Shop-n-Save defeats S.W. Collins and Savings Bank of Maine

S.W. Collins 19, VFW 4
    In what didn’t seem like a June day at all, S.W. Collins and VFW teams took the field in their one and only meeting of the regular season on June 1. Fans were bundled, players were loose and the wind was blowing. Let’s play ball!     Collins moved the scoreboard first with two runs from the top of their order. Second year players Donovan Savage and Zach Wright put up the opening scores. Savage finished the day 4-4 with four runs, two RBIs and a walk. Wright drew four walks which led to four runs and VFW put together a small rally in the bottom of the half of the first as power hitter Dylan Berkoski hit a deep center-left triple that drove in a run. Berkoski finished 2-3 on the day with one run and an RBI.
    The third inning seemed to be the time to score. Gabe Massey of Collins set the tone from the get go with a lead off single that would result in one of five runs scored in the inning.
    Dayne Savage rallied his teammates around the bags going 3-4 with three runs and four RBIs on the day. Nate Wyman added to the day’s total going 2-5 with one run and two RBIs of his own. Some patience at the plate resulted in many Collins players reaching base safely, including three walks for Daniel Randolph and two walks for Michael Smith. VFW again had some answers. Berkoski and catcher Nolan Powers both scored runs off of solid hits to keep the VFW fans alive.
    On the mound for VFW was Jake Perreault, who pitched three innings and struck out seven batters. Perreault also helped his cause by scoring a run that day. Powers and Brandon Tweed each pitched an inning and a half of relief totaling five strikeouts. The Collins mound featured Donovan Savage who went deep into the game, pitching over five and a half innings and striking out eight batters. Tayler Miller pitched the rest of the way, tallying up one strikeout.
Knights of Columbus 17, Northstars 12
    Winning pitcher Brian Corbin of the Knights of Columbus combined with Devin Martin for nine hits, eight strikeouts and 10 walks in the K of C win over the Northstars June 1. Connor Plourde and Taylor Thibodeau singled twice and Jillian Flynn had three singles. Corbin tripled and, for the Northstars, Gunnar Bondeson had two singles. Kevin Bither had four singles, Elliot Landeen, Zac Zeigler and Devin Chamberland each singled once. K of C scored seven runs to take the lead in the top of the sixth on a single Flynn that scored three runs and they went on to add four more before game’s end. Northstars pitchers E. Landeen, Bondeson, Shane Landeen, Brady Anderson and Bither combined for eight hits, 10 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Shop-n-Save 7, S.W. Collins 2
    On May 22, Shop-n-Save scored two runs in the first inning to start off the scoring. Collins got on base with a walk and moved to second on a fielders choice by Marquis. He was driven in on an RBI double by Kameron Manter. In the second inning, back-to-back doubles by Conley and Losieniecki got things started. Losieniecki stole home for the second run of the inning. In the third inning, Collins got a single by Dayne Savage who then stole his way around the bases to score. Shop-n-Save added four runs in the bottom of the third and Collins started things off with a well hit ball to the outfield fence which resulted in an in-the-park home run thanks to Collins speed on the bases. Following a walk to Marquis, Manter hit his second double of the game to put runners at second and third. Marquis scored on a fielder’s choice and Conley beat out the throw to first. Manter and Conley both scored on a triple by Losieniecki in the top of the fifth and Collins added a run when Donovan Savage stole home on a past ball after reaching base on a single.
    In the first inning, Collins’ catcher Nate Wyman ended the inning by throwing out Manter, who was trying to stretch a double into a triple. Wyman received the ball on a cut off throw from shortstop Donovan Savage and fired the ball to third base for the out. In the fifth inning, pitcher Losienieki ended the Collins’ rally by tagging out Dayne Savage trying to steal home for the third out of the inning.
Shop-n-Save 7, Savings Bank of Maine 0
    On May 15, Shop-n-Save started off the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs in the inning. Collins and Losieniecki each singled and were driven in by a double from Manter. In the third inning, Shop-n-Save added two more runs after a bunt single by Holdsworth and a single by Collins put two runners on base. Holdsworth scored on the single by Collins after he made it to third base on his bunt due to an errant throw to first base. Collins scored on Manter’s second double of the game. Shop-n-Save added three more insurance runs in the fifth inning. Collins started off the fifth inning with a single. After two stolen bases put him at third, he scored easily on a single by Losieniecki. After a walk to Marquis, Losieniecki scored on a fielder’s choice that got Manter out at first. Marquis was driven in by a single from Ben Ezzy. Savings  Bank of Maine tried to put some pressure on shop n save in the top of the sixth, advancing runners to second and third with only one out. A walk to Brayden Burby and a single by Jacob Burby gave Savings Bank their base runners in the inning.
    The rally was stopped after strike outs of the next two batters to end the game.
    Manter pitched an outstanding game in five innings, recording 15 strikeouts before leaving due to the pitch count limit with two outs in the sixth inning.
    Losieniecki came in relief to record the final strikeout of the game. Manter struck out the side in the first and fifth innings and had two strikeouts, a walk in the second and two strikeouts in the third, fourth and sixth innings. In the third and fourth innings, catcher Collins and shortstop Holdworth combined to prevent runners from advancing past first base with two pick off steal attempts.
    For Savings Bank of Mine, starting pitcher Burby also pitched an outstanding game, recording 11 strikeouts including striking out the side in the second inning. Caleb Willett came in in relief of Burby in the fifth and recorded two strikeouts of his own.
    Kerrigan Manter drew a walk and had two stolen bases in her first little league at bat.