Midcoast South captures District 2 championship

It did not take long for the Midcoast South 14 year-old baseball team to get the job done in Searsport as they defeated Midcoast North 12-2 in a five inning mercy rule game Sunday morning to capture the District 2 Babe Ruth 14 year-old championship.

The District champs are scheduled to play on Friday, July 24 at 2 p.m. in Westbrook at Westbrook High School. They will play the winner of the Westbrook and District 5 game played Thursday, July 23.

The South beat Ararat 10-0 and North 11-1 Friday to advance to the championship game while the North defeated Ararat Saturday evening to advance in the three team tournament.

In the three games Midcoast South out scored their opponents 33-3 and won by mercy rule in all three games.

"It's hard to play better than we did in these three games, outscoring our opponents 33-3, out hitting them 31-7 and committing only two errors," said Midcoast South manager Don Shields. "Jeff [Cheney]threw very well after struggling just a bit in the first, and we enter states with three solid starters (Nat Baptist, Stephen Quinlan and Jeff Cheney), solid team defense and a line-up that knows we want to play aggressive. These 11 boys have quickly become a team that understands that for us to be successful we have to play as team."

Jeff Cheney (1-0) got the win pitching four innings allowing two runs, one earned on four hits and one walk while striking out five. Cheney threw just 72 pitches and hit two batters. Dylan Maloney pitched one inning of relief with one striking out while throwing just 14 pitches.

Taylor Hall got the start for Midcoast North pitching two innings allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and three walks with one strikeout. Adam Carlsen took the loss pitching one third of an inning allowing seven runs, four earned on three hits and three walks with one strikeout. Caleb McFarland pitched 1 2/3 innings allowing three runs, all unearned on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

The hitting machine known as Midcoast South got its offense from, Brandon Soper (single, run, RBI, stolen base), Stephen Quinlan (run), Jeff Cheney (single, 3 runs, 3 stolen bases), Nat Baptist (double, run, RBI, stolen base), Dylan Maloney (single, run, 2 RBIs, 2 stolen bases), Brandon Bonney (single, run, RBI, stolen base), Israel Daiute (single, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases), Cody Ames (run), Drew Townsend (single, run, RBI) and Seth Batty (double).

For Midcoast North, Connor Hart (single, run, stolen base), Taylor Hall (run), Dillan Moody (single, RBI), Scott Kulikowski (double) and Greg Clark (single).

The North scored two in the first after Hart singled and moved to second on a throwing error. Carlsen then reached on an error scoring Hart, Hall walked, Carlsen is thrown out trying to steal third, but on the play Hall steals second, Alex Carroll grounds out moving Hall to third, Moody singled to plate Hall. That would be it for the North.

Midcoast South scored one in the first and one in the second before exploding for 10 runs in the third inning.

Stephen Quinlan walked to get the third going followed by a single from Cheney. Quinlan moved to third, Cheney stole second and a throwing error allows Quinlan to score, Cheney to third and he scores on a wild pitch. Maloney walked, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Bonney then singled driving in Maloney. Bonney stole second, moveed to third on an error and scored on a passed ball. Daiute walked and stole second, Cody Ames reached on an error with Daiute moving to third. Daiute scored on a passed ball with Ames moving to second. Townsend singled driving in Ames. Townsend moved to second on a balk, Soper singled driving in Townsend. Soper stole second, moved to third on a ground out, Cheney reached on an error scoring Soper. Cheney stole second, Baptist reached on an error, Cheney to third. Baptist stole second, Maloney singles in his second at bat of the inning plating Cheney and Baptist to end the scoring.

MC North (1-2) 2-0-0 0-0 ---- 2 – 4 – 5
MC South (3-0) 1-1-(10) 0-X --- 12 – 8 – 2