The Bangor Rams built up a quick 6-0 lead and held on to defeat the Hampden Academy Broncos 12-7 in a key Class A baseball battle Thursday afternoon at Mansfield Complex in Bangor.

Bob Kelley’s Rams boosted their record to 14-1 in a bid for the top Eastern Maine seed, but must best the Indians at Old Town Friday in the seasonal finale to claim the No. 1 spot.

Mark Reed led the Rams with two doubles and two runs batted in, Eric Murray and Pat Masters had two singles each, and Ron Estey added a double.

For the Broncos, finishing at 6-9-1, Mike Wentworth had a bases-clearing double in the third and Vince Pike chipped in a double.

Hampden 000 300 4 – 7 8 3 Bangor 132 240 x – 12 11 2

Bartlett, Pike (4) and Wentworth; Murray, Lindsay (5), Bfown (7) and McEwen, Murray (5), Fowle (7)

Brewer sweeps Caribou

At Heddericg Field in Brewer, the Witches used the strong pitching of Tom Hodgins and Dan Needham to sweep the Vikings and make a last run at a playoff spot. Brewer beat Caribou 12-0 and 9-1 to finish the regular season with five staight wins for an 8-8 mark while the Vikes ended at 2-16.

Hodgins, a senior lefthander, allowed only one hit in five innings in the first game while striking out eight and walking one. He aided his own cause with two singles and three RBI.

Dave Gregory turned in a 4-for-4 effort for the Witches, including two RBI and six stolen bases. Matt McGrath and Mark Abdellah each chipped in with two singles with McGrath driving in two runs.

Caribou’s Scott Burdick reached Hodgins for an infield single in the second.

In the second game, Needham struck out seven batters in five innings while not walking a batter and allowing three hits. The run scored against the junior righthander was unearned and his ERA is now 0.41.

Hodgins backed Needham with two singles, a double, and three RBI. Abdellah and Jerry Crafts each contributed a triple, single, and two RBI. Darren Beers added two singles and drove in a run.

Andy Thibodeau tripled and singled for Caribou.

(First Game) Caribou 000 00 – 0 1 1 Brewer 139 0x – 12 12 0

Pelletier, Babbidge (3) and D. Barnes; Hodgins and King (Second Game) Caribou 000 010 0 – 1 4 2 Brewer 130 302 x – 9 14 2

Babbidge, D. Barnes (2), T. Barnes (4) and Gove; Needham, Abdellah (6), Crossman (7) and Abdellah (4), King (5)

Central-EC 8, John Bapst 2

At the Husson College field in Bangor, Toby Pineo pitched a solid four-hitter as the Red Devils from East Corinth boosted their final record to 12-4.

Eric Kepple had a double and single and Chris Labbe two singles for Central.

For 5-11 John Bapst, Brian Peters, Shannon Hall, Shawn Damon, and Jeremy Spencer had singles.

Central-EC 100 042 1 – 8 9 3 John Bapst 000 020 0 – 2 4 3

Pineo and Rivera; Damon, Jagels (6) and Spencer

Ellsworth 7, Rockland 3

At Ellsworth, freshman righthander Aaron Brown allowed only one hit in five innings to help the Eagles beat the Tigers.

Brown struck out eight as Ellsworth improved to 11-4. Scott Kenney backed Brown with a grand slam, triple, and single. Jeff Haskins tripled.

Josh Mahar had a two-run double for 3-13 Rockland and Josh Cobb doubled.

Rockland 000 010 2 – 3 3 3 Ellsworth 060 010 x – 7 8 1

Williams and Curtis; A. Brown, J. Brown (6), Watson (7), Clough (7) and Perry

Foxcroft 10, Stearns 6

At Millinocket, Mike Smith drove in three runs with a double and a single and Darren Smith added two RBI with a pair of singles, powering Foxcroft to its eighth win against six losses.

John Moore added two singles for the Ponies, while Jeff Gilmore went the distance for the pitching win and had a two-run single.

For Stearns, 7-7, Dave McLaughlin had a single and two RBI.

Foxcroft 250 300 0 – 10 9 4 Stearns 010 003 2 – 6 4 5

Gilmore and Smith; Seamans, Card (2), Sloan (4) and Johnson, Cyr (2)

Piscataquis 5, PVHS 0

At Howland, righthander Matt Thomas pitched a four-hitter, striking out five and walking two, to lead Piscataquis Community past Penobscot Valley.

Kam Kimball doubled for the 11-5 winners of Guilford, Thomas had an RBI single, and Travis Herrick a sacrifice fly.

Robby Paradis doubled and singled for PVHS, which finished its regular season at 9-5.

Piscataquis 001 102 1 – 5 5 2 Penobscot Valley 000 000 0 – 0 4 2

Thomas and McEwen; Durost and Audibert

MA Lynx 8, Dexter 3

At Dexter, Mattanawcook exploded for six runs in the top of the seventh to the win the mutual season finale.

Jamey House and Matt York each delivered two-run singles in the big seventh for the Lincoln Lynx who wind up at 9-7.

Dave Hainer had a double and single for the winners. John Vose had 12 strikeouts while allowing 11 hits.

For the Tigers, finishing at 5-10, Trevin Cobb had four singles, with Mike Cooney and David Spaulding each singling twice. Mattanawcook 000 020 6 – 8 7 2 Dexter 102 000 0 – 3 11 2

Vose and MacEachern; Page and Cooney