AUBURN – St. Dom’s trip to the Class C championship this year has already passed through the same stops as last year (though in a slightly altered order) – Wiscasset, Jay, Telstar, and now, George Stevens Academy.
Boarding their bus to Bangor yesterday, however, the Saints hoped that today’s rematch of the 2004 state title game (2 p.m., Mansfield Stadium in Bangor) leads to a very different destination.
“Last year, we didn’t know what to expect going into the game,” said senior pitcher Brady Blackman, who will get the start today. “I think everyone was real nervous. This year I have experience and I’ve been to the game, and I think everyone else with the experience will know how to play and what to expect.”
Both teams have five starters back from last year’s game, in which GSA pounded the Saints, 12-2, at Gorham High School, to win its second straight state title. Dan Hilts, a diminutive southpaw with a tumbling curve, a sneaky fastball and a killer pickoff move to first, frustrated the Saints that day, and is charged with doing the same thing again today for the Eagles (15-4).
“We’ve seen their pitcher before, so I think this year we’ll be able to read him a lot better,” said junior catcher Mike Carpenter.
That means not only reading his pitches, but his move to first. The Saints feel that early baserunning mistakes, including a pickoff and a caught stealing, killed their momentum in last year’s game, and they’re determined not to have anyone leave the basepaths before crossing home plate.
“One thing’s for sure, we’re not going to get picked off first base. It doesn’t matter if we can only take a one-step lead,” coach Bob Blackman said.
St. Dom’s (16-1) caught a break in Wednesday’s regional final in that they forged an early lead over Telstar, allowing starter Brady Blackman (7-1) to leave after throwing just three innings. That means he’ll be able to go as deep as the Saints need him today.
“I don’t feel any affects (from Wednesday), so I’m going to feel stronger than I did against Telstar,” Blackman said. “I should be fine.”
Reliever Brent Cary also went three innings Wednesday and will be available again today, as will No. 2 starter Jon Rutt.
“We feel like we’ve positioned ourselves as well as we could for what’s ahead of us,” coach Allan Turgeon said.
The Saints should have the edge offensively, with table-setters Jake Albert and Carpenter hitting in front of Rutt and Blackman. The Eagles’ offense is led by Collin Henry and Blake Wessel.
“We’d like a little revenge for last year. They beat us pretty bad,” said Carpenter. “I think we’ve got a good shot. We’re not going in blind this year. We know what to expect (from Hilts). It’s just a matter of getting it done.”
Comments are no longer available on this story