Andrews withstands Falcons’ best

The lot of a runner-up is bittersweet; satisfaction at the obstacles overcome, disappointment at the one last challenge too tough to be met.

That was the mind-set of Brewer Falcons as the 2006 state American Legion baseball tournament concluded its five-day stay at Hadlock Field in Portland.

Brewer became the first team outside the southern Maine-based Zone 4 to finish as high as second at the states since 2001, when Oxford Hills of South Paris lost to Nova Seafood of Portland. And the Falcons were the first Zone 1 finalist since Orono in 1999.

But truth be told, there was an inevitability about Andrews Post of Portland’s undefeated run to the state title.

The same team won the 2005 Legion crown, then went unbeaten this spring for Portland High until falling to Bangor in the Class A state final.

That’s the only loss suffered by the Andrews/Portland players this year – in 47 games.

That dominance was most pronounced at the state Legion tourney, where Andrews outscoring its five opponents 49-7.

“They’re a quality team, just like the rest of the teams here,” said tournament co-MVP Kevin McAvoy of Brewer, who passed up other baseball opportunities this summer to try to lead his hometown Legion team to a championship.

“But the way they play as a team and carry themselves is just different than a lot of the other teams. They go out there and play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. They didn’t make many errors and they pitched well, and they hit the ball. They’re a heck of a hitting team.”

And if Andrews didn’t have enough talent, experience and confidence in its favor at the states, it also had the hometown advantage as the Legion tournament was played in Portland for the first time.

But that was a good thing for all involved, in that Hadlock Field – like Mansfield Stadium in Bangor – is a facility all young Maine baseball players should experience.

And while Mansfield is a baseball mecca created specifically for young players, Hadlock – primarily known as home of the Portland Sea Dogs, Boston’s Double A affiliate – provides the complementary professional feel.

Just ask McAvoy about the first of his two home runs during Brewer’s win over Monmouth on Tuesday – a blast over the Maine Monster, a replica of the 37-foot high Green Monster that serves as the left-field fence at Fenway Park in Boston – and his first response is a wide grin – and flashbacks to a childhood dream.

Andrews heads to the Northeast Regional at Brockton, Mass., next week with a realistic chance to win and advance to the American Legion World Series for the first time since 1995.

“We’ve been there [regionals] five times, and this is the most optimistic I’ve been going in,” said Mike Rutherford, Andrews’ coach since 1991. “Last year we thought we were the second-best team after Connecticut, and now the kids know the talent there.

“I don’t know if we can win it, but we can compete.”

For Brewer, the disappointment that comes with a final loss gradually will be replaced by an appreciation for a season of success. For the Falcons, it was a summer well spent.

“We played with a lot of heart, and we played well,” said Brewer coach David Morris. “If anything our young guys learned a lot. It’s a team effort, and you just have to go out there and battle. Everybody on this team battled.”

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net