ORONO- The Bangor Babes got multiple RBI from three different players on Friday night, and rolled to a 13-4 win over the Augusta Surgin’ Sturgeon in a Northeast Collegiate Baseball League semifinal playoff game played at Mahaney Diamond on the campus of the University of Maine. The win advances Bangor to a best of three championship series against Old Orchard Beach beginning on Sunday afternoon, which will end the 2024 season.
Augusta struck first in this one, as Hayden Dippner hit a one out double in the top of the second inning and would eventually score on a wild pitch for a 1-0 Sturgeon advantage. Bangor took a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in the last of the third. Jonah Baude led off with a walk, and then with two outs Liam O’Neal would double to left centerfield. Tanner Evans was up next and hit a comebacker off the glove of pitcher Brayden Bellerose for a RBI, and then an errant throw by Bellarose back to home plate also scored O’Neal to make it 2-1 Babes.
Matt Seymour would provide the game winner during a three-run fifth inning with a RBI sacrifice flyout, as Bangor would score 11 times over their final four at bats as they continue their summer league season with a record of 15-4.
O’Neal led the way offensively for Bangor with three hits, two RBI, two walks, three runs scored, and three stolen bases. Evans finished with two hits and three RBI, while Samuel Economy had two hits, two RBI, and two runs scored. Griffin Ruffner also walked three times and stole four bases, as the running Babes swiped nine more bags overall as a team in the victory. Alex Smith earned the pitching win going 5.0 innings allowing one run on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Bradie Harvie also fired 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.
Dippner had three hits for Augusta, while Matthew Marquis, Cash Bizier, and Zachary Jalbert had a RBI each. Bellerose started on the hill and went the first 4.0 innings in taking the loss giving up two runs on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. The Surgin’ Sturgeon end their first season with a record of 4-17.
Bangor begins their quest to try to capture the league title with a best of three championship series against Old Orchard Beach on Sunday with Game 1 scheduled to be at Central Maine Community College in Auburn slated for a 12 p.m. first pitch. The Babes won four of the seven games from the Bugs in the regular season, with OOB taking the final three matchups head to head. Here is the schedule for the Finals-
Game 1- Sunday, July 28- Bangor (15-4) vs Old Orchard Beach (18-6)- at CMMC in Auburn @ 12 p.m.
Game 2- Tuesday, July 30- Bangor vs OOB- at Goodall Park in Sanford @ 5 p.m.
Game 3 (if necessary)- Wednesday, July 31- Bangor vs OOB- at The Ballpark in Old Orchard- @ 4:30 p.m.
Bangor pitcher Alex Smith gets ready to throw a pitch during a Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League semifinal playoff game on Friday, July 26, 2024 in Orono. The Babes beat the Augusta Surgin’ Sturgeon 13-4 to advance to the championship series. Photo by Chris Lessner
Images below are courtesy of Anthony DelMonaco-
