The championship game of the Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League is now set, and the Bangor Babes will get a chance to defend their 2024 Title. Bangor scored six times in the eighth inning to knock off Augusta in the semifinals 6-3 Thursday night, while the South Portland Puffins defeated the Old Orchard Beach Bugs 5-2 at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish by scoring three in the ninth in the other semifinal.
At Mahaney Diamond in Orono- Sam Calder (Monmouth High, University of Southern Maine) was working on a shutout on the mound into the eighth inning for Augusta, but a leadoff single knocked him out of the game and the Surgin’ Sturgeon bullpen fell apart as Bangor rallied for the victory. TJ Kramarz (Edward Little) had two of the three runs knocked in for Augusta in helping to stake them to a 3-0 advantage. Brody Walsh (Mt. Blue, Thomas College) led off the bottom of the eighth for the Babes with a single, ending the night for Calder. The next six consecutive Bangor batters walked against the Augusta pen forcing them into the lead, with the last one taken by Lance Keller. Christopher Gaudio added some insurance with a two-run single to cap off the big inning.
Kramarz had a RBI groundout and RBI single to lead Augusta. Cash Bizier (Messalonskee, UMaine-Augusta) had a hit and scored two runs. Ashton Hammond (St. Dom’s, Nichols College) suffered the pitching loss in relief, as he didn’t retire a batter giving up three runs on three walks. The final line for Calder was 7.0+ innings allowing one run on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts. The Surgin’ Sturgeon end their season with a record of 9-12. Gaudio led Bangor with his two-run insurance single. Evan Nadeau (Brewer, Thomas College) chipped in with one hit, one RBI, and scored a run. Gaudio also started on the hill and went 4.0 innings in a no-decision allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit with three walks and three strikeouts. Noah Hurd (Mt. View, Husson) fired 2.2 innings and gave up one run on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Cole Payne (Bangor Christian, SMCC) earned the win and was named the Bangor Babes Player of the Game by pitching 2.1 innings giving up no runs and no hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Bangor (10-6-1) and South Portland (7-11) will meet for the 2025 League Championship on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Thomas College in Waterville.
Featured photo- Ayden Hogan of the Bangor Babes tries to keep an Augusta Surgin’ Sturgeon baserunner close to the bag during a GNCBL game earlier this season at the Winkin Complex. Bangor defeated Augusta 6-3 in a semifinal playoff game on Thursday, July 24 in Orono
