Fort Fairfield scored three times in the third inning on Saturday afternoon, and would defeat Telstar 4-1 in the Class D Baseball State Championship game at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.
The third inning was the difference as the Tigers capped off their undefeated season. Cayden Ala led off with a walk, and then three consecutive singles culminated in a 2-0 Fort Fairfield lead. Graedon King and Charlie Griffeth had the RBI hits, while Eric Helmstrom made it 3-0 with a RBI groundout. King had another run scoring hit in the fourth, while the Rebels finished the scoring on the day by picking up their lone run in their final at bat.
Bryson Walker and Brennan Walker had two hits each for Telstar. Brennan Walker had the Rebels RBI. Bryson Walker took the pitching loss allowing three earned runs on nine hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in four innings. The South Champs finish their season with a record of 16-4. King had three hits and two RBI for Fort Fairfield, while Ala and Levi Cole had two each. Ala also scored twice and picked up a two out save on the mound. Jonah Leblanc picked the pitching win giving up one run on seven hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings. The Tigers (18-0) win their first state title since 1994 and are the first baseball team from Aroostook County to win it all since Southern Aroostook did so in 1999. They were also the only North team baseball or softball to win a championship on Saturday.
Photo is courtesy of Lone Shooter Photography
