Rockland 11-12's capture District 2 baseball crown

By Ron Hawkes
MaineSportsReport.com

The Rockland and Lincoln County 11-12 year old teams met last Saturday in a battle of the unbeaten teams with Rockland getting a perfect performance on the mound.

Rockland team members and coaches pose with their District 2 championship banner. Pictured front row from left, Noah Slivinsky, Ryan Allender, Keenan Hendricks, Nick Mazurek, Dustin Steeves, Nate Philbrook and Jordan Matero; back row, coach Chris Roman, Zach Roman, coach Todd Philbrook, Byron Thomas, Zach Peaco, Cody Chase, Jake Bartlett, District 2 administrator Dana Verge and Rockland manager Rich Mazurek. Photo by Ron Hawkes

Wednesday the two teams meet again, this time for all the glory of the District 2 Little League championship and once again it was the solid pitching along with timely hitting that led Rockland to an 11-1 mercy rule five inning championship.

Rockland will now represent the District in the State 11-12 year-old tournament held in Thomaston July 25-31. District 2 plays the winner of the District 3 vs. District 4 game that is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 25 in their opening game.

Rockland's Nick Mazurek rips a hard infield single during Wednesday's District 2 championship game at E. Allen Gordon field in Rockland against Lincoln County. Rockland won 11-1. Photo by Ron Hawkes

Nick Mazurek may not have been perfect on the mound, but he was more than good enough has he held Lincoln County to one unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out eight in the complete game win.

Brady Leeman got the start for Lincoln County pitching 3 1/3 innings allowing nine runs n seven hits and five walks while striking out eight. Matt Bolster pitched 2/3 of in inning before passed balls and throwing errors allowed two runs to give Rockland the win. Bloster allowed two hits and two runs in the loss.

Lincoln County's Brady Leeman comes off the mound to make a nice play on a slow roller during Wednesday's District 2 championship game. Photo by Ron Hawkes

Rockland's offense came from a number of players, Zach Roman (3 runs), Ryan Allender (double, three runs), Mazurek (2 singles, 2 runs), Keenan Hendricks (double, run), Byron Thomas (single, 2 runs), Jordan Matero (single), Jake Bartlett (2 singles) and Zach Peaco (single).

For Lincoln County, Travis Creamer, Colton Spear, Aaron McCullogh and Tyler Cheney had a single each. Nick Morton scored the lone run.

Rockland got off to a good start with Mazurek striking out the side in the first inning and they took a 34-0 lead into the top of the fourth before Lincoln County got on the scoreboard.

With the score at 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth Rockland added five runs to take the 9-1 lead.

Rockland's Ryan Allender scores the wining run in the fifth inning and manager Rich Mazurek raises his arms in celebration of the victory. Photo by Ron Hawkes

After a 1-2-3 inning for Lincoln County in the top of the fifth, Rockland got things started when Roman was hit by a pitch and went to third on a double from the bat of Allender. With runners on second and third and Mazurek up to the plate a pitch got past the catcher allowing Roman to score and when the throw got past Bolster covering the plate Allender scampered home with the winning run to end the game.

Click for more photos from the Lincoln County and Rockland championship baseball game