By Sun Journal staff

TURNER – Andy Valley took a pair of games from Poland by scores of 7-6 and 10-9 in American Legion baseball action Saturday afternoon.

The opener was the continuance of a game from earlier this season which had been tied 6-6 after seven innings. Alex Smith, who took on the pitching duties in the top of the eighth for Poland (6-12), loaded the bases. A passed ball scored the eventual game-winning run.

Andy Valley (13-5) came back from a 9-2 deficit with five runs in the sixth and another four in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Joe Douglas, who came on in the seventh inning, gave up singles to Don Hinckley and Dustin Gilbert before fanning a batter and securing the second out with a fielder’s choice. Ben Mendelson then peppered his third hit of the game to score Hinckley for the win.

Gayton notches pair

LEWISTON – Gayton Post notched a pair of wins over Gray, 7-3 and 7-6, in American Legion baseball.

In the opener, Gayton (7-10) struck with four consecutive singles in the first inning before Nate Parker followed with a double to drive in the fourth and fifth runs for an early 5-2 lead.

Gayton added a pair of runs in the fifth to expand the lead, and Ryan Welch held steady on the mound to come away with the win.

The nightcap proved to be a bit more exciting as Gray (3-17) responded to a Gayton 4-0 margin after three innings with six runs over the next four frames for a temporary 6-5 lead. Gayton tied the score at 6-6 in the sixth frame.

Ryan Turgeon led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk. Luke Potter then singled and a fielder’s choice moved Turgeon and Potter to second and third. Joe Stevens’ squeeze scored Turgeon for the game-winning run.

NAL, Smith-Tobey split

BATH – New Auburn squeaked by in the opening game of a doubleheader 11-10 before succumbing to Smith-Tobey 6-4 in American Legion baseball action Saturday.

New Auburn (14-5) found itself down 7-1 in the early innings before rallying back in the fourth and fifth frames. New Auburn had four hits, eight walks and two hit batsmen.

Brian Erickson and Brady Blackman had an RBI double apiece, while Kevin Smith singled in another run. Relief pitchers Mike Muise and Matt Meserve worked nicely in tandem to preserve the win.

Marshall Chick had four hits and a pair of RBIs for Smith-Tobey (12-7) in the loss.

In Game 2, Jon Teft was the key for Smith-Tobey. Teft struck out eight, while walking only two.

With Smith-Tobey leading 5-1 after five, New Auburn shortened the lead to 5-3 behind Zach Dumont’s RBI double and Adam Loudermilk’s RBI single in the top of the sixth. But New Auburn could get no closer.

Bessey, Locke Mills split

BETHEL – Brian Knowles knocked in the game-winning run on a ground ball up the middle with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh inning to enable Locke Mills to earn a split of a doubleheader with Bessey Motors with a 6-5 win.

Corey Tielinen’s two-run homer in a four-run fifth sent Bessey to a 9-5 triumph in the opener.

Three consecutive singles and a balk in the seventh tied the nightcap at 5-5. But Locke Mills responded with singles by Corey Devoe and Casey Fleet and an error to load the bases. Knowles hit a grounder up the middle, but no play could be made.