Winning playoff baseball means performing under pressure.

The members of Bangor’s Junior League (ages 13-14) and Senior League (ages 15-16) all-star teams have both proven their ability to deliver in the clutch while capturing state championships.

The Bangor squads depart next week for different sites in New Jersey, where they will play in their respective Eastern Regionals. It marks the first time two Bangor teams have advanced to regionals in the same year.

Bangor’s Junior League squad, coached by Jim Owens, Dennis Libbey and Don Heath, is headed for a 12-team, double-elimination tournament at Marlboro, N.J. It opens play Saturday, Aug. 4, at 8 p.m. against Vermont.

The Senior League contingent, led by first-year coaches David Utterback and Travis Brooker, will visit West Deptford, N.J. Bangor is scheduled for an Aug. 4 10 a.m. Eastern Regional opener against the Pennsylvania all-stars.

The hallmark of the Bangor teams this summer has been the ability to perform in clutch situations. The Senior League team, which went 7-1 in District 3 and state play, has won five games in the last inning, including two extra-inning affairs.

The Seniors closed out the state tourney earlier in the week by scoring a run in the seventh to beat Coastal, then manufacturing a two-run, eighth-inning rally to down Saco and force a final game, which Bangor pulled out with three runs in the seventh.

“It’s like we got the runs when we needed to,” Utterback said. “We played very well under pressure and built a lot of character. These guys showed a lot of guts.”

Bangor’s Junior stars boast an unblemished 7-0 record and had a bit easier time of it in district play, outscoring their opponents 48-4. However, it proved its mettle in the state tournament, scoring four runs in the seventh to defeat Biddeford in the second round, then edging Auburn 1-0 in eight innings in the state final.

“They don’t give up,” Owens said. “There’s 14 kids on the team and at some time or another, every one of those kids has made a contribution to win a game.”

Owens said his team features some well-schooled players who should be able to deal with the pressure of playing against high-caliber out-of-state teams.

“They believe in themselves and they play good baseball,” Owens said. “The intent is that the kids have a good time and win if we can.”

The Senior team has excelled under the leadership of Brooker and Utterback, both former Bangor all-stars. Brooker competed on the 1996 Little League (ages 11-12) squad that played in the Eastern Regional at Bristol, Conn.

“It’s probably going to be some of the best memories they have of baseball,” Brooker said of the Regional. “I’ve been trying not to tell too many stories about it do get them all psyched up, because I don’t know what it’s going to be like there [New Jersey].”

The coaches want to make sure the players work through the hype and concentrate on playing.

“Everybody wants to have fun, but we need to focus on the ultimate goal, which is to win,” Utterback said. “There’s really high spirits about going and playing in this. This is really going to be a showcase for a lot of kids.”

The Regionals will present a different challenge for the Heath family, which will have a player in each tournament. Josh Heath is the No. 1 pitcher and an outfielder for the Seniors, while younger brother Jordan Heath plays infield for the Juniors, for whom father Don is an assistant coach.

The Senior club also features a triple threat in the LaRochelles: older brother Matt and twins Mike and Nick are all on the team.

Only a week remains before the first game, so both Bangor all-star teams are soliciting financial help to defray the cost of their trips. Bangor West Side Little League estimates each squad must raise more than $5,000 to pay for its motorcoach travel, lodging and meals.

Local businesses and baseball supporters who wish to aid the cause may send contributions to: Bangor West Side Little League, P.O. Box 2274, Bangor, ME 04402. For details, contact Mike Brooker at 945-4009 or 942-6557.

JUNIOR LEAGUE ALL-STARS

Scott Hackett, Mike McPike, Cory Worcester, Wes Hart, Jordan Heath, Brian Hackett, Keith Clifford, Ryan Kearns, Ben Silver, Ricky Estey, Eric Anderson, Paul Russell, Anthony DeRosa, Matt Currier; Manager: James Owens; Coaches: Dennis Libbey, Don Heath

SENIOR LEAGUE ALL-STARS

Nate Hall, Mike LaRochelle, Matt LaRochelle, Nick LaRochelle, Tyler Hebert, Josh Heath, Payson Nichols, P.J. Dowe, Josh Young, Shawn Dennis, Tim Woodcock, Matt Cassidy, Ryan Willette, Jeff Ward; Coaches: Travis Brooker, David Utterback