WATERVILLE – Scott Johnson came on to pitch in the top of the sixth inning to shut down a rally and save a 6-5 victory for the Maremont League of Saco over South Portland in the State Little League Championship Tourney here Thursday.

Maremont will play Augusta North for the state championship here Friday at 6:30 p.m. Maremont must beat undefeated Augusta North twice, so a 1 p.m. Saturday game has been scheduled, if necessary.

Johnson inherited a bases loaded, one-out situation with a 6-5 lead. In three pitches, he got two outs and saved the game for starter Justin Allen, 1-0, and Maremont, 3-1 in the tourney.

Maremont rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning to score three runs and Francis Lavallee knocked in the eventual winning run. Rick Sirois homered in the third inning and Andrew Tripp went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a single and two runs batted in. Allen doubled and tripled.

For South Portland, eliminated at 1-2, Matt Crangle knocked in two runs with a single and a sacrifice and Tim Lawson doubled.

South Portland 020 012 – 5 4 2 Maremont 012 03x – 6 10 1

Upton and Davis; Pike, Allen (3), Johnson (6) and Topham