BANGOR, Maine — The Bronco-Hermon all-stars pounded out 18 hits to beat Ellsworth 19-12 and capture the Junior League state baseball title Sunday at Mansfield Stadium.
Bronco of Hampden Little League and Hermon advanced to the East Regional that begins Friday, Aug. 7 in Freehold, New Jersey.
Keith Pomeroy sparked the Bronco-Hermon (3-0) attack with a triple, double, two singles and five RBIs. Alex Applebee chipped in with a triple, two singles and three RBIs while Mark Mailloux also drove in five runs with two doubles and a single. Nick Lorenzo contributed with two singles and an RBI while Kent Johnson Jr. added an RBI double and Sam Economy slammed a double.
Sam Horne drove in four runs with a triple, double and single to lead Ellsworth.
Ellsworth advanced to the final after beating South Portland 13-1 earlier in the day.
Brad Smith and Will Colson combined on a three-hitter over five innings for Ellsworth (2-1). Horne sparked the offense with a double, two singles and three RBIs. Tyler Mitchell chipped in with two singles and Brad Smith doubled.
John Welch doubled for South Portland (3-0).
On Saturday, Bronco-Hermon beat Ellsworth 13-2, Ellsworth then edged South Portland 8-5 and and Bronco-Hermon defeated South Portland 11-1.
In the first game, Bronco-Hermon scored nine two-out runs in the third inning to break open the game with Applebee and Lorenzo each belting back-to-back two run doubles.
Johnson Jr. earned the five-inning pitching win, allowing five hits and two walks and striking out four. Applebee and Lorenzo each chipped in with two singles while Johnson, Mailloux and Derek Gendreau each contributed three singles. Lorenzo finished with three RBIs, Mailloux drove in two and Johnson plated one.
Jared Hamilton notched a two-run double for Ellsworth.
In the second game, Ellsworth sent 10 batters to the plate in a four-run first inning and added two insurance runs in the fifth when Tyler Mitchell’s single scored Alex Foster and Matt Burnett, who had both walked.
Christian Bosse finished with a double, single and four RBIs for Ellsworth while Horne added two singles and two RBIs.
Hunter Owen singled twice for South Portland and drove in a run.
In the third game, Gavin Partridge recorded the win in the five-inning game as he allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out two.
Mailloux tripled for Bronco-Hermon, which scored nine unearned runs.
Hunter Owen had an RBI double for South Portland.
Bronco 129 01 — 13 17 0
Ellsworth 002 00 — 2 5 4
Johnson and Rush, Gendreau (3); Mitchell, Ashley (5) and Horne
Ellsworth 420 020 0 — 8 9 1
So. Portland 111 200 0 — 5 8 1
Grindle, Burnett (3), Zentz (4), Colson (6) and Horne; Bolduc, Bowdoin-Damon (5) and Crockett
So. Portland 100 00 — 1 2 7
Bronco 301 43 — 11 4 2
Owen, Kelley (1), Doucette (3) and Crockett; Partridge and Rush
Ellsworth 704 02 — 13 8 0
So. Portland 000 10 — 1 3 3
Smith, Colson (3) and Horne; Kelley, Owen (1), Frank (4) and Crockett
Bronco 110 406 7 — 19 18 4
Ellsworth 000 405 3 — 12 5 6
Harriman, Applebee (5), Gendreau (6) and Rush, Gendreau (4), Rush (6); Smith, Hamilton (4), Zentz (6) and Horne