Lucas Rutherford of the Bangor West Little League bats during the sixth inning of the District 3 Little League championship game Saturday, July 14, 2018 in Brewer. Photo by Chris Lessner. (click photo to enlarge)
BREWER, Me- Needing two wins in the championship round of the Maine District 3 ages 9/10/11 Little League All Stars Tournament, the team from Bangor West used some timely hitting and great pitching performances to accomplish just that. Chase Caron pitched five innings of two hit shutout baseball in the winner take all game Saturday afternoon to give Bangor West a 5-0 win over Brewer/Glenburn/Orrington in Brewer to send them to the state tournament that starts next weekend in Augusta.
Bangor West held the hosts from O/G/B to just a late run and a single hit Friday evening to take a 3-1 win to send it to a decisive game Saturday. It was more of the same Saturday, but this time both starting pitchers were in a groove as the game was scoreless into the top of the fifth. O/G/B starter Lincoln Jordan ran into the trouble in the top of the fifth, walking two and giving up three hits before leaving as he reached 87 pitches with two outs. A bases loaded walk, and RBI singles from both Nik Horton and Jacob Smith made it 3-0.
Bangor West padded the lead in the sixth, as Sammy Smith led off with an infield single and a wild pitch moved him to second. Another wild pitch had Smith running for third, and B/G/O catcher Steven Youngs made an errant throw into left field allowing Smith to score to make it 4-0. Chase Schwartz who reached on an error also scored in the inning.
Teddy Stepheson had a single and two walks for Bangor West, while Horton reached base all four times with a pair of hits as well. B/G/O only had a runner to third base once in the game, and Logan Littlefield reached base twice with a pair of walks. Caron got the win on the hill for Bangor West allowing no runs, just two hits, four walks, with six strikeouts. Jordan was the losing pitcher for B/G/O allowing three runs (one earned), three hits, five walks, with seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Bangor West advances to the state tournament that is scheduled to begin Saturday, July 21st in Augusta with opponents and schedules to be announced.
2018 Maine District 3 ages 9/10/11 All Stars champion Bangor West Little League. Photo by Chris Lessner (click photo to enlarge)
BGW 0 0 0 0 3 2- 5 5 1
BGO 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 2 2
WP- Caron LP- Jordan
Left on base- Bangor West 10, BGO 6
