Hetterman, Bangor collect Junior League title

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BUCKSPORT – The Bangor Junior League baseball team had momentum on its side after rallying to defeat Bucksport Friday to force Saturday afternoon’s state final.

The 13- and 14-year-olds from the Queen City used that momentum to pound out 13 hits, while Luke Hetterman had a solid pitching performance en route to a 14-4, six-inning victory over tourney host Bucksport at the Bucksport High School field Saturday.

The victory advances Bangor to the East Regional Tournament in Freehold Township, N.J.

Bangor scored three quick runs off starter Tim Nason in the top of the first and five more in the third, giving Hetterman an 8-0 cushion with which to work.

Hetterman surrendered four runs – all in the fourth – and five hits while striking out five and walking just one.

“That’s not bad for a boy who’s only pitched a couple times during the summer,” Bangor coach Jim Owens said.

Bucksport made things interesting with its four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Tyler McCallian drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in a run, Billy DeReden scored on an error and Jimmy Gray knocked in two more with a single to cut Bangor’s lead to 8-4.

They could’ve scored more had Bangor center fielder Tyler Desjardins not made a Coco Crisp-like diving catch with nobody out to save a couple more runs.

“Tyler kept us in this game twice. When they had rallies going, he made those diving catches,” Owens said.

Desjardins added an encore catch one inning later on a liner to left-center by Tyler French that had extra bases written all over it.

“That’s just the way he plays. One hundred percent all the time,” Owens said.

Bangor scored six more times in the top of the sixth, with the big hits being two-run singles by Brandon Landry and Sam Patterson.

Desjardins, who singled twice and drove in a run, contributed to that rally with a walk and scored the second of his two runs.

Adam King and Jacques LaRochelle added a couple of singles apiece for Bangor; LaRochelle knocked in a run and scored two more while Josiah Hartley singled in a pair in the third and scored twice.

Hetterman retired the side in order in the home half to close it out.

Bangor starting center fielder Joe Stanewicz had to leave the game in the top of the third. After taking a strike on a three-ball, no-strike count, he was hit on the side of the face as Bucksport catcher Evan Eldridge attempted a pick-off throw to first base.

“His mom’s going to take him up to the ER. He’s got a headache but he’s going to be all right,” Owens said.

Stanewicz’s nose was bleeding heavily, but Bucksport paramedics responded quickly and were able to stop the bleeding.

Bucksport’s fielders had a tough day, committing six errors which, according to coach Keith Nason, gave the explosive Bangor lineup too many extra outs.

“Whoever had the least amount of errors was going to win the game,” he said. “They’re a very good hitting team, no doubt about it.”

He was impressed with the way his boys were able to play hard after the tough loss Friday.

“They didn’t give up, they battled back and tried to do the best they could. I’m very proud of them,” Nason said.

Zach Hall, DeReden and Nason each had a single apiece for Bucksport.

BANGOR 14, BUCKSPORT 4

(Saturday Afternoon)

Bangor (5-1) Bucksport (2-2)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Hetterman, p 5 1 0 0 Farrell, ss 3 0 0

Stacey, ss 4 1 1 0 Bailey, rf 2 0 0

LaRochelle, 2b-c 5 2 2 1 Fucillo, rf 1 0

Stanewicz, cf 1 1 0 0 French, cf 3 0

Corneil, cf-lf 1 1 1 1 Nason, p-1b 3 0

Patterson, 1b 4 1 2 2 DeReden, 3b 2 0

Worcester, 1b 1 0 0 0 Giosia, 3b 1 0

Desjardins, lf-cf 4 2 2 1 Swaze, 1b 1 0

King, c 3 2 1 1 Davis, 1b-p 2 1 0

Frost, rf 1 0 0 0 McCallain, 2b 2 1 1

Hartley, 3b 1 2 1 2 Eldridge, c 2 0 0

Kelly, 3b 1 0 1 0 Hall, lf 1 0 0

Landry, rf 2 1 1 3 Gray, lf 1 0 2

Morris, 2b 1 0 1 0

Totals 34 14 13 11 Totals 24 4 5 3

Bangor 305 006 – 14

Bucksport 000 400 – 4

E-Hetterman; McCallain 4, Nason, DeReden; LOB-Bangor 11, Bucksport 3; SF-Landry; SB-LaRochelle, Stacey, Hetterman, Desjardins

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Hetterman (W) 6 5 4 4 1 5

Bucksport IP H R ER BB SO

Nason (L) 4 1/3 10 8 5 3 3

Davis 1 2/3 3 6 5 3 0

BK-Hetterman; PB-Eldridge; T-1:35; ATT-150 (est.)