SANFORD – Just when those Amazin’ Acadians looked like they might just pull out this state American Legion tournament almost nobody gave them any chance to win, Andrews Post batters created a deficit even Trenton’s comeback kids couldn’t answer.

An 11-run second inning explosion gave Andrews Post of Portland a lead Trenton couldn’t erase en route to a 19-6, mercy rule-shortened victory in Wednesday night’s championship game at Goodall Park.

Andrews Post apparently learned its lesson in Wednesday’s first championship round game after the Acadians came from behind three times to hand Andrews its first tourney loss (8-6) because they kept on swinging and piling on the runs even after the big inning.

“We took that first game for granted,” admitted Andrews third baseman Murdock Walker, who took the mound in relief and threw three innings of three-hit, no-run baseball for his third victory in the tourney. “We kind of came in thinking we were going to finish it off in one easy game, but we got a reality check and no one beats us twice in a row.”

“We were more focused that second game,” agreed catcher John Melanson, who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs to lead Andrews’ 14-hit parade.

Despite having sent to the plate 15 batters, who took turns battering three pitchers in the second and turning a 3-2 Trenton lead to 13-2 Andrews, Trenton wouldn’t die.

The 22-9 Acadians scrapped for two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to cut the lead to seven (13-6), but Andrews batters weren’t about to become yet another victim of an improbable Acadians comeback.

So Andrews got all three runs back in the fifth, thanks to a fielding error on the leadoff batter, three straight singles – the last a two-run liner to right center by No. 8 hitter Steve Duperre – and a sacrifice fly.

“We weren’t about to relax. I mean these guys can come back,” Melanson said. “We heard they came back from seven runs down with two outs in the ninth and we knew we had to get more. I think the runs we got in the fifth were the real key ones.”

Andrews added three more in the sixth on just one hit, thanks to three walks and a hit batter as Trenton was forced to bring in a fourth pitcher.

Trenton certainly wasn’t outclassed hitting-wise, as all-tournament team members Adam Meyer and Ben Donaldson teamed with Toby Cole to lead a 12-hit attack with two hits apiece.

“These kids are a great group,” said visibly emotional and choked-up Trenton coach Charlie Farley. “But it’s tough to beat a good team twice, even though we gave it a real good shot.”

Farley said this will probably be his last year as head coach. He misses the time spent away from his family and, in particular, his three-month old daughter and is planning to call it quits after two seasons.

Named to the all-tourney squad were Trenton’s Seth Cole, Meyer, and Donaldson; Walker, Melanson, Simon Williams and Travis Ferrante of Andrews; Aaron Civiello of Orono; Josh Cushman, Dave Dostie, and Aaron Young of Augusta; Miguel Gonzales from Oxford Hills; New Auburn’s Greg Dumais; and Cumberland’s Kerry Robillard.

Trenton was also presented the tourney’s sportsmanship award in addition to its runnerup plaques.

The first game featuring six lead changes with Trenton sending nine men to the plate in a three-run seventh inning to beat Andrews.

Cole highlighted Trenton’s seventh with an RBI triple, as Mike Worcester and Mike Sirois also contributed RBI singles. Trenton added an insurance run in the ninth, as Donaldson scored on an error following a leadoff triple. Donaldson led the Acadians with a double, triple and two singles.

Starter Matt McFarland picked up the win as he scattered nine hits and walked two.

Adam Meyer hit three singles and drove in two for Trenton. Rick McDonald singled twice and Cole singled and tripled.

Acadians 8, Andrews 6

(Wednesday Afternoon)

Trenton Andrews

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

McDonald, cf 5 2 2 0 Zack, cf 5 1 1 0

S. Cole, ss 4 2 2 1 Meader, rf 4 1 1 0

Meyer, 3b 4 1 3 2 Melanson, c 4 2 1 1

Worcester, dh 5 1 2 3 Sa. Williams,1b 4 1 2 0

Donaldson, c 5 1 4 0 M. Walker, 3b 4 1 2 1

T. Cole, 2b 5 0 1 0 Si. Williams,lf 3 0 1 1

Sirois, 1b 5 0 1 1 J.D. Walker, dh 3 0 0 1

Kiley, lf 3 0 0 0 DuPerre, ss 3 0 0 0

a-Sadlier 1 0 0 0 Morris, 2b 4 0 1 0

Lewandwski,lf 1 0 0 0

Pinkham, rf 5 1 1 0

Totals 43 8 16 7 Totals 34 6 9 4

a-struck out for Kiley in seventh

Trenton (22-8) 003 010 301 – 8

Andrews (23-9) 100 310 100 – 6

E – S. Cole, Meyer, T. Cole; Si. Williams, DuPerre 2B – Donaldson 3B – Donaldson, S. Cole LOB – Trenton 10, Andrews 7 DP – S. Cole-T. Cole-Sirois SB – Melanson 2, Sa. Williams S – S. Cole SF – Melanson, J.D. Walker

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Trenton

McFarland (W, 5-4) 9 9 6 4 2 2

Andrews

Ferrante (L, 5-3) 7 14 7 7 1 6

Golden 2 2 1 0 0 1

HBP – Si. Williams by McFarland WP – McFarland TIME – 2:21 ATTENDANCE – 187

Andrews 19, Acadians 6

(Wednesday Night)

Trenton (22-9) Andrews (24-9)

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

McDonald,2b 4 0 2 1 Zack, cf 3 2 0 0

S. Cole, ss 4 0 0 0 Meader, rf 4 2 1 1

Meyer, 3b 4 1 2 0 Melanson, c 5 3 4 3

Worcester, c 4 0 0 0 Sa.Wilmsm,3b 3 2 2 1

Donaldsn,rf-p 4 1 2 0 M.Walker,3b-p 4 3 2 2

T. Cole, 2b-p 2 2 2 0 Si.Willms,p-lf 5 2 2 1

a-Hebron 1 0 1 0 Brown, lf 3 1 1 2

Sirois, 1b 3 1 1 1 J.D.Walker,1b 1 1 1 1

b-Cunninghm 1 0 0 0 DuPerre, ss 2 2 1 3

McFarlnd,3b-lf 2 1 1 2 Morris, 2b 3 1 0 1

Kiley, cf 1 0 0 0

c-Bickford 1 0 0 0

Pinkham, rf 3 0 1 0

Totals 34 6 12 5 Totals 33 19 14 15

a-singled for T. Cole in seventh.

b-flied out for Sirois in seventh.

c-flied out for Kiley in seventh.

Trenton 0 3 0 210 0 – 6

Andrews 2(11)0 033 x – 19

E – McDonald, S. Cole 2, Worcester; Melanson, Rocker, DuPerre 2B – T. Cole, McFarland; Meader, Melanson 3B – McDonald, Si. Williams LOB – Trenton 8, Andrews 8 SB – Zack S – Morris SF – Morris

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Trenton

Meyer (L,6-2) 1* 2 5 5 5 0

Donaldson 0# 5 7 7 1 0

T. Cole 4 1/3 7 5 5 0 3

Hardison 2/3 0 2 2 2 1

Andrews

Si. Williams 4 9 6 5 0 1

M. Walker (W,6-2) 3 3 0 0 1 1

*-faced three batters in the second

#-faced seven batters in the second HBP – DuPerre by Donaldson, Sa. Williams by Hardison WP – Donaldson, Hardison PB – Worcester 3 TIME – 2:22 ATTENDANCE – 187