|Steve Craig, Portland Press Herald|
The Gray-New Gloucester/Raymond Little League all-stars became just the fourth team from Maine to qualify for the Little League Baseball World Series, beating Canton, Massachusetts, 2-1 on Thursday night in a tense New England Region final at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Center in Bristol, Connecticut.
Gray-New Gloucester/Raymond Little League team is the first team from Maine to reach the Little League World Series in nearly two decades and only the fourth from the state to ever qualify. Photo courtesy Nate Stone
Kayden Oliver earned the win with 5 1/3 innings of five-hit pitching, striking out 10 before reaching his 85-pitch limit. Caleb Barker relieved with the tying run at first. A bloop single to shallow center by Mikey Zollo and a passed ball put Canton runners at second and third with one out, but Barker struck out Ryan Roberts and Declan Kelleher to preserve the win. The final outcome was delayed as umpires reviewed whether catcher Mason Amergian, who had dropped the third strike, had tagged Kelleher. After several minutes of review, umpires determined the tag was applied.
Maine increased its lead to 2-0 in the second inning when Grant Brann’s line drive to right field was misplayed. Brann raced to third, then scored when the right fielder’s throw was wild.
Oliver retired the first six batters before giving up three hits, a walk and an unearned run in the third.
Prior to Thursday’s game, Coach Brad Shelley said the team’s success has been built on its cohesiveness and depth.
“These boys all work so great together. They pick each other up,” Shelley said. “We’ve had different kids in different games punching above their weight, and that’s really been something we’ve grabbed ahold. We’ve had kids in the middle of our lineups, when we needed a run, that have come through and helped open a game up.”
Entering the regional final, Gray-New Gloucester/Raymond had won all 11 of its games in district, state and regional competition, outscoring opponents 77-8. That included a 3-0, seven-inning win over Salem, New Hampshire, in its regional opener, and a 7-1 victory over Massachusetts on Monday. Massachusetts then defeated New Hampshire, 5-0, in an elimination game on Wednesday.
