Searsport, DI-Stonington, Winslow eye titles Class C features a rematch of the 2006 final: Searsport vs. St. Dominic

Championship Saturday for high school baseball in Classes B, C and D features a different storyline in each division.

Class B foes Winslow and Greely of Cumberland Center have strong tradition within their programs, but each is seeking to return to the state championship podium after a lengthy absence, Greely since 1999 and Winslow since 1995.

Class C features a rematch of the 2006 final, when Searsport won its first title in 31 years with a 5-2 victory over St. Dominic of Auburn.

And the Class D game pits Deer Isle-Stonington, in search of its second title in three years, against a Rangeley team making its first trip to the final game.

The Class C game will be played at 2 p.m. at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor, while Class D (noon) and Class B (5 p.m.) will be held at Mahaney Diamond on the campus of Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.

In Class B, both teams are coming off a series of competitive games within their regionals.

No. 2 Winslow (16-3) scratched out an 8-7 win over No. 7 Foxcroft Academy in its quarterfinal, then scored twice in the first inning to edge No. 3 Camden Hills of Rockport 2-0 before ousting 2006 Eastern Maine champion and top-ranked Bucksport 4-2 in the championship game.

No. 2 Greely (17-2) eliminated 2006 state champion and seventh-ranked Oak Hill of Sabattus 8-2 in its quarterfinal, then scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh to rally past No. 3 Mountain Valley of Rumford 7-6. The Rangers then avenged a pair of regular-season losses by shading top-ranked Poland 5-3 in Tuesday’s final.

Coach Robin Weed’s Winslow squad is expected to turn to senior righthander Steve Siviski to pitch against Greely. Siviski (7-1) pitched a three-hit shutout in the semifinals with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Greely is likely to pitch hard-throwing senior righthander Caleb Jordan against the Black Raiders. Jordan (7-2) already has two complete-game postseason wins, pitching a two-hitter against Oak Hill and a seven-hitter against Poland.

In Class C, No. 2 Searsport (15-4) did not allow a run in its three Eastern Maine tournament victories. Junior Casey Ashey (2-1), who came on strong late in the season and pitched a three-hit shutout in the Vikings’ 10-0, five-inning quarterfinal win over No. 10 Piscataquis of Guilford, is expected to get the pitching start against St. Dom’s.

Coach Dave Pepin’s club features a balanced offensive attack led by Josh Nickerson, Tom Cameron, Caleb Ashey and Nate Adams, all first-team All-Penobscot Valley Conference first-team picks.

St. Dominic (18-1) is in the state final for the fourth straight year. The Saints are 1-2 in their first three trips, having lost to Searsport last year and to George Stevens of Blue Hill in 2004 before defeating GSA in 2005.

Veteran coach Bob Blackman has employed small-ball tactics to great success during postseason play, particularly in St. Dom’s 8-7 come-from-behind Western Maine semifinal win over No. 3 Livermore Falls, when the tying and winning runs came home in the seventh inning on an errant throw after a bunt.

The Saints, ranked second in Western C, defeated No. 10 Old Orchard Beach 5-0 in the quarterfinals and No. 1 Winthrop 6-1 in the regional final.

Senior Andy Allen got the win in both of those games, but won’t be able to pitch Saturday.

Freshman Jacob Rutt, who has seen pitching duty in all three postseason games and got the win in relief against Livermore Falls, may get the start.

In Class D, Deer Isle-Stonington is riding the momentum of its state championship during basketball season, and memories of the baseball state title it won in 2005. Several key players are back from that breakthrough team in leadership roles, including junior righthander Collin Ciomei, who got the win in that upset of North Yarmouth Academy as a freshman.

Ciomei, who was clocked in the mid-80s during the third-ranked Mariners’ 13-3 victory over No. 1 Ashland in the EM final, likely will get the start against Rangeley, but righthander Ray Garcia pitched a strong game in Deer Isle-Stonington’s 3-1 semifinal win at No. 2 Shead of Eastport and also is available.

Coach Darren Eaton’s Mariners (17-2) feature eight players who earned All-Penobscot Valley Conference honors: first-teamers are pitcher-shortstop Ciomei, pitcher-outfielder Garcia, catcher Jon Eaton, first baseman Shane Eaton, outfielder Rob Brown, pitcher-infielder Ben Hardie; and second baseman Bryant Ciomei and third baseman Eben Powers were second-team choices.

Rangeley (12-4) is making its first trip to the Class D state final. The Lakers finished second in the Western D standings, then defeated No. 3 Buckfield in its semifinal before ousting previously undefeated and top-ranked Richmond 6-1 in Tuesday’s regional final.

That win avenged two regular-season losses to the Bobcats, and featured the five-hit pitching of Ben Bliss.