BANGOR – The Belfast High baseball team capped off the regular season with five wins in its final six games.

Though the playoffs bring the added pressure of a single-elimination format, the Lions’ 11-4 Eastern Maine Class B quarterfinal victory over John Bapst at the Winkin Baseball Complex on Friday suggests that late-season momentum remains alive and well.

“That’s the best game we’ve played all year,” said Belfast senior righthander Nick Faulkingham, who pitched a six-hitter and retired the last 10 batters he faced. “Guys got on base, guys got big hits, and we made the plays in the field.”

Indeed. The fifth-ranked Lions pounded out 13 hits, five for extra bases, and played errorless defense behind Faulkingham, who struck out 12 and walked just one.

“They’re a solid ballclub,” said John Bapst coach Jay Kemble, whose-fourth-ranked Crusaders finish with an 8-9 record. “They’re big, strong, physical and aggressive. They’re good athletes, and they’re as aggressive as anyone you’ll see at the plate.”

Belfast, 11-6, also capitalized on four John Bapst errors to score four unearned runs, including three in the sixth inning to break open a one-run game.

“When it’s down to a one-game season, errors can kill you,” said Belfast coach George Ross, whose Lions will visit No. 1 Bucksport for a regional semifinal at 2 p.m. today. “Early in the season we weren’t real solid defensively, but in the last six games we’ve played well all around.”

John Bapst scored twice in the fourth inning, as No. 9 hitter Sean Snyder doubled home Chris Leavitt and scored on a two-out triple by Alex Means to forge a 4-4 tie.

But rather than tense up, Faulkingham got stronger – Means was the last opponent to reach base, and at one point he struck out seven consecutive batters.

“Once he got the one-run lead, he got better,” said Kemble. “His breaking ball was sharper, and his fastball had more movement.”

Belfast took the lead for good with a run in the fifth off John Bapst starter Keith Nason. Paul Herman singled, stole second and reached third on the play when JB catcher Josh Keefe’s throw went into center field. Herman then scored the go-ahead run when he beat the throw home on an infield grounder by Marcus Colby.

The Lions extended their lead with three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, a throwing error by John Bapst second baseman Pat Healy allowed two runs to score, and a third came home on Faulkingham’s second double of the game. A two-run single by Nick Arthers sparked the seventh-inning uprising.

Herman had three hits to pace Belfast offensively, while Arthers, Faulkingham and Matt Welch had two hits each.

“We hit .382 during the season,” said Ross, the Lions’ 22nd-year coach. “For power and average, this is the best hitting team I’ve had.”

LIONS 11, CRUSADERS 4

Belfast (11-6) John Bapst (8-9)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Welch, cf 5 1 2 0 Roach, lf 4 1 0

Ratten, rf 3 2 1 1 Means, ss 3 1 0

Johnson, lf 5 2 1 1 Healy, 2b 4 0 0

Arthers, ss 3 2 2 2 Leighton, dh 3 0 1

Herman, c 5 2 3 1 G. Keefe, 3b 0 0 0

Potvin, dh 2 0 0 0 McElwain, p 0 0 0

Ellis, 3b 0 0 0 0 a-Pattison 0 0 0

Colby, dh 3 0 0 1 J. Keefe, c 3 0 1

Faulkingham, p 5 1 2 1 Baillargeon, 1b 3 0

b-Smith 0 0 0 0 Nason, p-3b 3 0 0

Gallant, 2b 4 0 1 0 Leavitt, rf 2 1 0

Cross, 1b 2 1 1 0 Snyder, cf 3 1 1

Totals 37 11 13 7 Totals 28 4 6 3

a-ran for Leighton in 1st; b-ran for Faulkingham in 6th

Belfast 300 113 3 ?11

John Bapst 200 200 0 ? 4

E?Roach, Baillargeon, J. Keefe, Healy; LOB?Belfast 11, John Bapst 5; 2B?Welch, Faulkingham 2; Snyder; 3B?Ratten, Arthers; Means; SB?Johnson 2, Herman 2, Arthers; Roach, Means Leavitt.

Belfast IP H R ER BB SO

Faulkingham (W,6-0) 7 6 4 4 1 12

John Bapst IP H R ER BB SO

Nason (L,3-3) 5 2/3 10 8 4 4 7

McElwain 1 1/3 3 3 3 1 2

HBP?Ratten by McElwain; Leavitt by Faulkingham; WP?Nason 2; T?1:59; ATT?175 (est.)