Augusta East to play in title contest

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BANGOR – Five days ago, Augusta East and East Biddeford waged an epic Little League battle, with Augusta East ekeing out a one-run eighth inning victory.

Thursday afternoon’s rematch between the two teams, in the final losers bracket contest of this week’s state Little League tournament, resembled little from last Saturday’s contest.

Augusta East pitcher Jake Castonguay, whose 18-strikeout four-hitter beat East Biddeford 4-3 on Saturday, was just about unhittable in the sequel, giving up one hit over five inning as Augusta East advanced to Friday’s championship game with a 6-1 victory over East Biddeford.

Augusta East will face undefeated Bangor West at 5 p.m. Friday for the state title. If Augusta East wins, the two teams will do it again Saturday at a time to be determined.

Castonguay, while not overpowering, confused the EB hitters just enough to shut them down.

After a perfect 3 1/3 innings, East Biddeford’s Karl Lagassie broke up the no-hitter with a squibber toward the second baseman. Lagassie beat out the throw for EB’s lone hit.

Only one other East Biddeford player reached base, on an error in the same inning which allowed Lagassie to score.

“My arm was hurting a lot this morning,” said Castonguay. “I tried not to overpower them as much and just get the ball over the plate. If I threw it over the plate, I knew my defense would help me.”

“He threw a lot more off-speed stuff,” said Augusta East coach Chuck Hines. “I think he wants to go Saturday. We hate to look ahead, but he’d like to be able to pitch on Saturday.”

In his five innings, Castonguay fanned five and didn’t walk a batter.

Kevin Brunelle, seeing his first state tourney action from the mound, fired a 1-2-3 sixth to end it.

Castonguay also staked himself to a lead in the top of the first, ripping a two-run single to center field as Augusta East went ahead 2-0.

Nick Howard made it 3-0 in the second, scoring on a passed ball, before AE scored three more runs in the third.

Brandon Royce, who will start Friday’s game against Bangor West, doubled to open the third, went to third on Sean Brawn’s single, and scored on an EB error.

Nick Howard then singled again and another EB error on the play plated Brawn. Kevin Brunelle then grounded out to short, but recorded the RBI to make it 6-0.

“We felt if we could hit their No. 1 pitcher right off the bat, it would take the wind out of their sails,” said Hines. “That’s exactly what happened.”

Aug-East 6, E. Biddeford 1

Augusta East East Biddeford

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

K.Brunll,ss-p 4 1 1 1 Clemons, c-1b 3 0 0 0

L.Brunll,rf 3 1 0 0 Lagassie,2b-cf 3 1 1 0

Gervais, rf 1 0 0 0 Bernier,p-ss 2 0 0 0

Se.Brawn, c 1 0 1 0 Chea, cf-p 2 0 0 0

a-Potvin 1 0 0 0 Makos, rf 0 0 0 0

Cstnguay,p-ss 4 0 1 2 Plessis, 1b 2 0 0 0

Royce, cf 2 1 1 0 Poisson, c 0 0 0 0

Daniels, cf 0 0 0 0 Frechette, 3b 2 0 0 0

Se.Brawn, 1b 3 1 1 0 Pierce,ss-p-cf 1 0 0 0

Thibodeau, 1b 0 0 0 0 Lemirande, lf 1 0 0 0

Cushman, 2b 3 1 0 0 Grattello,of-p 2 0 0 0

Howard, lf 3 1 2 0 Wilson,lf-rf 1 0 0 0

Hinds, 3b 1 0 0 0 Contois, rf 1 0 0 0

Whitaker, 3b 1 0 0 0

Totals 27 6 7 3 Totals 20 1 1 0

a-struck out for Se.Brawn in sixth

Augusta East 213 000 – 6

East Biddeford 000 100 – 1

E – Lagassie, Frechette, Wilson 2B – Royce LOB – Augusta East 7, East Biddeford 1

Pitching Summary

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Augusta East

Castonguay (W) 5 1 1 0 0 5

K. Brunelle 1 0 0 0 0 2

East Biddeford

Bernier (L) 2 4 3 2 1 1

Pierce 0 3 3 2 0 0

Chea 2 0 0 0 2 1

Grattello 2 0 0 0 0 3

WP – Castonguay; Bernier 2, Chea PB – Clemons TIME -1:18