BANGOR – You just can’t keep these guys down.
The Bangor Rams continued to play baseball like they’re auditioning for an Energizer Bunny commercial, coming back from a five-run deficit at a cold and rainy Mansfield Complex Thursday night for their latest come-from-behind victory.
For the second straight game, Tommy Waterman delivered the game-winning hit in the Rams’ last at-bat as Bangor outlasted Old Town 10-9 in a game that took almost three hours to play.
“Our kids just don’t quit,” Bangor coach Bob Kelley said through an ear-to-ear grin while shaking his head in disbelief. “Dave made the smart move walkin T.J. [True], and then he just ran out of options. He just couldn’t pitch around Tommy.”
Kelley was referring to Old Town coach Dave Paul, who had starting pitcher Cory Young intentionally walk True with runners at the corners, the score tied, and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The move looked like it would be rewarded after Young struck out Mike Wilcox for the second out, but he still had to deal with Waterman, who was 5-for-6 with four RBIs in his last nine plate appearances.
Tuesday night, Waterman hit a two-run, 400-foot homer to win the game with two outs in the seventh against Brewer. This time, he ripped a 1-1 fastball deep to left center to drive in the winning run.
“I want to be up with the bases loaded, two outs, and the game on the line. I just know I’ll get the hit,” said Waterman. “I’m comfortable up there with the game on the line.”
Bangor’s junior shortstop might have had a feeling of deja vu as he watched a freshman teammate help lead the 9-1 Rams to victory.
Jeremy Karam hit a two-out, two-run triple in the fifth that tied the game, then laced a two-run line drive single down the right field line to tie the game again with one out in the seventh – just like what Waterman used to do when he was a freshman.
The second hit came after Karam came on to pitch in the fifth inning and gave up two Old Town runs in the sixth after Bangor had tied the score 7-7 in the fifth.
“I was just trying to put my bat on the ball and try to get back a run that I’d given up,” said Karam. “I haven’t had much confidence in my hitting lately, so I just went up trying to make contact.”
Karam, one of four Bangor pitchers in the game, was also designated hitter and right fielder.
Starting catcher Keith Dorr pitched the top of the seventh for his first decision this season.
Young (2-3) went the distance in the crushing defeat. He walked two, but yielded 15 hits and threw 129 pitches.
“I kept checking with him through the fifth, sixth, and seventh, but he wanted the baseball and he was throwing well,” said Paul, explaining why he stuck with his ace.
Third baseman Zach Gasaway led the 5-6 Indians with two singles and three RBIs. Shortstop Paul Dumont’s bases-loaded triple keyed a five-run first.
“To be honest, we’re upset with the way we played. Take nothing away from Old Town, but they should have won the game,” said Kelley. “But I’ll still take the win.”
Rams 10, Indians 9
Old Town boys (5-6) Bangor (9-1)
Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi
Foster, 1b 3 2 1 0 True, cf 4 2 2 0
Rand, cf 2 1 0 0 Wilcox, 2b 5 1 1 0
Lizzotte, rf 2 1 0 0 Waterman, ss 4 2 3 3
Thomas, c 4 2 2 1 Dorr, c-p 4 0 1 0
Gasaway, 3b 3 2 2 3 Soucie, lf 4 1 2 1
a-Dickey 1 0 1 0 Stover, 1b 4 1 3 1
Emery, dh 3 1 1 0 b-LeBlanc 0 1 0 0
Goslin, lf 2 0 0 0 Philbrick,rf 2 0 0 0
Dumont, ss 4 0 1 3 c-McGrath 1 0 1 0
Ellis, 2b 2 0 0 0 d-Carey 0 1 0 0
e-Sucy 1 0 0 0 Nill, c 1 1 0 0
Karam,dh-p-rf 4 0 2 4
Civiello, 3b 3 0 0 0
f-Chadbourne 1 0 0 0
Totals 27 9 8 7 Totals 37 10 15 9
a-singled for Gasaway in fifth
b-scored for Stover in seventh
c-singled for Philbrick in fifth
d-scored for McGrath in fifth
e-struck out for Ellis in fifth
f-struck out for Civiello in fifth
Old Town 500 022 0 – 9
Bangor 103 030 3 – 10
E – Thomas, Young 2, Goslin; Waterman, Arsenault 2B – Foster; True, Waterman 3B – Dumont LOB – Old Town 7; Bangor 9 DP – Goslin to Gasaway SB – Thomas 2, Gasaway; Dorr, Waterman, True, Wilcox S – Rand 2
PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO
Old Town
Young (L,2-3) 6 2/3 15 10 6 2 5
Bangor
Arsenault 1 4 5 1 2 3
Penney 3 2/3 2 2 1 2 3
Karam 1 1/3 2 2 2 1 2
Dorr (W,1-0) 1 0 0 0 2 1
HBP – Emery (by Penney) WP – Young; Penney 3 PB – Thomas 2; Dorr TIME – 2:44 ATTENDANCE – 117
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