Rams take walks and run with them

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BREWER – It had been a rough few days for the Bangor High baseball team.

The Rams went to Aroostook County on Saturday with an unbeaten record and came home with two losses courtesy of the Presque Isle Wildcats.

On Monday, star pitcher Anthony DeRosa was dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons, according to Bangor coach Jeff Fahey.

It got even worse for a time Tuesday night, when Brewer scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead.

But the Rams bounced back, capitalizing on six Brewer walks in the top of the seventh to score seven runs and salvage an 11-6 victory at Heddericg Field.

“We really had no other option, we needed to win this game,” said Bangor shortstop Jordan Heath. “We got a couple of walks that gave us confidence that we could come back, and everyone did a great job in their at-bats. After last weekend we couldn’t lose a third game in a row.”

A two-run double by Brad Brown and an RBI single by Corey Cushing helped Brewer score four runs in the sixth to seemingly take charge.

But Bangor’s first four batters in the seventh drew walks, and all those baserunners scored.

“Bangor’s a great team, and whenever you give a team like that extra opportunities to capitalize, they’re going to come through,” said Brewer coach David Morris.

Heath started the Bangor seventh with a walk and capped off the rally with a two-run double. In between, the Rams waited out three Brewer pitchers, and pinch-hitters Aaron and Alex Gallant each added an RBI infield single.

“I just had a feeling that the Gallant brothers would put the ball in play,” Fahey said. “They didn’t hit it very hard, but they both got on and drove in runs, so it worked out well.”

Heath, in the leadoff spot for the first time this spring, went 4-for-4 with three singles, a double, three runs scored, and two RBIs.

“Jordan Heath had an outstanding game,” said Morris. “He made the plays defensively, he hit the ball, and I think he was the catalyst. He was the difference maker in my eyes.”

Jessefa Murphy earned the pitching win in relief of starter Eric Anderson, who worked into the sixth inning in his first start of the season despite having a Kevin McAvoy line drive ricochet off his foot in the first inning – a ball eventually caught by third baseman Brian Hackett to start a double play.

“I think his foot got a little stiff,” said Fahey, “but for having not pitched much since last year, that was a heck of an effort.”

Heath singled and scored in the top of the first, but Brewer scored twice in the second to take its first lead. Bangor then assumed control with two runs in the third and a single run in the fourth.

RAMS 11, WITCHES 6

Bangor (6-2) Brewer (4-3)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Heath, ss 4 3 4 2 Otis, lf 2 0 0

Eremita, cf 3 2 1 1 Hardy, dh 4 1 0

B. Hackett, 3b 3 0 1 1 Adams, ss 0 0

Toomey, pr 0 1 0 0 McAvoy, p-3b 4 1 0

Anderson, p 2 0 0 2 Grimes, cf 4 1 0

Murphy, p 0 1 0 0 Brown, 1b 3 2 2

Russell, p 0 0 0 0 Cushing, 2b 2 1 1

Kearns, dh 3 0 0 0 Nicknair, pr 0 0 0

Jones, 2b 0 0 0 0 Kotredes, c 3 0 0

S. Hackett, 1b 2 1 0 1 Gray, 3b-p 2 1

Ingraham, rf 3 0 0 0 Economy, p 0 0 0

Aa. Gallant, ph 1 1 1 1 Davis, rf 3 0

Webb, c 4 1 1 1

Sturgeon, lf 2 0 0 0

Al. Gallant, ph 1 1 1 1

Totals 28 11 9 10 Totals 27 6 7 4

Bangor 102 100 7 – 11

Brewer 020 004 0 – 6

E-Jones 2; Adams; LOB-Bangor 7; Brewer 5; 2B-Heath; Brown; DP-Anderson-B. Hackett-Jones; S-Sturgeon; SF-S. Hackett; SB-Heath 2

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Anderson 5 1/3 6 6 4 3 4

Murphy (W,1-0) 1 2/3 1 0 0 2 1

Russell (S) 1 0 0 0 0 0

Brewer IP H R ER BB SO

McAvoy 6* 6 6 5 5 8

Gray (L,0-1) 0# 0 2 2 2 0

Economy 1 3 3 3 2 0

*-Murphy pitched to one batter in the seventh

#-McAvoy pitched to two batters in the seventh

WP-Murphy; PB-Webb 2; Kotredes; T-2:10; ATT-155