Houlton 9-10 All-Stars advance

The Houlton 9-10-year-old Little League All-Stars demonstrated a potent offense in two of their District 3 Little League tournament games in Hampden, but hit a snag in their middle game.
The Houlton All-Stars are 2-1 with wins over Orrington/Veazie and Lincoln, with their loss coming to the Hampden/Newburgh squad. The team will play again Saturday against Bangor West at 12:30 p.m. in Hampden. The Houlton boys are in a double-elimination tournament. If they win, they continue on to Sunday’s 1 p.m. game. If they lose, their season is finished.
    Playing for the team are Alex Wilde, Cameron Callnan, David Tucker, Jr., Deven Campbell, Jaron Gentle, Jason Collett, Keegan Gentle, Logan Tribou, Nathan Tuttle, Noah Reynolds, Sam Drew and Will Austin.
In their opening game, the Houlton All-stars blanked Orrington/Veazie, 20-0. After staking an 8-0 cushion in the top half of the first, Houlton cruised to finish the game in four innings, as the mercy rule was in effect.
Callnan went 3-for-4 from the plate with three singles, while Collett and K. Gentle each had a pair of base hits. Austin tripled, while Wilde, Drew, Tribou, Tucker and J. Gentle all singled. K. Gentle and Drew each picked up an RBI.
Gentle, Austin and Callnan combined for seven strikeouts, four hits and five walks.
In their next game, the Houlton boys faced lefty Sam Economy of Hampden/Newburgh. The Houlton All-stars were the visiting team and struck for three first-inning runs when Collett, Austin and Wilde all singled and scored.
However, Hampden/Newburgh came back with six runs in their half of the first-inning.
Over the next three innings, the Houlton All-stars struggled to find any offensive connection. K. Gentle singled twice for Houlton. Hampden/Newburgh collected five more runs for a 10-5 win.
K. Gentle started off the mound and was relieved in the third by Austin. Campbell then came on in the fourth to close out the game, with three strikeouts, while giving up two hits, as Hampden/Newburgh was held scoreless. Campbell showed poise and confidence on the mound and kept the Houlton All-stars within reach.
In Monday’s game against Lincoln, Houlton’s bats were lively with a 21-5 victory.
Leading the Houlton offense were Drew with two singles, Austin a homerun and single and Callnan a triple and single.
Over three innings, Austin struck out nine and walked two. With one out, Tucker came in to close out the game in the fourth.