Brewer keeps Bangor out of tourney

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BREWER – The Bangor Comrades still had a chance to make the Zone 1 American Legion tournament when they took on cross-town rival Brewer Monday night at Heddericg Field.

But knocking off the Zone’s top team proved to be too much for the Comrades. The Falcons racked up 13 hits en route to an 11-1 triumph, improving their mark to 19-2 and securing the number one seed in the Zone tournament.

Bangor and Waldo County were locked in a battle for the fourth and final tourney spot heading into Monday’s games. If Waldo lost to Trenton and Bangor defeated Brewer, it would have forced a playoff for the fourth position.

Given Brewer’s win, Waldo’s 7-6 loss to Trenton did not keep Waldo out of the tourney. Orono (17-4) and Trenton (14-7) secured the second and third tournament berths.

The Zone tournament will get under way Friday with two games at Bangor’s Mansfield Stadium. The top two teams to emerge from the double elimination tourney will advance to the Aug. 2-6 state tournament.

Brewer looks ready to defend its state title.

“They’re a great team,” said Bangor coach Joe Nelson. “They have all the elements – pitching, hitting, and defense.”

The Falcons led 4-1 after three innings and dispelled any hope Bangor might have had for victory with a five-run fifth. Brewer belted out six hits, including five doubles, to build a 9-1 edge.

Jody Peak laced a two-run double and Bruce Morneault slammed an RBI double to pace the rally.

“We had timely hitting, but our pitching made the difference,” said Morneault, who was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and did not allow a hit or a run in a seventh-inning relief appearance.

Starter Chris Soper was solid over four innings, giving up five hits and one run without walking a batter. Matt Gilbert worked the fifth and sixth, striking out three and allowing one hit before Morneault came on to pitch the seventh.

Although the outcome of the game did not affect Brewer’s standing in the Zone, coach Dave Gonyar said it was important for the Falcons to play well and create momentum for the tournament.

“Everyone goes in [(to the tournament) 0-0],” said Gonyar.

Morneault said the game was important because it gave the Falcons a chance to establish an edge over their traditional rivals.

“The rivalry makes it worthwhile,” said the Brewer High senior. “I know all the kids, and it makes it more fun to beat people you know. We wanted to come out and beat them and keep them out of the playoffs.”

Gonyar downplayed the rivalry, saying he told his team to approach the game like any other. But Nelson said it was a factor.

“Anytime Bangor plays Brewer it means something. When umpires show up, they’re going to try to play hard and play to win,” said Nelson.

Rightfielder Mike Kane aided the Brewer cause with two doubles, a single, and three runs scored. Greg Gobel had two doubles and two singles and Peak wound up with three RBIs on a double and a single.

For Bangor, centerfielder T.J. True went 3-for-3 with two singles, a double, and an RBI.

Trenton 7, Waldo County 6

At Trenton, Rick McDonald ripped a pair of doubles to spark Trenton.

Torrey McDonald and Mike Worcester each drove in a pair of runs and Matt McFarland tripled for the winners.

George Tripp put on a power display, bashing two home runs, a two-run blast and a solo shot, and driving in three runs for Waldo. Josh Pooler doubled.

Waldo (9-12) 000 022 2 – 6 5 2 Trenton (14-7) 211 300 x – 7 5 2

Guthrie, Cox (5) and C. Maheux, R. Maheux; Wessell and Worcester

Orono 8, Hermon 6

At Hermon, Steve Osborne drove in a pair of runs and came on to close the game for Orono in the seventh inning.

Osborne tripled and had two sacrifice flies. Darrin Daniels went 2-for-3 with a triple and a double. Matt Menard drove in a run and singled and doubled.

Brock Hartford smashed a two-run double for Hermon. Adam Hunt also had a run-scoring double.

Orono (17-4) 100 220 3 – 8 7 2 Hermon (6-15) 000 004 2 – 6 7 3

Allen, Young (4), Mooney (6), Osborne (7) and Menard; Townsend, Hartford (6) and Smith

Falcons 11, Comrades 1

Bangor (8-13) Brewer (19-2)

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

True, cf 3 0 3 1 Knckrbockr,ss 4 2 1 0

Soucie, lf-rf 3 0 1 0 Smith, cf 3 1 0 0

Alaimo, p-lf 2 0 0 0 Kane, rf 4 3 3 1

Perry, 1b 3 0 0 0 Gobel, 3b 4 2 3 1

Nill, c 3 0 1 0 Peak, 2b 3 1 2 3

Shea, 3b 3 0 0 0 Gilley, dh 3 1 1 1

Tremble, rf-p 3 0 0 0 Morneault,lf-p 3 1 2 1

Chadburne,2b 3 1 1 0 Pollard, 1b 3 0 1 1

Carey, ss 2 0 0 0 Corey, c 3 0 0 0

Hiatt, rf 0 0 0 0 Preston, lf 1 0 0 1

a-Penny 1 0 0 0 d-Campbell 1 0 0 0

b-Waring 1 0 0 0 Gross, 1b 0 0 0 0

c-Mick 1 0 0 0

Totals 28 1 5 1 Totals 32 11 13 9

a-grounded out for Soucie in seventh

b-reached on an error for True in seventh

c-flied out for Carey in seventh

d-grounded out for Gilley in sixth

Bangor 001 000 0 – 1

Brewer (19-2) 103 052 x – 11

E – Carey 2, Chadbourne; Gobel, Knickerbocker, Preston 2B – True; Kane 2, Gobel 2, Morneault 2, Peak, Pollard LOB – Bangor 7, Brewer 7 DP – Knickerbocker to Peak to Pollard, Peak to Pollard SB – Soucie 2, Alaimo; Knickerbocker, Gobel, Corey SF – Preston

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Bangor

Alaimo (L) 4 1/3 10 9 9 2 2

Tremble 1 2/3 2 2 1 2 1

Brewer

Soper (W, 3-1) 4 5 1 1 0 1

Gilbert 2 1 0 0 1 3

Morneault 1 0 0 0 0 0

WP – Tremble 2 PB – Corey TIME – 1:52