McAvoy, Gomm key Witches Brewer tops Eagles, to play Thursday

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BREWER – Brewer baseball coach David Morris was in a bit of a quandary Sunday. Throw his top guy for Monday’s playoff game against Messalonskee, despite an 11-day layoff, or save ace lefty Chad Gomm for later in the playoffs?

Morris turned to Bucksport coach Dave Gonyar, whom Morris saw at a coaches’ meeting Sunday, for some advice.

“He said, that first game, you get that first one and you can get on a roll and move on,” Morris said. “Pitching Chad, I think that gave us the best chance with the confidence the kids have in him.”

Both coaches made the right call. Gomm scattered six hits and gave up one unearned run, and freshman Kevin McAvoy sparked the Witches with a three-run triple, as No. 2 Brewer earned an 8-1 victory over the No. 7 Eagles of Oakland in a Northeastern division quarterfinal at Heddericg Field Monday night.

Brewer, now 13-4, will face the winner of Tuesday’s game between No. 6 Waterville and No. 3 Old Town in a division semifinal Thursday. The Eagles wrap up their season at 5-13.

Messalonskee was clinging to a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when Eagles lefty Justin Parker gave up a one-out walk to Zac Bouzan-Kaloustian. A Tony Doucette single put Bouzan-Kaloustian at second.

After a flyout, Joe Griffin singled in Bouzan-Kaloustian, tying the game. Chris Cote was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and the Witches went ahead for good when Shawn Sutherland drew a walk, scoring Doucette.

The bases were still loaded for McAvoy, who smacked a 1-2 fastball deep into right field.

“I just hoped to God it wasn’t caught,” McAvoy said with a smile. “[Parker] was getting a little tired and he was letting up on his curve and his change and just threw fastballs. He threw it outside and I took it opposite field.”

McAvoy hadn’t had many at-bats in Brewer’s postseason exhibition games last week, but Morris had a good feeling about him Monday.

“We said we were going to give him a shot tonight,” Morris said. “He’s a strong kid. That pitch was outside and he drove it.”

McAvoy came in on a balk and Parker got a strikeout to end it.

Cote hit a two-run single in the sixth, plating Matt Sargent (two singles) and Joel Barrett, who had been intentionally walked.

Messalonskee posted its run in the third inning. Gomm walked Michael Pierce, and a balk put Pierce at second base. He scored on a throwing error.

Gomm (seven strikeouts, one walk) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

“I was behind in the count but I had confidence in what I was throwing,” said Gomm, who was part of a game-ending double play in the seventh. “I came back with my curveball even though it wasn’t working as well.”

The Eagles left three runners in the sixth, and left runners at first and second in the first inning.

“We couldn’t really group anything together and [Gomm] had us a little off-balance,” Messalonskee coach Nate Stubbert said. “We seemed to hang in there and hit him, but we couldn’t string anything together. That’s kind of been the story with us all year.”

WITCHES 8, EAGLES 1

Messalonskee (5-13) Brewer (13-4)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Baker, cf 3 0 1 0 Bouzan-Kalstian, ss 3 0

Pierce, 2b 2 1 0 0 Doucette, 2b 4 1 0

Gilbert, c 3 0 1 0 Barrett, 1b 2 1 0

Sheine, dh 3 0 1 0 Griffin, c 3 1 1

Doody, 3b 3 0 1 0 Cote, 3b 3 1 2

Wrigley, ss 3 0 0 0 Sutherland, rf 3 1 1

Feather, 1b 3 0 0 0 McAvoy, dh 3 1 3

Phillips, lf 3 0 1 0 Bell, lf 3 0 0

Castonguay, rf 3 0 1 0 Sargent, cf 3 0

a-Hross 0 0 0 0

Totals 26 1 6 0 Totals 27 8 11 7

a-ran for Castonguay in the seventh

Messalonskee 001 000 0 ? 1

Brewer 000 062 x ? 8

E?Feather, Phillips, Castonguay; Griffin LOB?Messalonskee 7, Brewer 7; 3B?McAvoy; DP?Gomm-Barrett-Cote; SB?Cote

Messalonskee IP H R ER BB SO

Parker (L, 2-5) 6 11 8 6 5 6

Brewer IP H R ER BB SO

Gomm (W,3-3-1) 7 6 1 0 1 7

HBP?Cote by Parker; BK?Parker; Gomm; PB?Gilbert; T?1:57; ATT?150 (est.)