CARIBOU – Key Bank pitcher Dustin Bouchard polished off the second championship game striking out the final two Shop n’ Save batters in the top of the sixth winning for Key Bank to take the 2008 Caribou Little League championship, 13-5, on July 22. Bouchard took over the Kaleb Corriveau’s fast pitching performance. Key Bank won the first game of the series, 1-0, after a lightning storm caused officials to call the game complete after four innings.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
Key Bank pitcher Dustin Bouchard (at center with hat removed) is congratulated by catcher Matt Frost as his teammates rush the field after the final out of the second championship game in Caribou Little League action July 22. Bouchard took over pitching duties from Kaleb Corriveau to sustain Key Bank’s lead for the 2008 title.
In the first game on July 21, both teams opened the championship series with their ace pitchers. Key Bank, with a 15-1 record, sent Matt Frost to the mound, and SNS, with at 14-4 record, countered with Jared Keaton.
Both pitchers struck out five batters each through the first two innings, the lone hit a single by Alex Losieniecki for SNS. In the top of the third inning, Bouchard bunted to drive home Nick Frost who had reached base after drawing a walk.
SNS attempted to tie up the game with their first run in the bottom of the inning. Losieniecki reached third base after a walk and successive errors.
Teammate Adam Collins hit a ground ball for the run, but third basemen Scott McCrossin made a clean throw to Key Bank catcher Corriveau to tag out the runner and preserve the lead.
Both M. Frost and Keaton tallied up the strikeouts through the fourth inning, but in the fifth Keaton had to give up the mound to Kameron Manter having reached his throw limit. M. Frost hit a home run for two runs on the first pitch. Bouchard drew a walk and reached third base before being driven home by Paul Hanson. Michael Marquis started a SNS rally in the bottom of the fifth with a single before the game was called due to weather.
M. Frost tallied 10 strikeouts, and allowed only one run on two hits.
In the second game, Corriveau and Manter were starting pitchers. Corriveau threw Key Bank through the top of the first, and hit a single mirrored by Ryan Washington to put in the first two runs of the game.
SNS came back in the second started by Keaton’s single. SNS drew for walks for three runners to score and tie the game. Corriveau struck out two, and the third out was made at first base to end the inning.
Manter struck out three batters in the bottom of the second allowing only one single to McCrossin, and Corriveau kept it tied striking out the side on only 13 pitches in the top of the third.
Key Bank broke the tie in the bottom of the third when Washington doubled to clear the bases, before Manter shutdown the streak striking out the following three batters.
Key Bank extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth when M. Frost doubled to bring N. Frost home. SNS ended the inning with a double-play on a foul ball pop-up.
Bouchard took over pitching from Corriveau in the fifth inning allowing Collins to double who later scored on a sacrifice fly by Manter.
Keaton hit an over-the-fence solo home run to rally the SNS troops, but the inning ended when Ben Ezzy was caught stealing.
Key Bank confirmed their lead in the fifth on three walks and three hits including a triple by Corriveau, before Bouchard wrapped the game up in the top of the sixth.
Corriveau was named player of the game with 12 strikeouts and hitting three of four at-bats and notching five RBIs.
Washington led SNS with three hits to drive in three runs.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
Kaleb Corriveau sprints for first during the final game of the championship series on July 22.
