AUGUSTA – When Old Town-Orono ace righthander Steve Coombs walked four of the first five hitters he faced in Thursday’s opening round game against Biddeford in the State American Legion Tournament, there appeared the makings of a long afternoon for Coombs and the Zone 1 champion Twins.

But a great diving catch by right fielder Aaron Knowles kept the first inning damage at two runs and the Twins pounded out 19 hits to whip the defending state champs 18-5.

Old Town-Orono, now 20-5, will take on 21-4 Gardiner, a 12-2 winner over Lewiston, in Friday’s 2 p.m. winners bracket game at Togus.

Biddeford, 19-11, will play 20-7 Lewiston at 10 a.m. at Togus.

“They’re easily the best hitting team we’ve faced this season,” said hard-throwing Biddeford righthander Nick Consalvo, who was roughed up for 14 hits and 13 runs in 5 2/3 innings.

“If you had told me (after the first inning) that we’d win 18-5, I’d think you were crazy,” said Old Town-Orono Coach Dave Paul. “I’m very pleased. The key was the way we consistently swung the bats up and down the lineup.”

Coombs, meanwhile, settled down after walking five in the first inning and forcing in two runs.

“I had a bad day. I had trouble throwing strikes,” said Coombs, who is now 7-1 after hurling six innings of three-hit, eight-walk ball. He also hit two and fanned three. “Aaron’s catch was really important. He always comes through when I need it.”

Coombs and Knowles were teammates at Lee Academy.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the first, Knowles came sprinting in on Karl Buckley’s sinking liner and snared it just before it hit the ground.

“I didn’t think I’d have a chance to catch it at first but the wind hung it up a little,” said Knowles.

Old Town-Orono tied the game in the second on singles by Nick Chaisson and Ron Coombs, a walk to Jay Vetelino and a throwing error by shortstop Keith Croteau on a double play attempt. Two runs scored on the error.

The Twins took the lead for good with three runs in the third on a walk to Jim Evans, Chaisson’s base hit, Vetelino’s two-run double over left fielder Bob Janelle’s head and a sacrifice fly by Knowles.

“He (Consalvo) blew the first pitch by me so I choked up on the bat,” said Vetelino.

Old Town-Orono made it 6-2 in the fourth on Matt Eastman’s double, a groundout and Chaisson’s sacrifice fly.

Biddeford cut the lead to 6-4 in the fifth on a hit batsman, Jason Lariviere’s base hit, a walk and sacrifice flies by Gary Pleau and Janelle.

But Old Town-Orono received a clutch two-out, two-run single by leading hitter Eastman in the bottom of the fifth to take the wind out of Biddeford’s sails.

Knowles had opened the fifth by reaching first when catcher Dave Foran threw wildly to first on strike three. Ron Coombs singled, Marc Halsted sacrificed Coombs to second and Eastman hit his soft liner into right center.

“He threw me a curve. I was just trying to put the ball in play,” said Eastman.

“That was a huge hit for us,” said Paul.

Old Town-Orono broke the game open with five runs in the sixth on a walk to Steve Coombs, Evans’ single, Chaisson’s two-run double to right center, Knowles’ sharp RBI single to center, Halsted’s hit-and-run single and two run-producing wild pitches by reliever Lariviere.

Eastman and Ron Coombs, Steve’s brother, each had four hits with Eastman collecting two doubles. Chaisson had three hits, including his double, and four RBIs. Dave Theriault and Evans had two hits each. Brian Wickett (2 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs) and Jason Clifford (1 inning, 1 hit, 1 run) finished up.

Biddeford had no repeat hitters and Greg Peloquin’s double was the only extra base hit.

Twins 18, Biddeford 5

Biddeford Old Town-Orono

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

Peloquin, 3b 4 1 1 0 Theriault, cf 4 1 2 0

Croteau, ss 2 1 0 0 Eastman, ss 6 2 4 3

Lariviere, cf-p 5 2 1 0 S.Coombs,p-lf 3 2 0 0

Crepeau, 1b 2 0 0 0 Wihbey, lf 1 0 0 1

Bouthot, 1b 0 1 0 0 Evans, 3b 3 4 2 0

Pleau, rf 2 0 1 2 Chaisson, 1b 4 3 3 4

Arcand, rf 1 0 1 0 Hite, 1b 1 0 1 0

Janelle, lf 3 0 0 1 Vetelino, lf 2 2 1 2

D. Foran, c 3 0 1 1 Clifford, p 1 0 0 0

Tardiff, c 1 0 0 1 Knowles, rf 4 2 1 2

Buckley, 2b 3 0 1 0 Thibodeau, rf 0 0 0 0

J. Foran, 2b 1 0 0 0 R. Coombs, c 5 1 4 1

Consalvo, p 3 0 0 0 Halsted, 2b 4 1 1 1

Rhames, cf 1 0 0 0 Commeau, 2b 1 0 0 0

O’Brien, p 0 0 0 0 Wickett, p 1 0 0 0

Totals 31 5 6 5 Totals 40 18 19 14

Biddeford 200 020 001 – 5

Old Town-Orono 023 125 23x – 18

E – Croteau 3, Janelle, Lariviere, D. Foran, Arcand; Knowles 2B – Peloquin; Eastman 2, Chaisson, Vetelino LOB -Biddeford 13, Old Town-Orono 12 DP – Eastman to Halsted to Chaisson SB – Lariviere S – Halsted, Vetelino SF – Pleau, Janelle, Knowles, Chaisson

Pitching Summary

PITCHER IP H R BB SO

Biddeford

Consalvo (L, 6-3) 5 2/3 14 13 6 4

Lariviere 1 1/3 1 2 2 2

O’Brien 1 4 3 2 2

Old Town-Orono

Coombs (W, 7-1) 6 3 4 8 3

Wickett 2 2 0 1 1

Clifford 1 1 1 2 0

HBP – Croteau (by Coombs), Buckley (by Coombs) WP – Coombs, Lariviere 2, O’Brien PB – Tardiff TIME -3:08