Will Palmer earned a pitching victory and aided his cause with a triple and single to lead Saco by Westbrook 8-3 to capture the Little League baseball state title in the ages 9-10 division Thursday in Ellsworth.
Will Davies chipped in with a triple and single for Saco while AJ Thibodeau added two singles. Bradon Camire contributed with a triple and Brady Graffam had a double.
Alec Hodgkins sparked Westbrook with a double and single. Reid Garber, Alex Bean, Carter Dow and Connor Boulette each chipped in with a single.
While one state tourney has been completed, two more will get underway Saturday with the ages 11-12 tourney set for Clyde Sukeforth Memorial Field in Waldoboro and the ages 10-11 tourney at Bob Kedderis Field in Millinocket.
Both tourneys will have representation from all of the state’s six districts.
An opening ceremony will be held at Waldoboro when 16 charter members of the 1952 Waldoboro Little League, now tourney host Medomak Valley LL, will be honored.
District 4 champ Biddeford and District 6 champ Westbrook will then open the tourney at 3 p.m., followed by District 3 Bangor West vs. District 5 Hall-Dale at 5 p.m. Pool play continues Sunday and Monday, followed by the semifinals on Tuesday and the championship on Thursday.
In Millinocket, the ages 10-11 all-stars will play three games each on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with the semifinals on Wednesday and the championship on Thursday.
District 2 champ Medomak Valley will take on District 3 champ Bangor West at 11 a.m. Saturday in the tourney opener, followed by District 1’s Downeast Family YMCA of Ellsworth vs. District 6 Scarborough at 2 p.m. and District 4 Saco vs. District 5 Lewiston at 5 p.m.