HODGDON, Maine — There are few things more thrilling than an upset in the postseason.
That is precisely what happened Saturday as No. 5 Southern Aroostook defeated top-ranked Hodgdon 15-11 in a back-and-forth contest in a Class D North semifinal.
The Warriors (15-2 overall) now face No. 6 Machias (12-3 overall) for the regional championship at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor. It marks the first time since 2015 that SA has appeared in the regional championship contest.
Saturday’s game marked the third time this season that Hodgdon and Southern Aroostook met on the diamond. Hodgdon previously won both contests 7-6 at home and 12-6 at Dyer Brook.
“We had played two close games during the season, so we figured it would be one of our squads playing for the championship,” SA coach Todd Collier said. “This was a total team win for us today.”
The Warriors were without the services of ace pitcher Garrett Harvey, who threw his maximum number of pitches against Woodland in the quarterfinals Thursday. SA used a trio of pitchers in Saturday’s game — Chris Caswell, Graham Siltz and Andrew Lewis.
That group of pitchers combined to allow 11 runs on 12 hits and eight walks, with seven strikeouts.
Hodgdon also used a trio of pitchers with Silas Graham, Austin Winslow and Brock Thompson sharing mound duties. The group combined to allow 15 runs on 16 hits and four walks, with eight strikeouts.
For Southern Aroostook, Harvey tripled, singled twice and walked while also scoring four runs. Caswell singled twice and walked twice while also scoring four runs. Jacob Brooks doubled and singled three times and scored a run for the Warriors.
For Hodgdon, Lucas Matheson singled three times and scored two runs, Graham singled three times and drew a walk and scored a run.
SA took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, before Hodgdon came back in the third to go up 2-1. The Warriors evened the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth, but Hodgdon again rallied, scoring three times for a 5-2 lead.
Undaunted, the Warriors answered with four runs in the top of the fifth inning for the 6-5 lead. SA erupted for nine runs in the top of the seventh inning to blow open the game.
Hodgdon attempted to mount an incredible comeback in the home half of the inning, plating six runs.
“We talked coming into the bottom of the seventh inning that people were going to remember how we finished the game,” Hodgdon coach Seth Dorr said. “They did an incredible job. They kept their heads up and never quit.”
The Hawks finish their season with a 15-2 overall record.
HODGDON, Maine — June 12, 2021 — Hodgdon’s Josh McGillicuddy slaps the tag on Southern Aroostook’s Buddy Porter during Saturday’s semifinal game in Hodgdon. Backing up the play is Hodgdon’s Drew Duttweiler. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HODGDON, Maine — June 12, 2021 — Southern Aroostook third baseman Brennan Burpee (left) prepares to put the tag on Hodgdon’s Oisin Gardiner, who was trying to steal third during Saturday’s semifinal. SA won 15-11. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HODGDON, Maine — June 12, 2021 — Southern Aroostook pitcher Chris Caswell delivers a pitch to the plate during Saturday’s semifinal with Hodgdon. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HODGDON, Maine — June 12, 2021 — Southern Aroostook coach Todd Collier rushes to greet his catcher Jacob Brooks after the Warriors defeated Hodgdon 15-11 Saturday to advance to the regional championship. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
