CARIBOU, Maine — It was all-star Sunday for the Caribou Little League and the American League 9-10 and 11-12-year-old baseball teams own bragging rights following a sweep at the Robert P. White Field.
Pitching dominated the morning’s game in the 9- and 10-year-old division and the American League was able to hold off the National League, 5-4, to win this year’s contest pitting the top young players against each other.
Lefthanded pitcher Carsen Richards of the American League delivers the ball toward the plate during the fifth inning of Sunday’s game at the Robert P. White Field. The AL defeated the NL, 5-4, in the 9-10 year-old Caribou Little League all-star game. (Kevin Sjoberg)
Each side used six pitchers, with Brayden Brescia setting the tone for the victorious AL team by striking out the side in the first inning. Parker Wark, Matthew Pelletier and Bryce Dillon also tossed scoreless innings before the NL came alive with three runs in the fifth and a single tally in the sixth to draw close.
The NL scored a run in the sixth and loaded the bases with the potential tying run on third base and the winning run on second. But Bryce St. Pierre, who had relieved Carsen Richards in the fifth, struck out the final batter to allow the AL to survive.
The NL also turned in some strong mound performances. Pitching an inning each were Luke Beidelman, Gage Hale, Dawson St. Pierre, Damarian Gagnon, Edison Sleeper and Ryan Blackstone.
Each team managed just one hit in the contest, with Kody Tracy notching a fifth-inning single for the AL and Landyn Waldermarson a sixth-inning single for the NL. The majority of runs were scored on walks.
The 11- and 12-year-old all-star game was played Sunday afternoon and the American League won, 18-7, to complete the sweep.
Lefthanded pitcher Carsen Richards of the American League delivers the ball toward the plate during the fifth inning of Sunday’s game at the Robert P. White Field. The AL defeated the NL, 5-4, in the 9-10 year-old Caribou Little League all-star game. (Kevin Sjoberg)
The National League got off to a strong start with Reece Cavagnaro and Connor Soucy each scoring first-inning runs. Cavagnaro started on the mound for the NL, with Alex Levesque scoring a first-inning run and Aaron Saucier and Chris Burby each scoring in the second to put the AL on top for good.
Griffen McNeal tossed a scoreless second inning for the American League, while teammates Levesque and Keegan Masse pitched the squad through the third, fourth and fifth innings and kept their National League counterparts scoreless.
During that stretch, the AL offense came alive and was able to break the game open. Dylan Bouchard, Landon Tracy, Alex Belanger, Blake Anderson and Burby all scored runs in the third.
Jaden Picard, Jude Shea, Devin Wright and Logan Griffeth scored for the NL in the sixth and seventh innings to draw closer, but the AL’s Belanger came on to pitch and earned the save.
Landon Plourde and Keenan Masse added late runs for the AL to cap the victory.
The Caribou Little League regular season is now complete and the playoffs are currently underway. The best of three championship series will be played July 18 and 19 and, if necessary, July 21, at the Robert P. White Field.
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- Members of the National League 11-12 year-old all-star team are, in front from left, Camryn Ala, Connor Soucy, Jude Shea, Logan Griffeth and Dawson Whitten. Back row, coaches Wyatt Taggett and Mario Picard, Elliott Sleeper, Jesse Taggett, Jayden Picard, Reece Cavagnaro, Jacob Walton, Devin Wight, coach Ryan Cavagnaro and manager Rick Taggett. (Contributed photo)
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- Members of the American League 9-10 year-old all-star team are, in front from left, Brayden Brescia, Carsen Richards, Owen Corrigan and Parker Wark. Back row, coaches Ryan Corrigan and Keith Richards, Bryce St. Pierre, Matt Pelletier, Landon Belanger, Bryce Dillon, Cody Tracey and coaches Craig Brescia and Josh Dillon. Absent when photo was taken was Scott Stubbs. (Contributed photo)
