Heartbreaker closes 9-10 all-stars’ tourney bid

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    The Houlton 9-10-year-old all-star baseball team ended its tournament run last Sunday with a heartbreaking 8-7 loss to Old Town.
    In the double-elimination Hampden-Newburgh District 3 Tournament, the Houlton all-stars lost their second game to Hampden-Newburgh to drop into the losers bracket. They battled through the bracket with two more wins before the final loss on Sunday.
    On Saturday, the Houlton boys defeated Bangor West, 13-2, while Sunday, the Shires lost to Old Town, 8-7, in the bottom of the sixth.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
OUT — An Old Town baserunner is forced out at second base, as Houlton’s Cameron Callnan stays with the play to get the out. The Houlton 9-1- all-stars lost to Old Town, 8-7.
    The Old Town all-stars took a 1-0 lead after the first and nearly scored more runs in the second except that Houlton’s Noah Reynolds made an outstanding defensive play. Reynolds ran to track down a ball with a sliding catch to steal an Old Town batter’s hit and foil any scoring attempt.
    Old Town extended its lead to 4-1 after the fourth.
    But, Houlton battled back in the fifth to score four runs, including a head’s up play by Keegan Gentle to score the tying run. Gentle rounded third and when Old Town’s pitcher turned his back to walk back to the mound, Gentle bolted for home and slid safely in under the tag.
    With momentum on their side, Houlton, who trailed 7-5, added two more runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game.
    Jaron Gentle and Jason Collett each reached base on walks and were driven in on a single by David Tucker.
    But, Houlton errors led to Old Town scoring the tying run and then celebrating the game winner on a walk off  fly ball to left field over a Houlton outfielder’s head.
    Playing for the 9-10-year-old Houlton all-stars are: Will Austin, David Tucker, Jr., Alex Wilde, Cameron Callnan, Deven Campbell, Nate Tuttle, Sam Drew, Keegan Gentle, Jason Collett, Jaron Gentle, Noah Reynolds and Logan Tribou. Coaches are Trapper Gentle, David Tucker and Travis Gentle.Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
GOTCHYA — Houlton’s Keegan Gentle, right, runs down a Bangor West runner who ran into a pick off at third base.  The Houlton 9-10 all-stars ended their tournament bid last weekend, as they defeated Bangor West, 13-2, but lost their second game of the double-elimination tournament to Old Town, 8-7, in the bottom of the sixth.