Savings Bank pulls out close game

Last Wednesday at the Savings Bank of Maine field, Cameron Graham and the Savings Bank of Maine  players out dueled Nick Cowperthwaite and the Machias Savings Bank team, 2-1 to take the Houlton Little League Majors title.
    Machias Savings Bank opened the game with a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cowperthwaite reached base on a fielder’s choice, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Jacob Worthley’s two-out RBI-single.
Savings Bank of Maine knotted the game in the bottom of the second when Zack Hagan singled and moved around the bases, scoring on a passed ball.
The score remained tied 1-all until the bottom of the fifth when speedy Ethan Sawyer reached base on a pinch-hit single. He stole second then went to third on a wild pitch and finally snuck across the plate on the catcher’s throw back to the pitcher.
“I thought it was a very well played game on both sides,” said winning coach Shawn Graham of Savings Bank of Maine. “The game virtually came down to pitching and defense. That’s what you want to see in a championship game. It could have gone either way.”
Graham and Cowperthwaite each pitched a complete game for their respective squads. Graham scattered five hits, while striking out 10 and walking three. Cowperthwaite, who came on in the second inning, allowed six hits, had eight strikeouts and did not walk a batter.
Savings Bank of Maine’s offense was keyed by Nate Mooers with two doubles, while Nick Perfitt, Graham, Sawyer and Hagan all singled.
For Machias Savings Bank, Worthley paced the offense with two singles, while Cowperthwaite doubled and scored. Cody Shaw also singled in the game.