Sports
Andy Valley Baseball
Andy Valley 12U All Stars Win Cal Ripken State Championship
The Andy Valley 12U All Stars captured the Maine State Championship defeating Mt Ararat in thrilling style. Undefeated Andy Valley was down 5-1 going into the bottom of the 6th inning, tied the game, and clinched the title in the extra inning. That sixth inning started with a full count walk by Ben English. Connor Truman hit a single to give Andy Valley first and second with no outs. After two strikeouts, Andy Valley was still down 5 to 1 with only one out to a loss. Tyler Swanbeck then hit a single that scored Ben English. Ben Bernier was intentionally walked to load the bases and bring up Troy Johnson. Johnson took a pitch and singled in a run to make it 5 to 3. Emery Chickering tied the score with a two run base clearing double. The game ended in the 7th inning with a bases-loaded walk off walk by Ben Bernier.
Andy Valley swept districts 3-0, and went 4-0 through the State Championship Tournament held in Fryeburg. Ben Bernier, Emery Chickering, Josh Eliot and Troy Johnson handled the pitching duties for the championship run. Ben Bernier was a major contributor for the team with his solid pitching, tough bat and leadership behind the plate. Leadoff hitter Tyler Swanbeck used his bat and speed to cause havoc on the base paths for his opponents. Jack Morton backed up his solid second base play with his bat, hitting a homerun that ended the game 1 against Berwick. Emery Chickering hit a towering homerun in that game. Chickering also handled much of the catching duties for his fellow pitchers. Troy Johnson and Josh Eliot were solid at the plate, in the field, and on the mound. Outfielder Connor Truman tracked down fly balls and made key hits to help his team advance to regional play.
First basemen Ben English and 2nd baseman Mack Pelletier led the defense and had key at bats in late innings that helped either tie or win games. Duncan Forbes added outfield depth, making key catches in pressure situations. Jack Crane and Tanner Mann both played stellar defense and gave Andy Valley much needed depth in the batting order, with late inning hits that helped the Andy Valley cause.
This team will represent Maine in the Cal Ripken Regional Tournament in Burlington, Mass. starting July 20.
American Legion Baseball
Locke Mills Mountaineers 5, Bessey Motors 5; July 10 - The game ended in a tie after 9 innings. The game will be resumed on 7/19 at 4:30 at the Gould field prior to the actual game due to be played there at 5:30. Izaak Mills, Dan Whitney and Ben Field all pitched in this game and until the 7th inning Locke Mills was losing 5 - 0. They made a come back in the top of the 6th with Alec Manning reaching on a single, Ben Field then hit a home run. Kyle Peterson reached on an error and went to 2nd on a passed ball and scored on an error. In the 7th inning we then added 2 more runs when Jeb Clarke walked, Alec Manning reached on an error and Kurt Morgan brought them in with a double.
Locke Mills 9, Bath 3; July 12- Drew Wilson, T.J. O’Connor, Jeb Clarke all had singles, Dan Whitney, Jeb Clarke, Ben Field and TJ O’Connor had doubles in the game. Winning pitcher was Jeb Clarke who pitched 5 1/3 and Dan Whitney finished it out.
Locke Mills double header vs. Auburn; July 14 - LM won both games. The first took 10 innings and was tied 4 to 4 until the top of the 10th when Locke Mills finally broke through and Izaak Mills hit a double, Alec Manning was hit by a pitch, Kurt Morgan reached on an error and Ben Field doubled. Earlier in the game Kurt Morgan doubled, Ben Field singled, Corey Howard walked and Dan Whitney doubled. Dan Whitney was the winning pitcher throwing 9 innings with Ben Field closing it out in the 10th.
The second game was won by Locke Mills in 6 innings 10 - 0. Kyle Peterson was the winning pitcher. Highlights were a single by Corey Howard followed by a home run by Jeb Clarke in the 1st inning. In the 3rd Corey Howard doubled, Jeb Clarke walked, Izaak Mills and Kurt Morgan singled. In the 6th inning Locke Mills scored 5 when Ben Field led off with a walk, Kyle Peterson singled, TJ O’Connor and Corey Howard singled, Jeb Clarke was hit by a pitch and Kurt Morgan singled.