SOUTH PARIS – Oxford Hills made sure Bangor paid for its miscues Saturday in the Eastern Class A semifinals. The Vikings, meanwhile, displayed great poise and agility.
Ethan Sutton doubled home Corey Saunders with the eventual winning run as Oxford Hills took command in the fourth inning en route to a 10-4 victory over mistake-prone Bangor at humid Gouin Complex.
Matt McDonnell scattered nine hits and avoided making mistakes. The senior was also effective at the plate, going 2-for-3, including a two-run homer, and scored two runs.
No. 2 Oxford Hills (15-3) advances to play Edward Little on Wednesday at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor. It’s the Vikings’ second trip in three years to the regional championship game.
“This team has a lot of energy,” McDonnell said. “It was great to be able to come back and then put them away by continuing to score runs. I felt good on the mound and had great command of my fast ball, plus I had a great defense behind me.”
No. 6 Bangor (13-6) took a 3-2 lead on RBI singles by Jordan Heath and Scott Hackett (three hits). The Rams (12 seniors) were relying on ace Brian Hackett to hold the tide, but the Vikings answered right back.
Right fielder Chris Roy (three hits, two RBIs) tripled home McDonnell and scored on a suicide squeeze by Ben Ryerson. Saunders then reached on a bunt that Hackett failed to handle and quickly stole second. Sutton followed with a double.
“That was key,” Oxford Hills coach Shane Slicer said. “We hadn’t been able to come back like that lately, but when Bangor went ahead 3-2, there was no letup by our kids. Then Matt’s homer allowed us to put them away.”
Oxford Hills pounded out 11 hits, and McDonnell’s blast in the fifth chased Hackett from the game.
The Vikings defense shone by turning two inning-ending double plays in the second and fifth from third baseman Kelvin Decato (two hits) to Sutton to Ryerson.
“That was a crucial play,” former Maine baseball coach and current Husson coach John Winkin said. “Oxford Hills had great mechanics with the bat and showed a great deal of poise by turning that 5-4-3 double play.”
Oxford Hills grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first as Kyle Keniston singled and scored on a balk. Roy added an RBI single.
Derek Varney drew a walk leading off the sixth, and the Vikings preceded to score three unearned runs.
“Usually we are taking advantage of the situations, but today we made too many mistakes (six errors) in the game,” Bangor coach Kevin Fahey said. “But, you really have to give credit to Oxford Hills.”
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