Jeff Kimball of Old Town pitched a three-hitter and knocked in four runs with three singles as Maine beat Connecticut 12-2 in Friday’s first round of the New England Big League All-Star Championship for players ages 16-18 at Hope Valley R.I.

In state softball action, Augusta East will play Windham for the state title (ages 11-12) today at 9:30 a.m. in Winslow after Augusta East handed Windham its first loss 12-7 on Friday. Augusta East advanced after beating Lincoln County 13-3.

In state Senior League softball action, Scarborough beat Augusta East for the state title 11-7.

Big League

Maine 12, Connecticut 2

At Hope Valley, R.I., the Maine team, made up of District 3 players from Bangor and Old Town, plays Rhode Island at 10 a.m. Saturday. The tournament winner advances to the Big League World Series Aug. 11-17 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Keith Dorr of Bangor singled three times in Maine’s 15-hit attack, while Shane Graham of Old Town hit a two-run home run and a single, and Bangor’s Larry Cyr had a solo homer and a single. Ryan Doucette of Old Town doubled and singled, while Bangor’s Ryan Franklin and Aaron Sucy of Old Town added two hits each.

Maine 331 203 0 – 12 15 2 Connecticut 101 000 0 – 2 3 4

Kimball and Dorr; Mario Scionti and Prue

LL softball (11-12)

Augusta E. 13, Lincoln County 3

At Winslow, Natasha Jackson tripled twice, doubled and drove in three runs help her team win.

Kahler Dowling added a triple and RBI for the winners.

Lindsey McFarland tripled, singled twice and drove in two runs for Lincoln County.

Augusta East (10)02 01 – 13 6 0 Lincoln County 201 00 – 3 5 5

Dumont and Poulin; Giberson and McFarland

LL baseball (11-12)

Brewer, Belfast set for tourney

Brewer and Belfast will travel to Cape Elizabeth today to vie for the state crown at the Little League Baseball State Tournament for 11- and 12-year-olds.

Belfast plays Waterville in the 1 p.m. game at Plaisted Park, to be followed by Brewer and Saco – a 4-2 winner over East Biddeford Friday – at 4 p.m. Portland North, the District 6 champ, has a first-round bye and will not play until 1 p.m. Sunday.

“I expect we’re going to see some pretty good pitching,” said Larry Freeman, Brewer’s coach. “Hopefully, we’ll continue swinging the bats the way we have been.”

Brewer, which has been conducting two practices a day this week, has benefited from a pitching machine the league bought this season.

“We’ve jacked it up as high as it will go,” Freeman said. “The kids go up to the plate with a world of confidence now.”

Brewer will rely on pitcher Adam Freeman (3-0) to get them through the double-elimination tournament as well as his bat for offensive power. Heavy-hitting Adam Barnes and Joel Barrett have also provided high-octane averages.

Belfast stresses defense entering today’s game, according to Coach Mike Towey, who points to a .520 on-base average.

Catcher Steve Johnson leads the team with a .610 batting average, followed by Matt Towey’s .560. Center fielder Chad Hutchinson carries a .440 average and came up with three home runs during the playoffs, including a crucial three-run homer in the District 2 championship game.

Pitching duties are left to Howie Bennett, who threw a two-hitter and allowed only one walk against Damariscotta.

“Both (Bennett and Matt Woodrow) are very good pitchers,” Towey said. “They’re not fastball pitchers but they have very good control.”

“This is a team that’s very well balanced,” Towey said. “In our first three games, our top three hitters were not doing well. In those games our number six, seven, eight, and nine hitters produced the hits.”