The Houlton 10-11-year-old All-star team split over the weekend in the double-elimination District 3 Little League Tournament in Glenburn.
In their opening game, Houlton lost a heartbreaker to Hampden, 7-6, late in the game.
According to Coach Brian Reynolds, “Kyle Carver was stellar on the mound and pitched nearly the whole game, going 4 2/3 innings, striking out five Hampden batters and scattering five hits.”
But, it ultimately came down to errors in the field that would cost Carver and Houlton the win in a game they led, 6-5, in the bottom of the fifth when Hunter Sennett walked and scored on a passed ball.
Hampden gathered two runs in the bottom of the frame on two singles and a Houlton error.
Houlton would put the tying run on second in scoring position in the top of the sixth, as Jaron Gentle walked and stole second, but Houlton could not capitalize on the situation, leaving Gentle stranded.
Houlton opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning on walks by David Tucker and Alex Wilde. RBI-ground outs by Carver and Logan Tribou would plate both runners as Houlton took a 2-0 advantage.
However, Hampden came back in the bottom of the second with two runs of their own to tie the score. Hampden would then take the lead in the bottom of the third inning with two runs that scored on two Houlton fielding errors for a 4-2 lead.
Houlton answered with three runs in the top of the fourth, as Noah Reynolds was hit by a pitch, Tucker walked and then both were driven in on Wilde’s double. Wilde was then driven in on an RBI-ground out by Carver, who helped his own cause at the plate driving in his second run of the game.
In their second game, a do-or-die, Houlton would emerge victorious over Bangor West with the mercy rule engaged, 14-4. But, the game was closer than the ending score would indicate.
Bangor West opened the scoring in the top of the first on a walk, steal of second and a passed ball. Houlton would counter in the bottom of the frame with four runs coming on a single by Carver, an RBI-triple by Tucker, a walk issued to Wilde; a two-run single by Houlton starting pitcher Reynolds and an RBI-ground out by Tribou.
It looked as though Houlton was well on its way to the win, but Bangor West would come back with another run in the top of the second to keep the game close.
Bangor West would then settle things down and hold Houlton scoreless until the fourth. Reynolds would make way for Gentle on the hill. Gentle provided three innings of “top notch and much needed relief for Houlton,” said Coach Reynolds.
Bangor West pushed a run across in the top of the fourth to make the score 4-3, but Houlton would score two of their own in the bottom of the inning on a double by Tribou, walk to Sennett and a combination of stolen bases and passed balls. Houlton led 6-3 into the top of the fifth inning only to see a pesky Bangor West narrow the scoring gap by a run, 6-5.
The game would change in the bottom of the fifth when Houlton came alive to crush Bangor West’s hopes, as they got the bats going for eight runs on six hits. Eli Bulley provided two singles, while Gentle, Carver, Wilde, Jaron Brewer all had one hit in the rally.
Houlton traveled to Glenburn yesterday to play Bangor East, weather permitting.
Information submitted by Coach Brian Reynolds.
