With only three Houlton Little League Majors teams this season, along with the addition of Border League’s Linneus, Hodgdon and Monticello clubs, coaches and players had the chance to really get to know each other.
On June 21, Houlton Farms Dairy and Machias Savings Bank met to decide the Houlton Little League town title for the Majors Division. It could not have been scripted any closer, as the game was tied 7-all in the bottom of the sixth, with two outs and the bases loaded.
Sam Drew’s walk-off single furnished the game-winner, as Machias Savings Bank won 8-7 over Houlton Farms Dairy.
Houlton Farms Dairy reached Machias Savings Bank’s relief thrower Drew Marino in the top of the sixth for three runs to take a 7-6 advantage.
With one out, Eli Bulley singled, while Jaron Gentle drew a walk. Bulley scored on Andrew Tuttle’s base hit. Then, Hunter Sennett drew the second walk of the inning, setting up an RBI-single by Keegan Gentle. On a passed ball, Tuttle scampered home for the one-run lead.
With runners on second and third, Alex Wilde hit a screaming line drive to Drew at first base who stabbed it for the second out, easily preventing two runs from scoring. Marino was able to induce Nolan Porter to ground out to second to end the inning.
Trailing by one, Machias Savings Bank had their final ups.
Leadoff hitter Jason Collett drew a walk, as Houlton Farms Dairy brought in relief pitcher Cameron Callnan to replace right-hander, Porter, who came in for early relief. Wasting no time, Marino reached Callnan for a hit, while Tyler Bailey scored Collett on an error to tie the game.
With runners on second and third, Justin Tuck was intentionally walked, to load the bases. With no outs, Houlton Farms Dairy pulled the infield in to try and prevent the run from scoring at the plate. Drew hit a 2-0 fastball between the first and second basemen to plate the walk-off game-ending single.
Houlton Farms Dairy had opened the game with a quick 3-0 lead, as Tuttle led off with single and was followed by back-to-back doubles by Sennett and K. Gentle, which scored Tuttle. Wilde singled in Sennett and Gentle scored on an errant pick-off attempt.
Machias Savings Bank right-hand ace, Tyler Bailey settled down after Wilde got thrown out at third on a steal attempt, striking out the last two batters to stop the bleeding.
In the bottom of the first, Machias Savings Bank cut the lead to 3-2 after Collett, Marino and Bailey all reached base on errors, which accounted for both of their runs.
After a pop-out and two walks, Houlton Farms Dairy brought in Porter in to pitch and was able to get the last two outs of the inning, escaping any further damage.
Bailey for Machias Savings and Porter for Houlton Farms Dairy then settled in for a pitchers’ duel. Bailey allowed only one run over the next four innings, striking out 10 batters, while Porter kept the Machias hitters off-balance with his “splinter” pitch racking up 10 strikeouts of his own.
Machias Savings Bank tied the score in the bottom of the third, 3-all, without a hit, as Bailey walked and scored on a steal and two passed balls.
Isaac Potter started Machias Savings Bank off in the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off double, which would spark a three-run inning for a 6-3 lead.
After advancing to third on a passed ball, pinch-runner Logan Swallow scored on a safety squeeze bunt hit by Collett. With two outs, Bailey reached on an error, putting runners on second and third. Collett scored on a passed ball and Bailey came around to score on a clean single by Tuck.
Houlton Farms Dairy was able to get one run back in the top of the fifth with consecutive singles by K. Gentle and Wilde, making the score 6-4. Houlton Farms Dairy was able to hold Machias Savings Bank in the bottom of the fifth, with Porter retiring all three batters, two via strikeouts, setting up the dramatic finish.
Both teams showed good sportsmanship and it was a heroic game for all of the fans in attendance. The title game was an outstanding finish to a great season of Little League.
Editor’s Note: Game information was provided by Joe Porter, coach of the Houlton Farms Dairy team.
