March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Franklin rallies by Brewer> Falcons lose first

BANGOR – After watching Brewer roll to a 35-5 victory over Oxford Hills Monday night in the State American Legion tournament, Franklin County coach David McLaughlin wasn’t optimistic about his team’s chances in its Tuesday night matchup with the Falcons.

“This is a true story – I brought my handkerchief with me. We were going to raise the white flag early,” said McLaughlin after his Rangers’ 3-2 triumph in 11 innings at Mansfield Stadium.

It was Brewer’s first loss of the double-elimination tournament.

Franklin County will face Augusta, an 11-10 winner over Oxford Hills Tuesday afternoon, in an elimination game today at 4 p.m. The winner of that game will play Brewer in the 7:30 p.m. championship contest.

Kevin Eagers led off the bottom of the 11th for Franklin by grounding out to third base, but then Brewer starter Chris Soper hit Chad Crandell with a pitch. Crandell moved to second on a bunt single by Brian Demshar.

That brought Gilmore to the plate, and he grounded a ball to shortstop Chris Knickerbocker. The ball got by Knickerbocker and Crandell scored the winning run from second base.

It was the Falcons’ first error of the game.

Pat Liddy got the win for Franklin, scattering five hits and striking out five in five innings of relief. Liddy had pitched nine innings in the Rangers’ 4-3 loss to Bonanza of Sanford Saturday.

Liddy replaced Travis Gilmore, who turned in an outstanding 12 strikeout performance over six innings. Gilmore started Monday in Franklin’s victory over Saco Bay but got a no-decision after giving up six runs in 1 2/3 innings.

McLaughlin didn’t hestitate to throw his two aces against the Falcons.

“When you play a team as good as they are, you have to use what you need to win right now,” said McLaughlin.

The loss spoiled a gutsy performance by Soper, who struck out 14, gave up four hits, and walked only two over 10 1/3 innings. His effort was all the more remarkable because he was diagnosed with mononucleosis last week.

“We checked him every inning, and he said he felt great,” said Brewer coach Dave Gonyar.

Soper said he was cleared by a physician to pitch, but he was tired after his 137-pitch effort.

“I feel terrible. I’m very, very tired,” Soper said.

Brewer led 2-0 after six innings but the Rangers got one back in the seventh on an RBI double by Trevor Alexander. Alexander’s hit scored Gilmore, who had singled to lead off the inning.

Franklin tied the game in the eighth when Eagers executed a squeeze-play bunt that brought home Trevor Holt. Holt reached after striking out on a wild pitch that got by catcher Chad Gilley, advanced to second on another wild pitch, and reached third on a David Collinson sacrifice bunt.

“This shows we’re just as good as they are. I think we surprised a lot of people,” said Gilmore.

Rangers 3, Falcons 2

(11 innings)

Brewer (25-3) Franklin County (19-6)

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

Knkerbcker,ss 4 1 1 0 Eagers, c 5 0 0 1

Peak, 2b 4 1 1 0 McLaughlin, 1b 2 0 0 0

Kane, rf 5 0 1 0 Demshar, ss 5 0 1 0

Gobel, 3b 5 0 2 1 Gilmore, p-1b 3 1 1 0

Gilley, c 4 0 0 Alexander, 3b 3 0 1 1

Morneault, lf 5 0 2 0 Liddy, lf-p 3 0 1 0

Gross, dh 4 0 0 0 Parlin, rf-lf 3 0 0 0

Pollard, 1b 3 0 1 0 Holt, 2b 4 1 0 0

Preston, cf 4 0 0 0 Collinson, cf 4 0 0 0

a-Campbell 1 0 0 0 Crandell, rf 2 1 0 0

Totals 39 2 8 1 Totals 34 3 4 2

a-grounded out to third for Gross in the 11th

Brewer 1000 1000 000 – 2

Franklin County 0000 0011 001 – 3

E – Knickerbocker; Alexander 2B – Pollard; Alexander LOB – Brewer 10, Franklin County 5 DP – Demshar to Holt to Gilmore SB – Preston SF – Gobel; Eagers

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Brewer

Soper (L,2-2) 10 1/3 4 3 2 2 14

Franklin County

Gilmore 6 3 2 1 4 12

Liddy (W,5-2) 5 5 0 0 0 5

HBP – Pollard by Gilmore 2; Alexander, Crandell by Soper WP – Soper 2, Gilmore 2 PB – Gilley, Eagers TIME – 2:50

Augusta 11, Oxford Hills 10

Augusta’s Aaron Young scored the game-winning run on an Oxford Hills error.

Keith Genest homered in the third inning for Augusta, as well as hitting a double and two singles, one of which was responsible for putting Young in scoring position. Ben Peaslee delivered a single and a triple.

For Oxford Hills, Charles Parrott blasted a home run in the fourth. Lucas Cummings doubled and singled twice, and Brian Pomerleau singled three times.

Oxford Hills (25-3) 201 601 000 – 10 14 3 Augusta (23-2) 102 105 011 – 11 9 7

Boyce, Buker (6) and McClendon; Peaslee, Moore (4), Turgeon (6) and Murch


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