BANGOR – What is a pitcher’s best friend?

How about a seven-run first inning?

Righthander Jordan Clarke was staked to a 7-0 lead and tossed five innings of five-hit, two-run baseball as Bangor earned the right to represent District 3 in the Senior League World Series by beating Old Town 12-2 in the championship game Tuesday night at Mansfield Stadium.

The game was called after 4 1/2 innings due to the 10-run rule.

Bangor will open the Senior League World Series on Sunday, Aug. 13 at Mansfield Stadium against the Canadian champion. The game will be at noon.

The Canadian tournament is being held on Aug. 3-10.

Bangor lost the third game of the double-elimination tournament to Old Town 8-6 but bounced back to oust Glenburn-Levant 20-2 and beat previously unbeaten Old Town 9-2 to force Tuesday’s title game.

“We knew what we had to do. We were really focused. We wanted to be the team that got to the World Series, ” said Bangor center fielder Ryan LaRochelle, who had a two-run single in the decisive first-inning rally.

Bangor’s Zane Gray opened the first by fouling off three 0-2 pitches before lofting a soft fly ball single into right center.

Clarke blooped a single to right and Kyle Gallant legged out an infield single to the shortstop hole.

With the infield drawn in, LaRochelle’s liner tipped off the glove of leaping shortstop Evan Paradis to deliver Gray and Clarke.

“It’s great to get that kind of luck on your side,” said LaRochelle.

“We’d been talking all week about how we wanted to get to this kid early. We wanted to be more patient. So I let the first pitch go and then waited for that next pitch to rip,” said LaRochelle.

Wasson had picked up the earlier win over Bangor.

Tyler Brookings walked to load the bases and, one out later, Mack Susi was hit in the helmet by a pitch to force in the third run.

Riley Masters’ squeeze bunt scored LaRochelle; Christian LaRochelle walked to force in another run and the final two came home on Gray’s fielder’s choice and an ensuing throwing error in an attempt to turn the double play.

“I’m glad we scored early. That gave me a lot of confidence to go out there and throw strikes,” said Clarke. “I felt a lot better. I wasn’t as nervous because I had the big lead.”

Clarke struck out five and walked two while throwing 55 strikes among his 92 pitches.

“I’ve thrown better. I’ve thrown worse,” said Clarke, who belted a two-run homer to left in the third.

“I thought that was a routine pop fly, the way the outfielder was,” said Clarke referring to the fact left fielder Tyler Cates hardly moved.

Old Town coach Alvin Wasson said, “Bangor hit the ball well and the last two pitchers who pitched against us threw strikes.”

Clarke and Masters had two hits each for 5-1 Bangor. Masters and Gray had two RBIs apiece as did Clarke and Ryan LaRochelle.

Matt Jones and Cates singled home runs in the fourth for 3-2 Old Town.

Paradis had two singles.

Bangor’s other games in the World Series are: Monday, Aug. 14 vs. Asia Pacific, 5 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 16 vs. U.S. South, 5 p.m.; and Thursday, Aug. 17 vs. U.S. West, 5 p.m.

The top four teams from the 10-team tourney advance to the semifinal round on Friday, Aug. 18 with the championship game on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 2:30 p.m.

Old Town (3-2) 000 20 2 5 2

Bangor (5-1) 703 2x 12 8 1

Wasson, Leland (4) and Leland, LeBreton (4); Clarke and Brookings