Dirigo 11&12-year-old Little League All-stars clenched their third straight District 5 title Monday night in Augusta, with a 7-4 win over Auburn. With the win, Dirigo advances to the State Little League baseball championship series, to be played in Hampden starting July 23.
Lincoln County players provided the battery and anchored the corners at first and third. Sawyer Pinkham, of Jefferson, collected the win in five and a third innings of work (6K,3B,5H,4R), and Devon Scherer (1B,1K), of Jefferson, the save. Caleb Cummings, of Whitefield, anchored the plate, Jake Rideout, of Whitefield, played third and first, and Scherer played at first base, before going in to pitch in the 6th inning.
Auburn took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning when Drew Lashua walked and scored on a Lou Jensen sacrifice fly. Dirigo broke the game open with a four run 2nd inning.
Nate Martin beat out an infield single, Cody Beaudoin walked, Tyler Bailey hit an RBI single, and Pinkham a two run homerun over the centerfield fence. They added three runs in the 3rd. Luke Peabody hit a lead off single, moved over on a Caleb Barden single and Cummings fielder’s choice and scored on a Bailey ground out. Pinkham was intentionally walked, and he and Cummings scored on a Scherer single.
Auburn scored a run in the 5th when CJ Jipson walked, went to third on a Jared Plourde single and scored on a passed ball. They added two runs in the bottom of the 6th on a Brandon Knapp double and Jack Coyne two run homerun.
Hitting for Dirigo were Scherer with two singles, Pinkham a homerun, Martin, Barden, Peabody and Bailey a single each. Hitting for Auburn were Knapp a double and single, Coyne a homerun and single, and Plourde and Adam Cox a single each.
Coyne (4B,4H,4R,4K) got the start, and Knapp (3R,3H,4K,3B) and Cox (3K,1B) pitched in relief.
