BANGOR – For Van Buren, the 2006 baseball season has been all about surviving – surviving the challenges of a nine-player roster, and surviving a 3-7 start to earn a playoff berth.

For Lee Academy, the 2006 baseball season has been largely about the quest for a championship – a quest that continued at Mansfield Stadium on Wednesday when the top-ranked Pandas defeated No. 7 Van Buren 12-2 in an Eastern Maine Class D final that ended in the bottom of the fifth inning under the 10-run rule.

“We’ve talked about [a state championship], without letting the cat out of the bag,” said Lee senior infielder Tyler Thompson, who tripled, doubled and drew two intentional walks to pace the Pandas’ 12-hit offense. “That’s the one we want.”

The win, Lee’s 16th straight, sends the Pandas to Saturday’s 4 p.m. state final here against the winner of Thursday’s Western D clash between Richmond and Rangeley. That final was postponed Wednesday due to rain in southern Maine.

Lee (18-1) took control of the EM final with four runs in the first inning off Van Buren righthander Andrew Taylor and put the game away with six runs in the bottom of the third.

Not even a brief delay – thought to be caused by thunder and lightning in the area but later traced to a sonic boom of sorts caused by a passing jet experiencing compressor issues, according to Maine Principals’ Association executive director Dick Durost – could slow Lee’s march to its third state final in five years.

“You’ve got to tip your hat to Lee,” said Van Buren coach Brian Hews. “They’re just a real good ballclub. They’ve been here many times over, and they’ve proven themselves many times over. No question they’re the better team, and I wish them good luck in the state game.”

A two-run double by Kyle McLeod and a double by Thompson highlighted Lee’s first-inning rally, which also benefited from two walks and a pair of Van Buren errors.

Thompson opened the Lee third with a triple to right center, and Everett Houghton and winning pitcher Charlie Boulrisse followed with back-to-back RBI doubles. B.J. Crocker made it four hits in a row with an RBI single, and Derek Worster later delivered a two-run single before Blaine Clark capped off the uprising with a one-out RBI single to center.

“We were patient in the first inning and made [Taylor] throw strikes, and then in that third inning it was just line drive after line drive,” said Lee coach Dave Hainer. “It was a good feeling.”

Van Buren (10-8) broke through for its runs in the fourth against Clark, who had relieved Boulrisse. Trevor Hews hit an infield single and Alex Martin walked, and two outs later Lance Smith walked to load the bases before Keith Vaillancourt hit his second single of the game to drive home two runs and cut the gap to 10-2.

Lee ended the game an inning later against Van Buren reliever Matt Parent. Worster walked, went to third on Kris King’s single and scored on a wild pitch. After two walks loaded the bases, Houghton singled home King to give the Pandas their 10-run margin of victory.

It was a win steeped in balance – all nine starters in the Lee lineup had at least one hit.

“It’s been just like that all year,” said Thompson, who has more than 100 career hits and 100 career RBIs for the Pandas. “That really takes a load off everybody, because you know there’s always someone behind you who can pick up the slack.”

PANDAS 12, CRUSADERS 2

Van Buren (10-8) Lee Academy (18-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Chasse, 1b 3 0 0 0 King, 1b-rf 4 1 0

Hews, ss-3b 3 1 1 0 Clark, ss-p 3 1 1

Martin, c 1 1 0 0 Parker, pr 0 0 0

Taylor, p-ss 2 0 0 0 Thompson, 2b-ss 2 2 0

Parent, 3b-p 2 0 0 0 T. Worster, pr 0 0 0

Smith, 2b 1 0 0 0 Houghton, c 3 2 2

Vaillancourt, rf 2 0 2 2 Boulrisse, p-1b 2 1

St. Pierre, lf 2 0 0 0 Crocker, 3b 3 0

Boulware, cf 1 0 0 0 Dow, pr 0 1 0 0

McLeod, lf 2 1 1 2

Braley, dh 1 0 1 0

Linscott, rf-2b 0 0 0 0

MacDonald, ph 1 0 0 0

D. Worster, cf 1 2 1 2

Totals 17 2 3 2 Totals 22 12 12 8

Van Buren 000 20 – 2

Lee Academy 406 02 -12

E-Boulware 2, St. Pierre, Martin; LOB-Van Buren 3, Lee Acad. 7; 2B-Thompson, Houghton, Boulrisse, McLeod; 3B-Thompson; DP-Parent to Chasse; S-Boulware; SB-King

Van Buren IP H R ER BB SO

Taylor (L, 3-3) 2 8 8 5 2 1

Parent 2 4 4 4 4 1

Lee Academy IP H R ER BB SO

Boulrisse (W, 6-0) 3 1 0 0 0 4

Clark 2 2 2 2 2 2

Taylor pitched to three batters in third inning.

Parent pitched to five batters in fifth inning.

HBP-Worster (by Taylor), Braley (by Parent); WP-Taylor, Parent; T-1:28; ATT-200 (est.)