BANGOR – Even machines need a break sometimes.

Mt. Ararat’s Mark Rogers, starting in his fourth consecutive playoff game Monday, looked every bit like the machine that had led the Eagles into the Class A state championship game.

By the fourth inning, though, Rogers had worn down.

Deering scored two runs in the third and added four more in the fourth, pulling away from Mt. Ararat and claiming the Class A state title for the fourth time in five years by a score of 9-1.

“That’s a big relief for us,” said Deering coach Mike D’Andrea. “He’s a tough pitcher and a good competitor. It was obvious how much he wanted to win out there today.”

For two innings, it looked as though Rogers and Deering pitcher Ryan Reid would be in complete control, but while Reid continued to plow through the Eagles’ lineup, Rogers started to fade.

“I don’t think he was ever at 100 percent before the game,” said Mt. Ararat coach Craig Rogers. “He knew he wanted to pitch, but I think he was tired when he first went out there and he started to struggle with the strike zone.”

Already ahead 2-0 after the third, Deering piled it on in the fourth. Ryan Piacentini rapped a single, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt that also sent Mike D’Andrea Jr. to second. A fielder’s choice and an error plated Piacentini and allowed Scott Brown to reach. After D’Andrea scored on a wild pitch, Andrew Giobbi ripped a single to right field to score Brown from second. Giobbi then came around on three wild pitches to finish the scoring in the fourth.

“Those were both big innings,” said coach D’Andrea. “I think the third was big just so we could prove to ourselves that we could hit him and score some runs. That gave us confidence going into the fourth.”

Mt. Ararat loaded the bases in the fifth inning and Chris Doherty crossed the plate with the lone Eagles’ run on a single by Jimmy Ouellette. It was all the Eagles could muster.

“They don’t have any weaknesses in that lineup,” said Rogers. “I think after they scored four to make it 6-0, we kind of lost steam.”

Deering padded its lead with one more in the sixth and two in the seventh to put the Eagles away.

The win gives Deering its fourth state title in five seasons. The Rams won three consecutive titles from 1999-2001.

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