Bunker, Lewandowski spark Acadians> Heavy hitting lifts Trenton by Brewer

BANGOR – The Trenton Acadians did their best impersonation of the hot-hitting Brewer Falcons at Mansfield Stadium Friday afternoon by hitting almost everything that came across the plate while scoring early and often.

It seemed to suit them as No. 3-seeded Trenton jumped on the No. 2 Falcons early with a five-hit, four-run effort in the top of the first and then delivered the knockout punch with eight runs on four hits in the fifth.

When they were done treating the bases as subway turnstiles, the Acadians were on the dominating end of a 15-4 victory in the first game of the American Legion Zone 1 baseball tournament.

Trenton, now 12-6, will take on the winner of Friday night’s 1-4 matchup between Orono and Bangor in an 8 p.m. Saturday winners’ bracket matchup. The 12-7 Falcons will meet Friday night’s loser in a 4:30 p.m. elimination game.

The top of Trenton’s batting order made life miserable for Brewer’s pitchers all game long as leadoff batter Courtney Bunker went 4-for-5, scoring three runs and driving in another.

“I don’t know. I guess we’re in a rhythm right now and everything’s flowing,” said Bunker, who played for Ellsworth High School. “That score even surprised us a little.”

No. 2 hitter John Lewandowski also fueled Trenton’s 15-hit parade with a 3-for-4 effort, the highlight of which was a two-run triple in the pivotal fifth.

Rookie head coach Bill Hodgdon said the start of the game was crucial for his Acadians.

“Oh yeah, without question. The first inning has been our nemesis all year long,” Hodgdon said. “Normally, we give up three or four runs and that really sets us back.

“Having those crooked numbers on the board early got us going and it really helped Mike out on the mound.”

Starter Mike Cowperthwaite gave up 12 hits, but only five in the first four innings as the Acadians firmly took control with a 7-0 lead. The righthander threw 103 pitches and only walked one batter while striking out five.

Other offensive heroes for Trenton were Tyler Balombini-Goddard (3-for-4, one RBI), Toby Cole (triple, single, three runs, two RBIs), and Greg Ingalls (two singles, four RBIs, two runs).