Brewer starting pitcher Evan Andrews delivers a pitch during the Witches state title game matchup with the Wells Warriors on Saturday, June 16, 2018 in Bangor. Photo by Chris Lessner.
BANGOR, Me- Josiah Cyr sent a long fly ball that went over the head of Wells right fielder Covy Dufort with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday, to send the Brewer Witches to a 3-2 dramatic walkoff win over the Wells Warriors in the Class B state title baseball game at a hot and humid Mansfield Stadium in Bangor.
Wells took an early lead as Liam Bell led off the game with a single to center and stole second base. After Brewer starter Evan Andrews struck out two consecutive batters, Michael Wrigley sent a line shot off Andrews that deflected into short left field allowing Bell to score to make it 1-0. The Warriors added to the lead in the top of the sixth when Gary Andrews singled in Tyler Bridge who had hit a one out single and stole second, making it 2-0 Wells. Meanwhile Wells starting pitcher Tyler Carpenter was cruising. The sophomore had only allowed two hits through five innings.
Brewer (15-5) rallied back though in the home half of sixth. The Witches took advantage of a pair of errors, and Levi Williamson cut it to 2-1 with an RBI groundout. Another mistake by Carpenter tied the game, as a wild pitch scored Andrew Kiley who had reached on one of the errors to tie the game 2-2. Kyle Goodrich started things in the last of the seventh with a groundball base hit to left. A sacrifice bunt by Ben Byorak sent Goodrich to second. Hunter Russell then reached on a fielders choice with no out made to put two runners on base. Kobe Rogerson was then walked intentionally, setting up the winning hit by Cyr who was mobbed by teammates as the Witches won their first ever state title in baseball in school history. Cyr said, “Was looking for a sacrifice fly there, just wanted to get the runner in. I knew we had won it when I hit it, was such an amazing feeling. It is amazing, especially for the coaches cause they have been doing it for so long and they finally get to celebrate a state championship”.
Rogerson picked up the win in relief for Brewer on the hill, allowing no earned runs, two hits, with one strikeout in 1.2 innings. Witches starter Andrews left after heat cramps in his hand, as he allowed two earned runs, four hits, two walks, with six strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Carpenter pitched a great game and was the tough luck loser, allowing three runs (one earned), four hits, four walks (two intentional), with six strikeouts in 6.1 innings.
Wells made an exceptional run to the state title game and winds up with a record of 17-3. The Warriors last appearance in a state title game was 1980 when they played in Class C. Brewer last played in a state baseball final in 2008.
Brewer head coach Dana Corey said, “At the end of the day it feels just great. I mean we had a group of kids with just one returning starter in Kobe Rogerson and three other varsity players who had a little bit of playing time. We had so many holes with 12 graduating seniors last year. As time went on they bought into the program, one pitch at a time, they believed in each other and also believed they could come back and would never be out of a game”.
WHS 1 0 0 0 0 1 0- 2 6 2
BHS 0 0 0 0 0 2 1- 3 4 0
WP- Rogerson LP- Carpenter
