Merritt, John Bapst outslug Mattanawcook

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LINCOLN – Pitching and defense don’t win every baseball game.

John Bapst of Bangor took the slugger’s route to victory Thursday, using two three-run home runs from Charlie Merritt and a go-ahead two-run shot by Kyle Gallant in the top of the seventh to rally for a 13-11 Class B victory over Mattanawcook Academy.

The win was the fourth straight for Bapst after a 1-2 start, and came after coach Shane Graham’s Crusaders committed five early errors and trailed 8-3 after three innings.

“We knew down 8-3 we were kind of teetering on the edge of whether we could do this or not,” said Gallant, “but Charlie came up with a couple of big hits, and we knew from there it was going to be a huge battle to the end.”

Merritt’s first blast, off a hanging curve from MA starter Josh Murchison that he skied over the left-field fence, capped a four-run rally in the top of the fourth that quickly rallied John Bapst within 8-7.

After the teams swapped single runs in the fifth, Merritt lofted a second three-run shot in the sixth to give the Crusaders an 11-9 lead.

“I was up 2-0 and he gave me another fastball, and I kind of knew it was coming and it just went,” said Merritt. “I got pretty lucky on it because it hit the top of the fence and still went over, but it was pretty cool.”

Mattanawcook cleanup hitter Tyson Tash responded a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth after a Murchison single to tie the game at 11-11.

But Aaron Healey opened the Bapst seventh with a single to center before Gallant hit the eighth pitch of his at-bat against MA reliever Lance Bernier for a home run to left that give the Crusaders their final lead.

“He was working the outside corner pretty well on the first couple of pitches, and I was trying to get something in the gap and just missing it,” said Gallant. “I knew I was right there but fouled a couple off, but then he threw me one about belt high right inside and I just turned on it.”

Mattanawcook, 6-3 after having a six-game win streak halted, had one final chance in the bottom of the inning. The Lynx got two runners aboard on singles by Peter Coggins and Murchison before Bapst reliever Jon Gagnon struck out Tash after a seven-pitch battle to end the game.

“I think you’d describe this as a great high school baseball game, and they got the last two runs,” said MA coach Dave Hainer. “That was a great shot by Gallant, but we had our shot in the bottom of the seventh. To have two men on and two out and Tyson Tash at the plate, I’ll take that situation any day. Gagnon just made a great pitch on him.”

Merritt also had a single during the game and finished with seven RBIs. Gallant had two singles in addition to his home run, while Healey had three singles as part of John Bapst’s 15-hit attack.

Murchison had three singles for Mattanawcook, while Tyson Tash had a double to go with his home run. Tyler Tash added a double and a single for the Lynx, while Tyler White and Coggins each singled twice.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

990-8045

CRUSADERS 13, LYNX 11

John Bapst (5-2) Mattanawcook (6-3)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Hull, ss-cf 5 2 2 0 Coggins, lf 5 0 0

Healey, rf-lf 4 1 3 1 Bernier, cf-p 4 0

Weatherbee, pr 0 1 0 0 Vose, ph 1 0

Gallant, p-ss 4 3 3 2 Murchison, p-2b 4 0

Smith, c 4 2 1 0 Farrell, ph 1 0 0

J.Gagnon, lf-p 5 2 1 1 Tys.Tash, 3b 5 2

Merritt, 1b 5 2 3 7 Smith, c 3 1 0

Casey, 3b-2b 5 0 2 1 Voisine, dh 3 1 0

Storgaard, cf-rf 2 0 0 0 Laird, 2b 0 0

M.Gagnon, rf 2 0 0 0 White, 1b 4 1 1

Bragdon, rf 0 0 0 0 Russell, pr 0 0 0

Diamond, 2b 2 0 0 0 Tyl.Tash, ss-2b 4 1 2

Huckestein, 3b 1 0 0 0 Shaw, pr 0 0

Carr, 3b 1 0 0 0 Cahill, rf 3 1 0

Jipson, ph 1 0 1 1

Totals 40 13 15 12 Totals 38 11 13 6

John Bapst 102 413 2 – 13

Mattanawcook 305 012 0 – 11

E-Casey 2, Diamond, Hull, Healey, Huckestein, Tyl. Tash 3, Laird, Tys. Tash; LOB-John Bapst 9; Mattanawcook 9; 2B-Healey; Tys. Tash, Tyl. Tash; HR-Merritt 2, Gallant; Tys. Tash; S-J. Gagnon; SB-Hull 3, Weatherbee; Bernier, Smith;

John Bapst IP H R ER BB SO

Gallant 3 6 8 0 2 4

J. Gagnon (W,1-0) 4 7 3 3 0 7

Mattanawcook IP H R ER BB SO

Murchison 5 12 11 7 3 4

Bernier (L,0-1) 2 3 2 2 0 3

WP-J. Gagnon; T-2:50; ATT-100 (est.)