By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

BANGOR – New Auburn was handcuffed at the American Legion state baseball tournament Saturday afternoon at Mansfield Stadium.

Joey Martin was the winning pitcher and proved to be equally effective at the plate as Andrews cruised to a 10-0 triumph over New Auburn Post 153. The game was called after seven innings because of the mercy rule.

New Auburn, who won the Zone III regular-season championship, will play this morning in a losers’ bracket game against Zone II runner-up Gardiner.

“We’re obviously disappointed,” New Auburn coach Jeff Benson said. “But, the beauty of a double-elimination tournament is that we live to play again and hopefully bounce back.”

Zone IV champion Andrews (23-1) jumped a head 2-0 following a misplayed fly ball in the first. John Obrion and Malcom Cone-Coleman each added RBI singles in the middle innings.

Martin had two hits, including an RBI triple. Andrews had 10 hits and have won nine opening-round tournament games in 12 years.

“We’re a fundamentally-sound team,” Andrews coach Mike Rutherford said. “Our pitching and defense was sound again today, and that’s why we have such a good record. We had some timely base hits with two outs.”

NAL was kept off balance by Martin (5-0), who grew stronger as the game went on. Jeff Smith had two singles. Post 153 had two runners on base in the fifth, but Martin retired the next two batters.

“They made several good plays,” Benson said. “You can’t give a good team extra outs and we gave them five in one inning and four in another. Brady Blackman pitched well, but we didn’t support him. Plus, it’s hard to beat a team when you only get five hits.”