GSA seeks third straight title Hancock County schools MDI, DI-S also to play for crowns

Weather permitting, three Hancock County schools will represent Eastern Maine in Saturday’s state championship baseball games.

For George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, it marks the chance to win a third consecutive Class C state title. For Class B Mount Desert Island of Bar Harbor and Class D Deer Isle-Stonington, the finals represent forays into uncharted waters after they earned their first regional titles this week.

MDI will face Gorham at 5 p.m. at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, following the clash between Deer Isle-Stonington and North Yarmouth Academy at 11 a.m. GSA will face St. Dominic of Auburn at 2 p.m. at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor in a rematch of the 2004 Class C final.

The Class A state champ won’t be determined until next Tuesday. The EM A final between Edward Little of Auburn and Oxford Hills of South Paris was postponed for the third straight day Friday and now will be played at 5 p.m. Monday at Morton Field in Augusta. The winner will play Westbrook for the state Class A crown at 5 p.m. Tuesday, also at Morton Field.

MDI was motivated for its championship run by a painful ouster from last year’s EM playoffs, losing its semifinal to Winslow on a suicide squeeze in the ninth inning.

“That left a taste in our mouth throughout the year,” said MDI coach Mike Clark. “Going into the playoffs that taste in our mouths was a little sour. It was tough on us, but we responded. “This was a goal we’ve had all season, and we were able to take it game by game and stay focused.”

MDI (12-7) has allowed just five runs in playoff wins against John Bapst of Bangor (3-1), Bucksport (5-2) and Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield (13-2 in five innings).

“None of us are going on to Division I schools, we just go out and play for fun,” said senior pitcher-shortstop Andy Pooler. “There’s nothing better than going out on the field with nine of your best friends and playing baseball.”

Gorham (19-0) is seeking its first state title since 1998 as it plays its final game in Class B before moving up to Class A. The Rams have allowed just three runs in playoff victories over Oak Hill of Sabbatus (7-0), Cape Elizabeth (6-2) and Poland (2-1).

Anchoring the Gorham pitching staff is junior lefthander Mark Schmidt, 10-0 after playoff victories over Oak Hill and Poland. Senior righthander Ben Thayer (6-1) is another top pitcher, while leading hitters include Schmidt and outfielder-first baseman Chris Donaldson.

Dan Hilts, the only senior on GSA’s roster, likely will have the chance to pursue a rare milestone Saturday. The lefthander, 4-2 this spring, already owns two pitching wins in state finals, shutting out Jay 2-0 in 2003 and besting St. Dominic 12-2 last year.

Hilts has teamed with undefeated junior lefty Collin Henry, 7-0 after a three-hit shutout in the EM final against Searsport, to give the 15-4 Eagles a 1-2 pitching punch that has not allowed a run in 20 postseason innings this spring in wins against Houlton (8-0), Stearns of Millinocket (10-0 in six innings) and Searsport (1-0).

Veteran coach Dan Kane also is quick to point out the depth of contributors on his squad.

“This is a tribute to the hard work all the kids put in,” said Kane. They believe in themselves and they believe in the hard work they do, and it pays off in the end. They’re dedicated to the game, and they play hard day in and day out.”

St. Dominic (16-1) is seeking its first win in its third state final clash against GSA, as the Eagles earned a 7-3 win in their first meeting in 1997.

St. Dom’s features junior pitcher Brady Blackman (6-1), who pitched a one-hitter in the Saints’ 9-0 quarterfinal win against Wiscasset. He then worked just three innings in his team’s 10-0 over Telstar of Bethel in Wednesday’s regional final, meaning he can start Saturday against GSA if called upon by coach Allen Turgeon.

Leading hitters include Jon Rutt, Mike Carpenter and Jake Albert.

Deer Isle-Stonington (14-3) long has been known for basketball, but senior pitcher-outfielder Nick Ciomei, a standout in both sports, hopes baseball is beginning to earn a place in the community’s sports conversation.

“I’ve complained all four years that I’m a baseball player in a basketball town,” said Ciomei, who hopes to be able to play Saturday after suffering a shoulder injury during the Mariners’ 3-0 win over Lee Academy in the EM final.

That win avenged a loss to the Pandas in last year’s semifinals, when DI-Stonington’s lineup included five freshmen.

Before defeating Lee, coach Darren Eaton’s Mariners topped Washburn 10-2 and Shead of Eastport 4-2.

“We averaged seven errors a game last year, and this year we’re averaging about two,” Ciomei said. “Our batting average went from .230 to .330 now. Everything started to click, and we knew we were destined to be here.”

NYA (11-6) is the three-time defending Class D state champion, and will be playing its last game in the division before moving up to Class C.

The No. 3 Panthers won their fourth straight WM championship Thursday with a 7-2 win over Richmond. NYA also has defeated Valley of Bingham (11-1) and Buckfield (5-3) in postseason play. The Panthers are led senior pitcher Tim DeLuca, who pitched just three innings in the WM final and will be available to start Saturday.