Old Town/Orono scored six times in the bottom of the fourth inning on Wednesday night to take the lead for good, and won the State of Maine American Junior Legion Baseball Championship with a 14-8 victory over Hampden in the title game at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor.
Hampden, who had defeated Trenton in walkoff fashion in Wednesday’s opening elimination game, got off to a quick start in the final jumping to leads of 3-0 in the first inning and 6-1 after 2 1/2. The base on balls were a huge factor in the rally by the Twins. The Riverhawks walked 15 batters in total and Old Town/Orono would score five runs in the bottom of the third to tie it 6-6, helped by three free passes with the bases loaded. After Hampden took their final lead of the contest in the top of the fourth 7-6 on a passed ball, Old Town/Orono took over for good in the last half of the frame. A double, an error, a hit batsman, a wild pitch, and six more walks (three with the bases loaded) led to the big six run inning for the Twins. Jack McPherson scored on the wild pitch that put his team in front for good 9-7, and that turned out to be the game winner.
Hampden was led offensively by Jackson Harris who had two RBI. Kellan Bishop had three hits and also scored three runs. Austin Haskell took the pitching loss in relief allowing two runs on one hit in 2/3 of an inning, as the Riverhawks end a great season as state runners-up. Owen Wilson sparked Old Town/Orono with two hits, three RBI, and two runs scored. Carter Osnoe and Aidan Sucy drove in two runs each. Osnoe walked three times, as the top five hitters in the batting order combined to walk 10 times in the game. McPherson was solid in relief on the hill and got the win giving up just one run on one hit with two walks and six strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work. The Twins (15-4) now advance to the Northeast Regional that begins Friday at Adams Field in Quincy, Massachusetts. This is a single elimination tournament, and Old Town/Orono will face the host team Quincy Morrisette Post 294 in the final game on Friday at 7 p.m. The losing teams are guaranteed a second consolation contest in the bracket as well.
Featured photo of the State of Maine American Junior Legion Baseball Champions- the Old Town/Orono Twins. Courtesy of Tiffany Osnoe
