When Tiger Stewart returned to coaching youth baseball in Bucksport several years ago, he saw the talent at the Little League level and sensed a bright future was in the offing.

Now the varsity baseball coach at Bucksport High School, Stewart and many of the same players he coached on Little League all-star teams are one win from a state championship.

Bucksport squares off against Oak Hill of Sabattus for the Class B title at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor, while Lee Academy plays Richmond for the Class D crown at 4 p.m.

In Class C, Searsport will vie for its first state title since 1975 when it faces defending champion Saint Dominic of Auburn in a 5 p.m. start from Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.

Bucksport (18-1) has won 18 straight games, including Wednesday night’s 7-6, eight-inning victory over Winslow in the Eastern B final.

The Golden Bucks, largely a team of juniors and sophomores, have been an explosive offensive unit, batting a collective .385 while stealing a stunning 87 bases in 90 attempts. Among the hitting leaders are senior pitcher-infielder Joe Robicheau, junior pitcher-infielder Chris Maguire and sophomore outfielder Eddie Robbins.

On the mound, Bucksport will turn to Robicheau in the state final. The righthander is 8-1 with a 0.92 earned run average after pitching the Golden Bucks to a 10-3 semifinal victory over Medomak Valley of Waldoboro.

One uncertain factor for Bucksport is the availability of junior second baseman Teddy Cooke. Cooke missed the regional final after suffering a Grade 3 concussion in a motor vehicle accident Tuesday. He was to be checked again by his doctor Friday, Stewart said, but it was unknown if he would see action Saturday.

Oak Hill is 15-5 after rising from the No. 7 seed in Western B to stun top-ranked Greely of Cumberland Center in its regional final. Lefthander Josh Jillson is 7-0 after pitching Oak Hill to a semifinal win over Mountain Valley of Rumford and likely will start against Bucksport. The Raiders also have a top closer in senior Brian Bisson (six saves).

In Class C, Searsport secured its first regional title since 1979 this week after falling in the EM championship game each of the last two years. Coach Dave Pepin’s Vikings (14-5) have allowed just one run in three postseason games this spring and committed only one error over that period.

The Vikings are a youthful team, with first baseman Sean Johnson and pitcher-infielder Matt Nickerson the lone seniors. Johnson is hitting nearly .400 while leading the team in home runs and RBIs, while Nickerson has teamed with sophomore Nate Adams to give Searsport a strong 1-2 pitching punch.

Adams pitched a three-hit shutout in the semifinals as Searsport ended George Stevens of Blue Hill’s four-year hold on the EM title. Nickerson followed that up with a four-hit shutout in the final against Houlton.

Saint Dominic (17-2) is in the state final for the third straight year. After losing to GSA in 2004, the Saints gained revenge last year as Brady Blackman pitched a three-hitter in a 2-1 victory.

Blackman, who is expected to start Saturday, is backed this year by a fairly new supporting cast – the Saint. Dominic roster includes four freshmen, three of whom start. The University of Southern Maine-bound righty is 14-1 over the last two seasons, including 6-0 this year after pitching a 14-strikeout one-hitter in the Saints’ 1-0 victory over Dirigo of Dixfield in the WM final.

In Class D, Lee Academy (18-1) brings a 16-game winning streak into its third state final in five years. Lee topped Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook 5-2 in its quarterfinal, then rallied past Central Aroostook of Mars Hill 9-8 in the semifinals before defeating Van Buren 12-2 in a five-inning EM title game.

Coach Dave Hainer’s Pandas feature six key seniors, including three-year starters Tyler Thompson, Everett Houghton, Charlie Boulrisse and Blaine Clark as well as leadoff hitter Kris King and B.J. Crocker. Thompson has been an offensive catalyst, amassing more than 100 hits and 100 RBIs during his career, while Boulrisse is the ace of the pitching staff with a 6-0 record and one save going into Saturday’s game.

Richmond (17-1) secured its first Western D title since 1998 with a 6-2 victory over Rangeley on Thursday.

The Bobcats are looking for their first state title of the school year after also reaching the state final in boys soccer and boys basketball. Bangor Christian defeated Richmond in the soccer final, while Central Aroostook topped the Bobcats in the basketball title game.

Rob King, the No. 1 starter for coach Ryan Gardner’s club throughout the season, is expected to get the pitching start against Lee.