Brewer edges OT-O

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OLD TOWN – It won’t look pretty in Monday’s box score, but the 0-for-6 outing by Greg Crossman of Brewer in Sunday’s American Legion game with Old Town-Orono was as important as teammate Dan Needham’s 3-for-5 performance.

That’s because Crossman drove in the winning run with a one-out sacrifice fly in the top of the eleventh inning that gave his Brewer Falcons an 8-7 victory over the Old Town-Orono Twins.

The win extended one streak and ended another equally long one. It was the seventh straight victory for the hot Falcons, who began the season with a 1-4 mark. It also ended a seven-game win streak by the Twins, now 10-2.

Both of Old Town-Orono’s losses this season have been to Brewer, which is 2-1 against the Twins.

“We knew we could put ourselves in a real good situation with a `W’ today,” said Brewer Coach David Gonyar. “It’s going to be pretty tough for most teams to get these guys twice, so I think it gives us a game up for that second spot.”

With an 8-4 record, Gonyar finds his team sitting all alone in second place – two games behind the front-running Twins.

“We’ve had some real good games with them each time we’ve played,” said Twins Coach David Paul. “Both teams squandered some big scoring chances, but they were able to move their runners along later on and that was the key.”

The win was especially important to Brewer because it was the first of six games the team must play this week.

Brewer erupted for four runs in the fourth inning and took a 6-2 lead, but the Twins answered with a run in the bottom half of the fourth and continued to peck away at the Falcon lead.

Three straight singles with two outs in the eighth by Zac Pelleriti, pinch-hitter Ron Coombs, and David Theriault pulled the Twins into a 7-7 tie.

But Brewer wasn’t to be denied. After OT-O’s Gary Sibley struck out the leadoff man, Brewer’s Peter Kenney and Mel Grant hit back-to-back singles and Ty Stewart drew a walk to load the bases.

Crossman then lofted the fly ball to right to score the winning run.

Kenney (3-0) pitched the last three innings in relief to notch the win.

Brewer’s defense also was key as Needham (second base) and Sean Smith (shortstop) robbed the Twins of two hits in the 11th.

Needham, the ninth hitter in the lineup, was the offensive leader for the Falcons with three singles, an RBI, and two runs scored.

“Danny wasn’t starting early in the year, but he worked himself into the lineup and he’s done a real nice job in the No. 9 spot,” Gonyar said. “He’s had some big RBIs.”

Grant went 3-for-6 with two doubles, the single, and two RBIs.

Other key hitters for Brewer included Smith (double, single, one RBI, two runs), Tim Hodgins (2-for-4, one RBI), and Jeff Millett (double, single, two runs).

“It was a big team effort for us today. I loved it, it was great,” said Needham.

Matt Eastman and Nick Chaisson each went 3-for-5 to lead the Twins. Eastman doubled, drove in a run, and scored twice. Chaisson scored one run.

Aaron Knowles scored once and had two singles, an RBI, and a stolen base. Jim Evans doubled twice and drove in three runs.

Gary Sibley (1-1) took the loss, pitching four innings in relief.

Falcons 8, Twins 7 (11 inn.)

Brewer Old Town-Orono

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

Smith, ss 5 2 2 1 Theriault, cf 4 1 1 2

Hodgins, lf-p 4 0 2 1 Eastman, ss 5 2 3 1

a-Brigali 0 0 0 0 S. Coombs, lf 6 0 0 0

Kenney, p 1 1 1 0 Evans, 3b 6 0 2 3

Grant, cf 6 0 3 2 Chaisson, 1b 5 1 3 0

Stewart, dh 2 0 0 0 b-Commeau 0 0 0 0

Raymond, c 0 0 0 0 Vetelino, dh 2 0 1 0

McGrath, dh 2 0 0 0 Thibodeau,dh 3 0 1 0

Crossman, rf 6 0 0 1 Knowles, rf 5 1 2 1

Emerson, 3b 6 1 1 0 Pelleriti, c 5 1 1 0

Jenkins, 1b 4 0 0 0 Halsted, 2b 3 0 0 0

Millett, p-lf 5 2 2 0 c-R. Coombs 1 1 1 0

Needham, 2b 5 2 3 1

Totals 47 8 14 6 Totals 45 7 15 7

a-ran for Hodgins in ninth

b-ran for Chaisson in ninth

c-singled and scored for Halsted in eighth

Brewer 002 400 010 01 – 8

Old Town-Orono 110 120 020 00 – 7

E – Smith, Raymond; Eastman 2, Halsted 2B – Smith, Grant 2, Millett; Eastman, Evans 2, Pelleriti LOB -Brewer 10; Old Town-Orono 13 DP – Crossman to Emerson; Sibley to Pelleriti to Chaisson SB – Knowles SF – Crossman

Pitching Summary

PITCHER IP H R BB SO

Brewer

Millett 4 6 5 3 3

Hodgins 4 6 2 1 4

Kenney (W,3-0) 3 3 0 2 1

OT-Orono

Hite 3 1/3 6 6 2 2

Wickett 3 2/3 2 0 0 1

Sibley (L,1-1) 4 6 2 2 1

HBP – Pelleriti WP – Millett 2; Sibley BK – Millett TIME -3:31