Stearns should be tough to take out Minutemen well-armed for playoffs

Looking for a tough out in the upcoming Eastern Maine Class C baseball playoffs?

Consider Stearns of Millinocket.

Defending state champion Searsport looms as the favorite in a deep regional field that also includes George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, Houlton, Central of Corinth, Washington Academy of East Machias, Orono, and Dexter as capable contenders.

But the Minutemen enter postseason play next week with the confidence of a team that has won eight of its last nine games and has defeated every team on its schedule.

“In the first part of the season, we had a couple of close losses,” said Stearns coach John Montgomery, whose team ended its regular season with a 12-4 record after a 5-3 win over Penobscot Valley of Howland on Tuesday. “But we’ve played with everybody, we’ve had an opportunity to win against everybody.”

Stearns has not played in a lot of high-scoring games this spring, in part because of its strength of schedule, and because of its pitching and defense. The Minutemen took a team earned run average of 2.76 heading into its regular season finale.

Jordan Burleigh, a senior right-hander with a 3-2 record and a 2.45 ERA, has been strong for the Minutemen. His losses were to GSA 2-1 in the season opener and 4-2 at Orono in a game Stearns led 2-0 in the seventh inning before the Red Riots capitalized on a defensive lapse to rally for the victory.

“He’s got three different pitches,” said Montgomery. “His out pitch is his changeup, but he can throw the fastball, and he’s got good location with all his pitches.”

Senior Tyler Emerson, also the starting catcher, and junior Justin Pelkey join Burleigh to give Stearns a solid pitching nucleus, with Brian Bolduc also capable of giving the Minutemen quality innings.

Sophomore Cory Barnett, who plays outfield, catcher, or first base depending on who’s pitching, leads the team offensively with a .410 batting average, one home run, six doubles, and 15 RBIs. Burleigh, the starting shortstop when not on the mound, is batting .380 with 15 RBIs and 17 runs scored, while Emerson epitomizes the team’s aggressive running game, having stolen 22 bases in as many attempts.

“We’re aggressive on the basepaths,” said Montgomery. “We try to take every extra base we possibly can take. We try to fly around out there and put pressure on the defense and try to make other teams make errors.”

With its recent win over Penobscot Valley, one day after an 11-3 victory over Central – which began the week ranked first in Eastern C – Stearns is hopeful of earning one of the preliminary round byes that go to the top five finishers and perhaps a home game for the regional quarterfinals scheduled for June 7.

“This is a group that’s been successful back to Little League,” said Montgomery. “They’ve played a lot of summer ball, and they’ve worked to make themselves better.

“They’re all very coachable kids. They love the game, they fly around, and they do everything they’re asked to do.”

Bangor, Gardiner in KVAC game

The Bangor High School baseball team will face Gardiner in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A championship game at 4 p.m. Friday.

Where the game will be played won’t be determined until the final official Heal Points are released by the Maine Principals’ Association on Thursday.

Bangor was rated first and Gardiner second in the most recent Heal Points that included games through last Saturday.

Bangor (16-0) hasn’t played since then, but Gardiner picked a point-worthy 8-0 victory over No. 3 Oxford Hills of South Paris on Tuesday, and it was uncertain if that would be enough to push the Tigers past Bangor and into first place.

If Bangor remains in first place, the KVAC championship game will be played at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor. If Gardiner moves into first ahead of Bangor, the game will be played in Gardiner.

No matter where the game is played, it will feature the two hottest teams in Eastern Maine.

Bangor, the defending Class A state champion, has won 27 consecutive games overall. Gardiner has won 15 straight since opening its season with a loss to Brunswick.