Bangor East captures State 11-12 baseball title, advances to New England Regionals

By Skip Hawkes
MaineSportsReport.com

One of the hardest things to do in a little league elimination tournament is for a team to come out of the loser's bracket and defeat a team twice to win a championship. Sunday at the Thomaston Little League field, the Bangor East 11-12 All-Stars accomplished just such a feat with a 4-3 victory over South Portland to claim the 2009 State Championship. Bangor East will head to Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regionals beginning Thursday, August 6.

Bangor East player's and coaches celebrate near second base after winning the 11-12 State Tournament at the Thomaston Little League field on Sunday afternoon 4-3 over South Portland. Photo by Skip Hawkes

Alex Welch (winning pitcher), Ryan Moore, and Justin Courtney (save) combined for eight hits, three walks, and three earned runs while striking out four for Bangor.

Aiden McKee was brilliant in a losing effort for South Portland. McKee allowed just four hits and did not walk a batter. He was charged with four runs allowed (all unearned), and he struck out three. McKee three 30 pitches in the first inning and finished the game with 66 pitches.

Bangor East's Liam Harrigan (left) and Justin Courtney begin the celebration after Harrigan made the final put out to give Bangor the win in the 11-12 State Championship game. Photo by Skip Hawkes

Justin Courtney had two singles and an RBI for Bangor, while Liam Harrigan and Ryan Brookings each had a double.

Chris Miller had a home run and two RBI's to lead the Nationals. McKee had three singles, Eric Dennison added a double, and Jacob Brown, Ryan Ruhlin, and Nick Troiano each had a single.

Bangor took a 4-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Courtney, doubles by Harrigan and Brookings, and two South Portland errors.

South Portland put a run on the board in the fourth inning on two walks and singles by Ruhlin and Troiano. The Nationals had the bases loaded in the inning with just one out, but Bangor starting pitcher Welch got out of the inning without any further damage and keeping Bangor East on top 4-1.

Moore took over for Welch on the mound for Bangor to start the fifth inning, and needed just nine pitches to retire the Nationals. Moore ran into trouble in the sixth giving up a two run homer to Miller to cut the Bangor East lead to 4-3.

South Portland team mates wait the arrival at home plate of Chris Miller after Miller drilled a two run homer in the sixth inning. Photo by Skip Hawkes

With two outs and a one run lead, Bangor East brought in Courtney to try and close out the game. Courtney had to face the National's McKee with the tying run on first base. Courtney needed just two pitches, getting McKee to swing at a 1-0 pitch and pop the ball up to the right side of the infield where Harrigan made the final putout of the game to give Bangor the victory.

SOUTH PORTLAND (3-2) 0 0 0 1 0 2 - - 3
BANGOR EAST (5-1) 4 0 0 0 0 x - - 4

WP: Alex Welch
SV: Justin Courtney

Click here for all the photo galleries from the state 11-12 tournament.