BAR HARBOR – The Caribou Little League 11-12 year-old all-star team competed in the annual Marty Lions Classic, sponsored by the Acadia Little League, and came away with the championship trophy.
Members of the Caribou Little League 11-12 year-old all-star team which won the Acadia Tournament in Bar Harbor were, in front from left, Connor Thibeault, Michael Hunter, Dustin Bouchard, Dayne Savage, Jillian Flynn, Alex Losieniecki and Justin Ouellette. Back row, coach Shawn Manter, Taylor Thibodeau, Adam Collins, Kameron Manter, Dylan Berkoski, Matt Manter, manager Scott Hunter and coach Rick Thibeault.
Teams from Holbrook, Ellsworth and the Bar Harbor area participated in the event, held Aug. 1 and 2.
The Caribou nine played four exciting games to claim the championship. In the first game against Holbrook, Caribou rode a complete-game one-hitter by Matt Manter and flawless defense in the 5-1 win. At the plate, Caribou’s attack was led by Dylan Berkoski, Dayne Savage and Manter, who had two hits apiece.
The team had to turn around immediately and play Ellsworth, a team that won its district championship and was eliminated in the state semifinals by South Portland. Caribou again “flashed the leather” in the field, highlighted by a 4-6-3 double play started when second baseman Michael Hunter dove and knocked down a ball heading into center field. He flipped it to shortstop Dayne Savage who rifled the ball to first baseman Kameron Manter to end a rally.
Several other players contributed to the victory, including Jillian Flynn, the only female in the tourney, who played good defense when asked to help with the catching duties. Offensively, Savage went 2 for 3 and Berkoski and Connor Thibeault chipped in with timely hits and Alex Losieniecki and Adam Collins both scored important runs after working walks. The highlight, however, was a home run off the bat of Manter which cleared the fence by 80 feet. On the mound, four pitchers combined to secure the 4-2 victory.
In game three against the host Acadians, Caribou won in extra innings, 3-2. Dominant pitching and great defense were once again on display as Berkoski went the distance, giving up only two hits while striking out 13. Defensively, outfielder Taylor Thibodeau gunned down an Acadia player attempting to stretch a single into a double to squelch a potential rally. Caribou was able to put together 12 hits in the game, but needed a two-out single off the bat of Berkoski to score Hunter from second for the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hunter’s three hits paced the Caribou offense, while Savage, Berkoski and Justin Ouellette had two apiece.
In Sunday’s championship game, Caribou came out on top over Holbrook, 4-2. The winners scored two of their runs in the first inning on hits by Manter, Berkoski and Adam Collins. However, Holbrook tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer.
Manter settled down on the mound to hold Holbrook scoreless the next four innings, and received solid infield defense along the way. Caribou scratched out the go-ahead run in the fifth inning when speedy Dustin Bouchard scored on a passed ball. Collins tripled in the sixth and scored on a two-out hit by Ouellette to provide insurance. Berkoski pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning to earn the save.
Manter was named MVP of the tourney. Scott Hunter was the team’s manager and Shawn Manter and Rick Thibeault were assistant coaches.
