
Lowe gave up his second single in the top of the fifth, but settled down and struck out the next three batters in what would be his final inning.
“We were confident that Mac Lowe could step up and do the job that he did. He’s really been sharp the last week and we were just excited to see what he could do,” said Purvis.
Lowe looked comfortable, but he admitted there were some nerves heading into the game.
“I was super nervous. I was almost at the point where I was shaking, but I was excited for this game,” said Lowe, who finished with seven strikeouts.
Lowe also had plenty of help from his defense – including two big plays from second baseman Brady Kezal.
Purvis is confident his team has what it takes to make a run in Bristol, Connecticut.
“If you look at the brackets, we actually get a bye and Connecticut and Rhode Island are on the other (side of the) bracket so I like our chances,” Purvis said. “We’re going down there to win. We’re not going down to just have a good time, we’re going down to win and we’re going to have a blast along the way.”
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