BRISTOL, Conn. – Bangor West manager Mike Brooker’s quavered with emotion as he discussed his son’s pitching performance Wednesday.

Travis Brooker, called upon to fill the second spot in the rotation with ace Jeremy Karam ailing, scattered 10 hits and hit a run-scoring single as Maine champ Bangor West ripped Salem, N.H. 12-3 in the Eastern Regional Little League Baseball Tournament here at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Complex.

“For a kid who hasn’t pitched since the end of June, to go out and only walk two batters is doing a heck of a job,” the manager said.

“I’m awfully proud right now.”

In the first Bangor West postseason game pitched by anyone other than Karam or Barrett Dionne, the younger Brooker tossed a complete game, allowed no earned runs and struck out five batters.

Bangor West, the first team to win two games in the tournament, earned a day off before moving into a winners’ bracket game at 5 p.m. Friday against the powerful Massachusetts champs from Middleboro. Middleboro banged out 23 hits in drubbing Oakland, Md. 18-6 Wednesday.

Brooker precariously matched scoreless innings with Salem starter Fred Carter through the first three frames. In the first, he stranded runners on first and third. In the third, he left the bases loaded.

“I just threw as hard as I could for as long as I could,” he said. “Our defense did a heck of a job. Mike (Dube) did great at second. Josh (Johnson) made a great diving catch at short and Jeremy (Karam) made a great running catch.”

His father added, “People say we haven’t had to play defense because our pitching has been so overpowering but we have as good a defense as anybody. We can make the plays if we have to.”

Bangor jumped on top in the fourth with three runs. Karam doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. Dan Martin walked and stole second. Dionne – the winning pitcher Tuesday in Bangor’s opening-round win over Trumbull, Conn. – drove in Karam with a bouncer to second.

Bob Fillion walked and pinch runner Kurt Calligan came around to score on a single by Brooker.

Salem finally broke through in the top of the fifth. Mike MacLean singled, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an error.

But Bangor blew the game open by batting around and scoring nine times in the bottom of the fifth.

Karam drove in two with a double. Martin and pinch hitter Brrapped RBI singles, and Charlie Makris contributed a run-scoring double.

Mike Brooker will call on Karam to face the hard-hitting Bay Staters after a planned day of swimming and a visit to a local arcade.

“(Middleboro) hit the heck out of the ball but they haven’t faced a pitcher like Jeremy Karam,” said Brooker. “I knew we’d have to pitch three guys here and it’s worked out well because Travis stepped up. Jeremy’s feeling better and if he can go Friday, we’ll save Barrett for Sunday, which will give him five days rest.”

Dionne, who threw more pitches Tuesday than he ever had before, said his arm has fully recovered.

“We’re just gonna take one game at a time and try to win every one,” he said. “We’re living in a dream.”

Thre dream will be that much more pleasant if Karam is healthy. He has had therapy on his pitching shoulder once since arriving in Bristol.

Karam said his arm hurts, but he’s ready to go.

“It hurts at the release point, but I’m gonna give it a go,” he said.

Bangor West 12, Salem 3

Salem Bangor West

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

Mackor, ss-p 3 0 1 2 Johnson, ss 3 2 2 0

Baker, pr 0 0 0 0 Makris, c 3 0 1 1

MacLean, 2b 4 1 2 0 Karam, cf 4 2 2 2

Bergeron, rf 4 0 3 0 Martin, 1b 2 2 2 1

Carter, p 2 0 0 0 Edwards, pr 0 0 0 0

Carrier, ph 1 0 0 0 Dionne, rf 3 1 2 1

Morgano, 3b 2 0 0 0 Fillion, lf 2 1 1 0

Burke, ph 1 0 0 0 Calligan, ph 0 1 0 0

Deloge, 1b 2 0 0 0 Brooker, p 3 0 1 1

Dunn, ph 1 0 0 0 Sypitkowski, pr 0 0 0 0

Lopialato, 1b 0 0 0 0 Dube, 2b 2 0 0 0

McKenzie, c 2 1 2 0 Arnold, ph 0 1 0 0

Wilson, cf 3 1 1 0 Libby, 3b 2 1 1 1

Gafney, lf 3 0 1 0 Hickey, ph 1 1 1 1

Totals 28 3 10 2 Totals 25 12 13 8

Salem 000 012 – 3

Bangor West 000 39x – 12

E – Mackor, MacKenzie, Deloge 2; Johnson, Libby 2B – MacKenzie; Makris, Karam 2 LOB – Salem 10, Bangor West 3 DP – Mackor to MacLean to Deloge; MacLean to Mackor to Deloge SB – Martin S – Johnson, Makris

Pitching Summary

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Salem

Carter (L) 4 5 3 2 2 3

Mackor 1 8 9 4 1 0

Bangor West

Brooker (W) 6 10 3 0 2 5

HBP – MacKenzie (by Brooker) WP – Carter, Mackor; Brooker 2 PB – MacKenzie 2