SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Coffee News of Bangor could have wilted in the midsummer sun at the Wainwright Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Morrill Post 35 of South Portland had roughed up the Comrades’ pitching staff for an uncharacteristic seven runs in the top of the eighth inning to turn a three-run deficit into a four-run advantage.
And while the momentum was clearly on the side of the hometown team, Bangor’s championship pedigree prevailed again.
The Comrades erupted for seven runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth en route to a wild 12-9 victory and claimed their second straight American Legion baseball state title.
“It’s a true testament to our team and how we fight, never give up,” said Bangor’s Andrew Hillier. “I love this team. It’s awesome.”
Manager David Morris’ Bangor team (18-9) demonstrated its experience and determination to earn a spot in the Northeast Regional tournament that begins Tuesday in Bristol, Connecticut.
Morris said in spite of Bangor’s success the last two years — two Class A state titles and two Legion crowns — Sunday’s effort was special.
“I’ve coached baseball for 24 years. That’s the best baseball game I’ve been a part of,” he said.
“These kids are resilient but they’re tough, they’re competitive and they’re good baseball players,” Morris added. “They’ve got huge hearts.”
South Portland, which reached the final with a 4-2 over Staples Crossing-Eliot in Sunday’s first game, could not sustain its momentum.
“We battled like we have all year … and just came up a little bit short,” said Morrill Post manager Mike Owens. “I think we just ran out of gas. It was a long week.”
Sam Huston of Coffee News was named the Sid Schwartz Most Valuable Player after lacing a two-run triple, a two-run single, a double and another single on Sunday. Bangor’s Trevor DeLaite, Andrew Hillier, Ben Crichton and Kyle Stevenson also were all-tournament selections.
Nick Cowperthwaite, who singled twice and knocked in two runs in Bangor’s big inning, worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the win on the mound. DeLaite and Hillier each had two singles and an RBI.
All-tourney pick Sam Troiano led Morrill Post with two triples and an RBI single, while Jacob Brown doubled and singled twice. Robert Graff contributed two singles and two RBIs and Matt Beecher drove in two runs.
Reliever Brad Sowerby suffered the loss for South Portland, which also placed Nick Troiano, Ben Conti, Drew Abramson, Henry Curran and Griffin Kelly on the all-tournament team.
Bessey Motors of South Paris won the sportsmanship award.
Bangor snapped a 2-2 tie with three runs in the seventh off Graff. Huston’s two-run triple to right-center was the big blow.
Undaunted, South Portland answered with an impressive eighth. Nick Troiano walked with one out and Brown singled before Comrades starter DeLaite was lifted in favor of Hillier.
Conti greeted him with a fly-ball double to left-center, then Graff lined a two-run single to center and Sowerby followed with an RBI double to left-center. Peter Kemble came on and surrendered singles to Abramson and Sam Troiano and uncorked a wild pitch to make it 8-5 South Portland.
Jimmy Prescott got the call next and struck out the first batter, but a walk and a throwing error by Crichton allowed the ninth run to score.
“I honestly don’t remember the last time we gave up seven runs in an inning,” Hillier said.
Things were quiet, albeit briefly, in the Bangor dugout to open the bottom of the eighth. Cowperthwaite ignited the uprising with an infield single, Johnny Cote singled and Crichton worked a walk to load the bases.
“We just wanted to get someone on base and not make a quick out. It was huge for us to get some men on,” said DeLaite, who plated the first run with a single to shortstop hole, then Huston’s gritty at-bat resulted in a two-run single to left.
Hillier chased Sowerby, lining a run-scoring single to center to make it 9-9.
“They put up a 7-spot and we answered right back and really didn’t even think about it,” Huston said. “We didn’t think that losing was a possibility.”
South Portland lefty Alex Livingston came on but was unable to stem the tide. After Hillier stole second, Kemble singled sharply to center to score the go-ahead run. He stole second and Cowperthwaite roped an opposite-field, two-run single to right.
“We’ve all played together so much, we just have that tight bond and we never give up,” Cowperthwaite said.