BANGOR, Maine — The Houlton Area Little League Junior League all-stars lost back-to-back games to be knocked out of the District 3 Little League double-elimination tournament held at Mansfield Park in Bangor last week.
Playing for the Houlton Junior League all-star team are: Will Austin, Nick Brewer, Eli Bulley, Cameron Callnan, Devin Campbell, Jason Collett, Keegan Gentle, Ryder Graham, Ian Neureuther, Nick Perfitt, Noah Reynolds, Justin Tuck and David Tucker. The team is coached by Trapper Gentle, Wayne Lee and Peter Collett.
The all-stars were chosen from the two league teams. The league teams played each other and southern opponents through the end of June into July.
In their last game of the District 3 Little League championship for ages 13-14, the Houlton all-stars bowed to Holbrook, 12-1.
Houlton started with two runners on base in the first, as Collett reached on a walk and Gentle singled. Each runner picked up a stolen base on a passed ball before Collett was picked off a third. With one out, Gentle on second, Perfitt and Tucker were retired.
In the top of the second, Houlton threatened again with one out when Austin singled and Tuck doubled. Campbell hit into a double play when Tuck tried to squeeze by the shortstop, but instead was tagged out. Brewer/Orrington’s shortstop completed the double play throwing Campbell out at first.
Brewer/Orrington took a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the frame off four base hits, an infield error and two walks among several stolen bases.
In the third, Callnan drew a walk and scored off Gentle’s single. That would be all the offense Houlton would generate, as they collected two more base hits in the game.
Brewer/Orrington led 7-1 heading into the fourth when they broke the game open with five runs on two walks, followed by two Houlton fielding miscues and a double.
In Houlton’s second game against Brewer/Orrington, the local all-stars fell 17-6 for their first loss in the double-elimination tournament.
Brewer/Orrington led 7-0 after two and a half innings before Houlton broke the scoring column with two runs. Collett drew a walk, while Gentle and Perfitt each singled.
Brewer/Orrington was retired in order in the fourth. With two outs, the Houlton all-stars closed the scoring gap, 7-5, with three runs in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of walks and a Brewer base hit.
However, the fifth inning was a different story. Brewer/Orrington struck for seven runs on solid hits, as they had four singles and two doubles.
In the sixth, Brewer/Orrington scored three more runs, while Houlton managed to score on Perfitt’s single.
The Bronco/Hermon all-stars defeated Brewer/Orrington knocking them into the loser’s bracket where they topped Holbrook for a rematch with the Broncos. Brewer/Orrington won the next contest forcing an “if game” playoff game with the Broncos, which eventually took the championship.
In Houlton’s opening game, they picked up a 11-1 win over Orono/Veazie/Glenburn.
In the bottom of the first, Houlton scored on back-to-back RBI-singles by Perfitt and Brewer.
In the third, Orono/Veazie/Glenburn reached Houlton for their lone run after a double and single. But, Houlton answered in their frame with two more runs for a 4-1 lead. Austin singled and he and Tucker both scored on Graham’s triple.
In the fourth, both teams went down in order, but Houlton scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth —to end the game on the mercy rule courtesy of walks and singles by Collett and Tucker.
