BANGOR- The two hottest teams in the Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League, the Bangor Babes and Old Orchard Beach Bugs, met at the Winkin Complex at Husson University on Sunday afternoon for a seven inning doubleheader. The Babes came in undefeated, while the Beach Bugs were riding an 11 game win streak.
In Game 1- Bangor scored three times in the second inning to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in a 7-2 win. Old Orchard scored first off Alex Smith in the top of the first inning when Richard Gilboy tripled to right centerfield and would score on a RBI groundout by Nicolas Frink. The hosts tied it in bottom half. With one out Charlie Deaton got hit by a pitch, stole second base, and then on an attempt to steal third would come across to score when the throw by the catcher Frink would go into leftfield. The Babes got all they needed in the second. Liam O’Neal led off with a single, Tyler Annis was hit by a pitch, before Griffin Ruffner supplied an RBI single to leftfield to make it 2-1 Bangor. Jason Bartlett then reached on a fielders choice to load the bases, while both Samuel Economy and Matt Seymour would walk to force in runs. Annis and Matt Seymour later added a RBI each to keep their team unbeaten and snap the Beach Bugs winning streak. OOB hadn’t lost since the opening games of the season when Bangor swept a doubleheader at their place.
Smith picked up the win on the mound allowing one run on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Seymour drove in two runs, reaching base three times with two walks and a single. Economy reached three times with two walks and had a RBI, while O’Neal added two hits. Bangor had seven steals as a team, with two each by Bartlett and Economy. Dylan Firmin had two hits and a run driven in for Old Orchard, while Oliver Leonard suffered the pitching defeat giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
In Game 2- Bangor, as they did in Game 1, used a three-run second inning to complete the sweep with a 4-2 victory. Isaac Hainer led off that second frame with a walk, stole second base, and then went to third on a single by O’Neal. O’Neal then also stole second, and with one out Annis walked to load them up. Bartlett followed and made it 1-0 with an RBI single to leftfield. Economy walked to extend the lead to 2-0, and Annis would also eventually score on a wild pitch. Old Orchard got on the board on a run scoring two out single by Conor Moriarity in the third inning, before the Babes pushed the lead back to three when Annis scored on a throwing error by catcher Cole Whitehead in the fourth and was enough to get it done to run the Bangor record to 11-0.
O’Neal had two hits to lead the way, while Hainer reached base three times with a single and two walks. Bartlett and Economy had one RBI each. After stealing seven bases in the Game 1 victory, the Babes swiped eight in Game 2 as Hainer had three and O’Neal along with Annis had two a piece. Allen Wheaton picked up the win on the rubber going 5.0 innings allowing one run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Kyle Poissoit went 1.0 inning, and Johnny Miles picked up the save by pitching the seventh. Moriarity had two singles, a double, a RBI, and a run scored in the defeat for Old Orchard. Colin McDonald took the loss on the hill giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 4.0 innings. The Beach Bugs record is now 11-4. The Bangor Babes will next be in action on Thursday as they host the Augusta Surgin’ Sturgeon for a doubleheader. Game 1 starts at 3, with Game 2 set for 6 p.m.
Photo and video by Chris Lessner
