South Portland scored three times in the top of the seventh inning on Saturday evening to take the lead for good, en route to an 8-4 win over Bangor in the Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League Championship game played at H. Allen Ryan Field at Thomas College in Waterville.
After the Puffins jumped on top in the top of the first inning on a Gabe Harmon (Cape Elizabeth, Babson College) RBI double, the Babes took their only lead of the contest 2-1 in the last half on a RBI single by Christopher Gaudio and a RBI sacrifice fly by Brendan Mahaney (Old Town High, Central Maine Community College). South Portland scored single runs in the third, fourth, and the top of the sixth to go up 4-2. Bangor though would battle back to tie it in the bottom of the sixth, as Mahaney led off and was hit by a pitch and Brody Walsh followed with a two-run homerun. In the decisive seventh frame, the Puffins went on top to stay on a RBI single by Josh Polchies (Gorham, University of Southern Maine). A throwing error by the Babes brought home a second run on the same play, and Harmon also added a RBI sacrifice fly to make it 7-4. Bangor had two runners on base with no outs in the last of the seventh, but Lance Keller struckout swinging and TJ Llerena (Hampden Academy, USM) bounced into a doubleplay to end the threat as the Babes had their opportunity to win back to back titles spoiled.
Harmon and Polchies both had two hits to lead South Portland. Harmon had two RBI, and Polchies had one. Polchies also scored three runs. Keeler Vogt (Greely, Colby College) started on the hill and go a no-decision allowing two runs on three hits with six walks and eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Jameson Bryant (Cape Elizabeth, Oberlin College) fired 3.0 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win. Jeremiah Chessie (Thornton Academy, Bowdoin College) would spin a perfect ninth with three strikeouts. The Puffins finish at 8-11 in winning their first league championship. Walsh led the Bangor offense with his two-run homer. Keller, Llarena, and Mahaney each had one hit and a run scored. Grady Vanestidine (Bangor, Endicott College) suffered the pitching loss in relief as he gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings. The Babes wrap up their 2025 season with a record of 10-7-1.
Featured photo- GNCBL Pitcher of the Year Noah Hurd (Mt. View, Husson) winds up for a delivery for the Bangor Babes in a GNCBL game earlier this season
