Buzzell shuts down Machias

Under rainy conditions, the Houlton Major Little League championship was decided on Saturday, as the Bank of Maine blanked Machias Savings Bank 10-0 for their second straight title.
    The Bank of Maine pitcher Dillan Buzzell threw 86 pitches over four and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits, while striking out nine. Nick Perfitt closed the game on eight pitches.
For Machias, Jason Collett, Pat Howe and Isia Bouchard combined to throw 109 pitches, striking out nine and scattering six hits.
To open the game, Bank of Maine took a 5-0 lead when Perfitt reached on an infield hit and then scored on Nate Mooers’ homerun. Zach Fitzpatrick walked, Craig Wallace reached on an error and Zach Hagan walked to load the bases. Seth Brown delivered a contact hit for a three-run double to left center field.
Buzzell pitched out of a couple of jams, as Machias had runners at second and third in the second and bases loaded in the third, but couldn’t capitalize, as the runners were left on base. Overall, Machias stranded eight base runners.
Savings Bank of Maine scored five more runs in the second, as Perfitt had an infield hit, followed by walks issued to Morgan Phillips and Mooers to load the bases. Perfitt then scored on a passed ball, advancing the runners. Buzzell was hit by the pitch to keep the bases loaded for Fitzpatrick, who brought in three runs, as the ball was mishandled by a Machias infielder.
With Fitzpatrick at second, Hagan then doubled him home  for the winning margin.
Machias Savings Bank had four hits in the contest: Pat Howe (two), Tyler Bailey and Sam Drew.
In the third, Buzzell hit the ball to left field where it was inches from going over. The ball hit the top of the fence or a triple. He was left on base.
Machias reached the championship game last Thursday when they defeated Houlton Farms Dairy by a run in the bottom of the sixth. Houlton Farms Dairy had fought back valiantly and taken a two-run lead only to watch it dissolve in the sixth.
With bases loaded, two outs, Houlton Farms Dairy pitched around Machias’ Bailey loading the bases for Noah Reynolds. Reynolds hit a fly ball to left field that glanced off the outfielder’s mitt to bring in the winning run.