BRISTOL, Conn. — Ethan Dorman belted a three-run homer in the second inning and Ryan Moore pitched two shutout innings in relief as the Bangor East ages 11-12 Little League All-Stars beat Massachusetts champion Southborough 6-4 in their mutual opener at the New England Regional Friday afternoon.
Bangor East jumped out to a 6-0 lead by scoring three times in the second inning and adding three more in the third.
But Southborough rallied to within two with a run in the bottom of the third and three in the fourth before Moore came on to shut the door.
Moore allowed one hit, struck out one and didn’t walk anybody to notch the save. Ryan Brookings went four innings for the win, allowing four hits and all four runs with four strikeouts and five walks.
Bangor East took a lead it would never relinquish in the second when Liam Reading and Tyler Mallory-MacDonald singled and Dorman belted his first homer of the postseason off lefty starter Jack Harlan.
“It was a perfect pitch [to hit], a fastball right down the middle,” said Dorman, whose blast went to left-center. “I didn’t know it was a homer at first. But when I was running around the bases, I heard people cheering so I looked back.
“It was my first homer in all-stars so it felt pretty good,” added Dorman.
In the third inning, Bangor East loaded the bases when Nick Moore and Reading sandwiched singles around a walk to Ben Crichton. Mallory-MacDonald singled home Moore, a Dane Johnson fielder’s choice delivered Crichton and a walk to Brookings allowed Reading to score.
Southborough got one back in the bottom of the third on a walk, a fielder’s choice, a passed ball and a wild pitch.
They climbed back into it in the fourth on Kevin Haley’s single, David Wrin’s double, Andrew Warfield’s RBI fielder’s choice, a run-producing wild pitch and singles by Gavin Boyden and Nolan Kessinger (RBI).
A nice, lunging snare of a line drive by first baseman Reading in the fifth helped Moore get out of the inning after he had allowed a single to Wrin.
Dorman made a diving catch in shallow center in the sixth.
“I got a good jump on it,” said Dorman.
Moore was pleased with his relief stint.
“I was able to hit my spots and my changeup was working,” said Moore, who also featured a fastball and a “few curves.”
“Confidence is everything,” said Bangor East manager Jason Lewis. “The guys came out hitting. Dorman’s homer was the key. We have a different hero every game. And you couldn’t have asked for any more out of Ryan Moore.”
“It feels great to get that first win,” said Dorman. “It means so much.”
Bangor East went 0-4 in last year’s New England Regional.
Reading and Mallory-MacDonald had two singles each for Bangor East and Ryan Moore had a double to complement Dorman’s homer. Carson Atherley and Nick Moore each had singles.
Wrin doubled and singled for Southborough.
Bangor East has Saturday off before returning to action Sunday at 11 a.m. against Portsmouth, N.H. The Maine champs face Cumberland. R.I., on Monday at 5 p.m. before concluding pool play with a 10 a.m. Tuesday game against Shelburne, Vt.
The six state champions from New England play four pool-play games and the top four teams, record-wise, square off in Thursday’s 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. semifinals. The championship game is Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. and the winner advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Bangor East (1-0) 033 000 — 6 8 1
Southborough (0-1) 001 300 — 4 5 1
Brookings, R. Moore (5) and Lewis, Crichton (3), Lewis (4); Harlan, Haley (2), Trehub (5) and Wrin
Bangor East-Vt. game televised
Bangor East will have its Tuesday morning game against Shelburne, Vt., televised by the New England Sports Network.
Jack Edwards will handle the play-by-play chores with former Red Sox pitcher Ken Ryan serving as color analyst. Kathryn Tappen will serve as the sideline reporter.
NESN will televise six games including the semifinals.
ESPN will televise the New England championship game.