The Northern Maine baseball playoffs played out like they were supposed to on paper, with the top seeds in each class advancing to the state championships. That was partly the case in southern Maine, except Sacopee Valley in Class C was an underdog who then ended another underdog story, and in Class B, Freeport flipped the whole script.
There will be no shortage of story lines on State Championship Saturday on the diamonds in Standish and Bangor.
Class A
Bangor is back in the state final for the third year in a row, and the Rams will be looking to make it a successful trip once again. Their opponent is in somewhat uncharted territory.
But southern Maine champ Falmouth won’t be feeling like much of an underdog. The Yachtsmen enter their first Class A state final 19-0, with playoff wins over perennial powers Deering, Portland and South Portland (last year’s Class A runner-up). And Falmouth’s trophy case features a Class B championship from 2012 and three more in Class C.
Beating Bangor will be no easy task. The Rams downed the best from the West the past two years (before the Maine Principals’ Association switched to a North-South nomenclature this year), and also have won consecutive American Legion championships during the summer. Their only loss was against North No. 2 Edward Little, and Bangor exacted revenge twice — in the KVAC championship game and again in the northern Maine final.
Both teams have allowed just two runs during their respective marches to the state final. Bangor gave up both of its runs in the playoff opener, and have since recorded two shutouts. The Yachtsmen did the opposite, not allowing a run until the Southern Maine final.
The Rams will get a chance to make it three titles in a row where they started the run, at Larry Mahaney Diamond on the campus of Saint Joseph’s College.
Class B
There’s very little previous history in the state final from the two Class B finalists. But history will be made at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor. One of the teams will go home with their first Class B state title.
Freeport has never made it this far in the baseball playoffs, and hadn’t won a playoff game since 1985 before this season.
Old Town has been close in recent years, but put it all together this year after going 15-1 during the regular season. The Coyotes did play in back-to-back Class A state championship games in 1992 and 1993, losing to Edward Little and Deering, respectively.
Old Town has made it to Saturday’s state final via playoff nail-biters, beating No. 9 Belfast 3-0, No. 4 Erskine Academy 3-1, and No. 3 Hermon 2-0 in the regional final.
The Falcons were able to produce more runs in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but have played closer games in their last two matchups. After beating No. 10 Morse at home 5-1, seventh-seeded Freeport has beaten the South’s No. 2 (York, 7-2), No. 3 (Greely, 1-0) and No. 1 (Cape Elizabeth, 3-1) teams on the road. Greely was the two-time defending Class B state champ.
Class C
Sacopee Valley is right back where it was two years ago — playing for the state championship at Mahaney Diamond. The Hawks lost that game, however, to Washington Academy.
They weren’t the favorite to make it back this year. But the South No. 4 seed upset No. 1 and undefeated Monmouth Academy in the semifinals, then rallied in the bottom of the seventh to beat No. 6 underdog Lisbon in the regional final.
Sacopee Valley captured consecutive Class C titles in 1992 and 1993, as well as one back in 1977.
North champion George Stevens Academy, of Blue Hill, has lost just once all year. The Eagles made amends for that defeat by getting back at No. 4 Mattanawcook Academy in the semifinals. Then came a 9-8 thriller against No. 2 and previously undefeated Houlton in the regional final.
GSA is no stranger to the Class C state game, last making an appearance in 2009 (losing to St. Dominic Academy), and last winning in 2004 (beating St. Dom’s). Since 1989, the Eagles have played in nine state finals, winning three (1997, 2003, 2004). Four of those games were against St. Dom’s, with the teams each winning two. The Eagles played in four straight finals from 2002-05, winning two (splitting with Jay High School and St. Dom’s once apiece).
Class D
A day of first state titles could continue with the Class D state final. Penobscot Valley, of Howland, may have been the North’s No. 1 seed, but the Howlers have a chance at history after advancing to their first state championship game.
Standing in their way, however, is last year’s state champion, Searsport. The Vikings edged out Stearns for last year’s Class D title, and after going 13-3 in the regular season and capturing the No. 1 seed in the South, they will be looking to make it back-to-back this year.
Searsport will be playing closer to home this time around, with Mansfield Stadium just a 45-minute drive North.
The Vikings have a history of titles, winning Class C crowns in 2006 and 2008 as part of a three-year run of finals appearances, and also won state titles in Class C in 1972 and 1975.
PVHS (17-1) had to squeak out wins over defending regional champ Stearns (2-1) in the quarterfinals and Fort Fairfield (3-2) in the Northern Maine final.
Searsport made its run look easier, scoring 10 runs each against Buckfield in the quarterfinals and Rangeley in the semifinals, then beating Valley 6-2 in the Southern Maine final.
wkramlich@sunjournal.com
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