Ellsworth Eagles – Northern Maine Champions!

The Ellsworth Eagles defeated the Hermon Hawks 9-5 on Wednesday afternoon, June 12th on a cloudless, sunny afternoon at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor.

Hermon jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the end of the top of the 1st Inning. Wyatt Gogan took Connor Wagstaff's first pitch to left field for a double. Gogan reached 3rd on a passed ball. Nate Allain walked and stole second. Keith Pomeroy struck out . Gogan scored on another passed ball and Allain went to 3rd. Rush grounded out to 3rd, and Kent Johnson singled, scoring Allain. River Mullen struck out swinging to end the inning.

Ellsworth scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st to take a 3-2 lead. Tyler Mitchell singled and went to 2nd went Devin Grindle reached 1st on an error by the 1st baseman. Jackson Curtis reached on a fielder's choice, moving Mitchell to 3rd, and erasing Grindle. Mitchell scored on a passed ball and Curtis stole 2nd. Matt Burnett grounded out to 1st, moving Curtis to 3rd. Hunter Curtis singled driving in Jackson Curtis. Hunter Curtis then stole 2nd, and when Connor Wagstaff singled, Hunter Curtis moved to 3rd. On a delayed double steal Hunter Curtis dove in head first stealing home. Michael Palmer grounded out to short, and at the end of the 1st inning Ellsworth led 3-2.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Garrett Trask struck out looking, and Eli Reed grounded back to the pitcher. The ball went off of Wagstaff's glove to Brett Bragdon the 2nd baseman who threw to Jackson Curtis at 1st to retire Reed. With 2 outs Cody Hawes singled and went to 2nd when Wyatt Gogan walked. Nate Allain singled driving in Hawes to tie the score at 3-3. Pomeroy ground to short to end the top of the 2nd.

Ellsworth would load the bases, and leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the 2nd, but wouldn't score, and at the end of 2 innings, the score was tied 3-3.

In the top of the 3rd, Hermon's Mullen walked with 2 out, and went to 2nd on Garrett Trask's 2 out single. But Wagstaff struck out Reed, and the score was tied 3-3.

Ellsworth scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Hunter Curtis was hit by a pitch from Jacques Labonte, and reached 2nd on a passed ball. Connor Wagstaff tripled, driving in Curtis. Michael Palmer struck out, but Nate Smith singled driving in Wagstaff.  Riley Grindle walked and Ellsworth had runners on 1st and 2nd, but Tyler Mitchell gorounded into a 6-4-3 inning ending double play.

Ellsworth led 5-3 at the end of 3 innings.

In the top of the 4th inning, Hermon would add another run. Hawes singled and stole 2nd. He went to 3rd on a fielder's choice. Allain flew out to left, and with 2 out Keith Pomeroy singled driving in Hawes. Rush grounded to 3rd for the 3rd time. At the end of 3 1/2 innings, Ellsworth led 5-4.

In the bottom of the 4th, Ellsworth would score 2 runs to lead 7-4. Devin Grindle grounded to shortstop who overthrew 1st base. But the catcher backed up the play and gunned down Grindle at 2nd. Jackson Curtis singled and went to 2nd when Burnett walked. Hunter Curtis walke, loading the bases and Connor Wagstaff singled driving in 2 runs. Palmer would strike out to end the inning.

In the 5th inning Ellsworth retired Hermon in order, and then added 2 runs in the bottom of the 5th inning. Nate Smith singled. Grindle reached on an error by the shortstop,. Mitchell struck out swinging. Grindle flew out to center, scoring Smith. Jackson Curtis singled scoring Riley Grindle. Matt Burnett flew out to left to end the inning.

In the top of the 6th inning Hawes doubled for his 3rd hit of the game with 1 out. Matt Burnett then relieved Wagstaff after 110 pitches, striking out Gogan. Allain singled for his 2nd hit, scoring Hawes. Pomeroy struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 6th Ellsworth was retired 1-2-3 for the 1st time.

In the top of the 7th, Adam Rush grounded out to 3rd for the 4th time. Johnson then grounded out to 4rd and River Mullen flew out to Conner Wagstaff in right to end the game

Conner Wagstaff went 5.1 innings allowing 5 runs, 8 hits striking out 7 and walking 3. Matt Burnett struck out 2 and allowed 1 hit.

Ellsworth will now play Freeport Saturday afternoon, June 15th in the Class B State Title Game. Freeport beat York 2-1 in the Class B South Title game on Tuesday, June 11th.