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BANGOR – The last 11 years have been rife with near-misses, agonizing losses, and close-but-no-cigar finishes for Lee Academy’s baseball team in the postseason.
That string of frustration – which stretched over two classifications (C and D) – finally came to an end Friday afternoon as the Pandas hoisted aloft their first Eastern Maine Class D championship trophy after beating East Grand of Danforth 6-2.
“The last time we won this, one of our assistant coaches was playing,” said Blair Emery, upon whose left arm rode the Pandas’ fortunes on a warm, sunny day at Mansfield Stadium.
Lee’s senior lefthander pitched a gem as he limited the 8-8 Vikings to three hits, notched seven strikeouts, and allowed one earned run and eight walks.
“My curveball started off really well, but as the game went on, I had to go more and more with my fastball because those guys were catching up with the curve,” said Emery, who threw 65 of 118 pitches for strikes.
Emery, now 6-3, is 2-0 in the playoffs with two runs (one earned) in 12 innings of work.
The 15-5 Pandas will take on 13-4 North Yarmouth Academy for the state title in a 5 p.m. game today at Mansfield.
The only time Emery really got in a jam was the final inning, when he walked the leadoff batter, threw a wild pitch, and then yielded an RBI single to Tim Irish. Irish stole second and Emery walked Ryan Fish, Lee’s No. 9 hitter, but caught a break as catcher Zac Currie gunned Irish out on a steal attempt at third.
Fish advanced on a wild pitch, Seth Preston walked, and Fish stole third. Emery then caught Preston stealing and first baseman Frank Severance tagged him out on a rundown as Fish scampered home. Emery ended the game with a flyout to first.
“We told Blair we were gonna let him finish, being a senior and all,” said Lee coach Randy Harris, explaining his decision not to have anyone warm up in the bullpen.
Harris, now in his 18th year as coach, understood the enormity of his team’s title win as much as anyone on the field.
“It’s a great bunch of kids and a close one. We hang out often … I even play golf with a couple kids,” Harris said. “If any group in 18 years deserves it, this one does.”
The Pandas broke the scoreless tie with three runs in the third. Gerry Worster got things started with a one-out single to center before Emery reached on an outfield fielding error. Severance’s single loaded the bases for Bruce Stevens, who drilled a 3-2 fastball to right- center for a two-run single.
“It was a low fastball. I was just trying to choke up and put the ball in play with two strikes on me,” said the senior second baseman.
Jeremy Ham’s sacrifice fly scored Severance, but East Grand starter Scott Flannery avoided further trouble by catching Stevens off third on a steal attempt for the third out.
Back-to-back singles, a stolen base, and an infield grounder scored another Lee run in the sixth. The Pandas then added two more in the seventh on Emery’s RBI single and Severance’s RBI fielder’s choice.
“I think the difference today was experience,” said first-year Vikings coach Wade McLaughlin. “This is the first time we’ve ever been in an Eastern Maine final in anything other than basketball.”
Experience, plus pitching and a change in attitude, says Stevens.
“I think it’s everybody thinking about the team instead of individual stuff,” he said. “In years past, we’ve had people asking about their batting averages and ERAs and stuff. This year, we want the big banner. That’s all we want.”
PANDAS 6, VIKINGS 2
Lee Academy (15-5) East Grand (8-8)
Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI
Emery, p 4 2 1 1 Preston, c 2 0 0
Severance, 1b 3 1 1 1 J. Fish, cf 2 0
B. Stevens, 2b 4 0 1 2 Flannery, p-ss 3 0
J. Ham, cf 2 1 1 1 Zugelder, 1b 3 0 0
Dow, ss 3 0 1 0 Parker, ss-3b 2 0 0
a-MacDonald 0 0 0 0 C. Irish, rf 3 0 0
Currie, c 3 0 0 0 Byers, 3b-p 2 1 0
Mallett, lf 3 0 0 0 T. Irish, lf 2 0 1
A. Ham, lf 0 0 0 0 R. Fish, 2b 2 1 0
Thompson, rf 2 1 0 0
Worster, 3b 1 1 1 0
b-A. Stevens 0 0 0 0
Totals 25 6 6 5 Totals 21 2 3 1
a-ran for Dow in sixth, b-ran for Worster in fifth
Lee Academy 003 001 2 ? 6
East Grand 000 000 2 ? 2
E?Emery; J. Fish, Flannery, Parker; LOB?Lee 3; East Grand 6; DP?T. Irish-Flannery, Parker-R. Fish-Zugelder; S?Worster; SF?J. Ham; SB?J. Ham, Stevens, Emery 2, Thompson; Parker, T. Irish 3, Flannery, R. Fish
Lee Academy IP H R ER BB SO
Emery (W,6-3) 7 3 2 1 8 7
East Grand IP H R ER BB SO
Flannery (L,4-1) 6 5 4 2 2 2
Byers 1 1 2 2 1 0
WP? Emery 3; PB? Preston 2; T? 2:07; ATT? 400 (est.)
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