Possible home game with Holbrook on Friday at Bank of Maine field
The Houlton 11-12-year-old All-star team stayed alive in the District 3 Little League Tournament, mounting a comeback in the bottom of the sixth Monday to overtake Sebasticook, 9-8.
The team now waits for the winner of today’s scheduled game between Sebasticook and Hampden to see if they move on. A Hampden win means Houlton would play Holbrook in Houlton on Friday night. If Sebasticook wins, Houlton would need it to be high scoring game, because the tie breaker is determined by defensive runs allowed. Depending on the score, Houlton could finish 1-3 in Pool Play. But, a third-place finish would end their tournament bid.
On Monday in Newport, the Houlton All-stars were trailing by two runs when Nick Brewer broke out of his hitting slump for a bases-loaded double to tie the score. With two outs, Nolan Porter connected on the first pitch sending it into left field for a clean single to plate the electrifying walk-off win.
“The game was back and forth with both teams battling,” said Houlton Coach Joe Porter.
With Sebasticook leading 2-0 in the top of the first, Houlton came back with a run in the bottom of the frame after Andrew Tuttle delivered a leadoff single, followed by Keegan Gentle’s one-out double to score Nick Perfitt, who reached on a fielder’s choice.
Sebasticook added a run in the top of the second without the benefit of a hit. A hit batter and an error made the score 3-1.
Houlton answered with a three-run second of their own to take a 4-3 lead. Will Austin and Jason Collett reached via a hit batter and walk and then Tuttle followed with an RBI-single. Collett and Tuttle came around to score when Perfitt hit a hard ground ball that was misplayed by the Sebasticook shortstop.
Sebasticook responded with three runs in the top of the third to take the lead back, 6-4. Two singles and a double by Sebasticook’s center fielder highlighted the rally. The score stayed this way until the bottom of the fifth, when Tyler Bailey hit a two-out two run double to tie the score at 6-6. Sebasticook looked to seal the win scoring two runs in the top of the sixth, when starting pitcher, Seavey for Sebasticook hit a two-out two-run single to give Sebasticook a brief 8-6 lead.
Collett, Perfitt and Gentle all reached via walks leading to the dramatic finish.
Perfitt and Bailey combined on the mound to keep a good hitting Sebasticook team in check. Perfitt pitched the first 4 and 2/3 innings with five strikeouts, while Bailey finished the game, picking up the win.
The Houlton 11-12 All-stars fell to Hampden 11-7 on Tuesday, July 2 at Hampden. Houlton got off to a rough start spotting Hampden to a quick 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The first five batters for Hampden reached base through a walk or single, highlighted by Gavin Portridge’s two-run single. After Houlton recorded an out, Hampden’s Kent Oliver followed with a two-run single. Portridge scored on a RBI groundout, while Oliver scored on an error to finish the scoring.
Wyatt Harriman for Hampden was able to keep Houlton off the scoreboard for the first three innings, not allowing a hit. Bailey for Houlton settled down and was able to keep Hampden off the scoreboard in the second and third innings.
Hampden tacked on a run in the top of the fourth and after a lead-off walk, Perfitt replaced Bailey.
Sam Economy and Evan Thomas hit singles, sandwiched by a fielder’s choice to score Jonah Roberts. Houlton was able to escape further damage with a double play turned off a come-backer to Perfitt and then, first baseman Sam Drew alertly threw to second to pick off a runner who strayed too far from the base.
Houlton was finally able to reach Harriman for a run in the bottom of the fourth. Drew Marino led off with a single. Perfitt hit a one-out single followed by a single by Brewer to plate Marino making the score 7-1. Each team was unable to score in the fifth, which set up an exciting finish.
In the top of the sixth, Hampden scored four more runs, all with two outs. Two singles and three walks plated one run, followed by a two-run single by Harriman, making the score 11-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, Houlton showed their never-quit attitude finally breaking through. Gentle led off with a single. After Perfitt got hit by a pitch, and a fielder’s choice, Porter hit an RBI-single. Bailey and Justin Tuck hit back-to-back singles, scoring Brewer. Jason Collett drew a bases-loaded walk, followed by an RBI-single by Tuttle, and a bases-loaded walk to Marino. Gentle hit a sacrifice fly to score Collett and make the score 11-7. Perfitt reached on a dropped third strike to load the bases, but Hampden was able to get the final out thwarting the comeback.
