W.A. Raiders face Falmouth> Windjammers, Hornets, Rams also seek baseball championships

Two years ago, coach Bob Gilman expected his team to contend for a playoff spot. To his surprise, his Falmouth Yachtsmen won the Class C baseball state championship.

Last year, the defending champs had everyone back from the previous season, went undefeated during the regular season, and lost a heartbreaker in the Western Maine semifinals.

This year, the last thing Gilman wanted to talk about was team expectations. The lessons of the past have taught him to be wary of others’ expectations and predictions.

“We learned our lesson last year after we had a very powerful, undefeated team. We expected to win it because we had everyone back, and we lost by one run,” Gilman said. “Two years ago, we won the state championship and that was a bit of a surprise… So we don’t take anything for granted.”

Especially a Class C state championship game like the one Saturday against Washington Academy of East Machias. The game is a rematch of sorts between the same two teams that met in the Class C state basketball final less than 3 1/2 months ago.

This time around, the 15-3 Yachtsmen will take on the 16-1 Raiders in a 7 p.m. game at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

“In a one-ballgame set, you just never know,” said Gilman. “Sometimes it only takes one or two errors, especially against a very good team, to lose.”

That lesson will probably be learned by at least one team among the eight assembled to try and take home trophies on state championship Saturday. The Class A game between 14-5 Cony of Augusta and 17-2 Portland starts off the action in Standish at 1 p.m.

At Mansfield Stadium in Bangor, 14-5 Camden-Rockport will meet 16-4 Gorham for the Class B crown in an 11:45 a.m. game and 15-2 Ashland will play 12-6 Richmond for the Class D title at 3:45 p.m.

In the event games are rained out Saturday, Maine Principals’ Assocation representatives said they will be played Tuesday at the same times and in the same locations.

Despite the presence of standout senior righthander Tyler Anderson – who sports a 27-1 career high school record after going 6-0 this season and hasn’t lost a game since midway through his senior year – Gilman hadn’t yet decided Friday afternoon if he would get the start.

Gilman is conflicted due to the presence of two other standout pitchers on his team: righthanders Kerry Robillard (5-1) and Spike Einsiedler (3-0).

“Strong pitching and very good defense have been the factors in our success,” said Gilman.

The defense has been so good, Falmouth has given up a season-high five runs just once this season. In 15 regular-season games, the Yachtsmen have committed 15 errors. And in three playoff games?

“We’ve had none – knock on wood,” said Gilman.

Offensively, Falmouth is led by senior right fielder Tim Frend, who leads the team in average (.537) and RBIs. Einsiedler, who Gilman calls “arguably one of the best shortstops in the state, in any class” is batting .434. Both first baseman Robillard and third baseman Roger Levesque are hitting over .400.

Washington Academy will counter with Glen Wood (6-0) as its starting pitcher.

The Raiders lineup is keyed by first baseman Mike Fergerson (.571, 17 RBIs), center fielder Josh Ramsdell (.396, 17 RBIs), shortstop-pitcher Wood (.468, six homers, 11 RBIs; .500 in playoffs) and shortstop-pitcher Brandon Ashby (.327, 14 RBIs; .500 in playoffs), and James Smith (.351).