BUCKSPORT – After two hours and 44 minutes, 303 pitches, and 11 full innings of clutch plays, key hits, solid pitching, and plenty of drama, Thursday’s day-night marathon matchup between Bangor and Bucksport ended the same way it started – tied.

The baseball powers in Classes A and B, respectively, ended their clash for bragging rights with a 2-2 tie. A tie? In baseball? Both head coaches said due to the likelihood that neither team will be able to schedule a date to finish the game, the result will be a tie with the teams splitting the Heal points.

Although the end result was the same, it was treated differently inside the opposing dugouts.

“We’re disappointed because I think we’re better than the way we’re playing right now,” said coach Jeff Fahey, whose Bangor Rams are now 9-3-1. “We’re just not finishing anybody off.”

The mood was a bit more upbeat on the Golden Bucks’ bench.

“I think it’s a character builder for these kids. You know it’s a playoff atmosphere with the big crowd here and then, when the pitches were thrown, there was dead silence,” said Bucks coach David Gonyar. “We definitely made some strides in the toughness department today.”

The tie overshadowed a classic pitchers’ duel between Bucks righthander Dan Nason (3-0) and Rams lefty Joe Vanidestine (3-1).

Nason was as efficient as he could be on the mound, scattering eight hits and one earned run over nine innings while walking one batter and striking out one. Even more impressive was the junior’s pitch count: 92, 60 for strikes.

“It’s a bit upsetting because I’d have to say this was my best game this season, but it’s good we didn’t end up losing,” Nason said.

Vanidestine stayed in for eight inning, throwing 145 pitches while scattering five hits, striking out 12, and walking eight. The senior also allowed one earned run – a leadoff home run to Abram Allard in the bottom of the second inning.

Bucksport scored a run in the first courtesy of a leadoff walk by Warren Chase, who then stole second and went to third on an errant pickoff throw. He scored on a single up the middle by Jason Harvey.

Bangor tied it in the fourth. With a runner on first and one out, Josh Johnson (three singles) singled to left. Both runners advanced an extra base as the ball got by the left fielder. Another out later, Shawn Bouchard roped an 0-1 fastball deep to straightaway center. Chase raced back and made a back-to-the-plate, snow cone-type catch, but the ball popped out of his glove before he could gather it in and Bouchard had a two-run double.

The Rams had their best opportunity to win in the ninth as they loaded the bases with one out, but Nason escaped via a 5-2-3 double play made possible by a great field-and-throw play by third baseman Adam Sheehan. It was one of three double plays turned by the Bucks, who are now 9-2-1.

“No one lost, but no one really won either,” Vanidestine said. “It’s tough because it’s right there. It’s in your face and you don’t get it.”

Golden Bucks 2, Rams 2

(11 innings)

Bangor (9-3-1) Bucksport (9-2-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Worcester, cf 5 0 1 0 Chase, cf 5 0

Vanidestine, p-rf 4 0 1 0 Sheehan, 3b 4 0

Shea, 2b 4 0 1 0 Harvey, ss 4 0 1

Libbey, 3b 5 1 1 0 Barnes, dh 4 0 0

Johnson, 1b 5 1 3 0 Knight, rf 0 0 0

Proctor, dh 4 0 0 0 McHale, lf 3 0 0

Anderson, lf 0 0 0 0 Mercer, lf 0 0 0

Bouchard, c 4 0 1 2 Allard, 2b 4 1 1

Sullivan, rf 3 0 1 0 Sullivan, 1b 5 0 0

Curran, p 1 0 0 0 a-R.Ames 0 0 0

Bombardier, ss 3 0 0 0 Boober, c 4 0

b-Shain 1 0 0 0 c-J.Ames 0 0 0

Nason, p 4 0 0 0

Grady, p 0 0 0 0

d-Wentworth 1 0 0 0

Totals 39 2 9 2 Totals 38 2 7 2

a-ran for Sullivan in eighth, b-grounded out for Bombardier in eighth, c-ran for Boober in 11th, d-flied out for Grady in 11th

Bangor 000 200 000 00 ? 2

Bucksport 110 000 000 00 ? 2

E?Vanidestine 2, Shea; McHale; LOB?Bangor 7; Bucksport 11; 2B?Bouchard; HR?Allard (1); DP?Bombardier-Shea-Johnson; Havery-Sullivan, Harvey-Allard-Sullivan, Sheehan-Boober-Sullivan; SB?Chase, Harvey, Mercer

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Vanidestine 8 5 2 1 8 12

Shain 3 2 0 0 0 1

Bucksport IP H R ER BB SO

Nason 8? 8 2 1 1 1

Grady 2? 1 0 0 1 0

HBP? Shea by Nason; T?2:44; ATT? 171