AUBURN — Auburn Suburban Little League learned last year that getting 10-run ruled in the first game of a double-elimination tournament isn’t cause for panic.

Actually, ASLL does some of its best work after it gets off to a tough start.

ASLL bounced back from a 10-0 opening round loss to Saco on Saturday to eliminate Camden/Rockport with the mercy rule, 16-3, in five innings Monday in the state Little League Major (11-12 year old) championship at Sweetser Field. ASLL has a rematch with Saco at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Kory Norcross’ three-run inside-the-park homer in the first inning put ASLL was more than enough for Kylie Martin, who was effectively wild on the hill (four strikeouts, eight walks).

“Last year, we lost our first game and got 10-run ruled, too, and we came back and went to the championship,” said Norcross, who finished with four RBIs on the day. “We were just thinking we had to do it again.”

“I knew they could play like that. We were just waiting to see that,” ASLL manager Bill Reynolds said. “I was a little harsh with them the other day, and I think deservedly so. I think they thought they were going to come in and walk right through this.”

Nine walks, three hit batsmen, 10 hits and numerous wild pitches and passed balls allowed ASLL to score at least three in every innings.

“We’ve just got a young team, that’s all — a lot of 11-year-old kids,”
Camden/Rockport manager Skip Heald said. “We’re a little weak in the
pitching. The experience was good. We’ve just got to develop a pitcher
and we’ll be back.”

Norcross had the loudest hit, belting an 0-2 pitch from Camden/Rockport hurler Julianna Haynes over the head of the right fielder. Makayla Norcross and Danielle Rock (four runs apiece) scored ahead of her, then Kory Norcross turned on the after burners around third as the cutoff player bobbled the throw from right. 

“I wasn’t hitting very good before in practice, so I was kind of surprised,” Norcross said.

Rock belted a two-run double to help break the game open. ASLL poured on four more runs in the second and third and five in the fourth. Tianna Harriman had a pair of hits, including an RBI single, and Emily Schario and Hannah Smith each added run-scoring singles.

Martin allowed just one hit, an RBI single by Brittany Bowman in the first. Camden/Rockport got at least two runners on in every inning, though, and loaded the bases in the second. ASLL caught a break with two out when a wild pitch that might have scored the runner from third bounced hard off the backstop and right back to the catcher, Makayla Norcross. Martin escaped by getting Lauren Zontini to bounce out to short. 

In the third, Makayla Norcross and Martin combined to nab a runner at the plate on another wild pitch.

“I just tried to do my best and stay consistent with my pitching and stay relaxed,” Martin said. 

“Kylie hasn’t thrown for a little bit. She’s our No. 3,” Reynolds said. “This was probably the perfect situation for us where we could save No. 1 and No. 2 unless we got into trouble. She got herself into some trouble, but she got right out of it. You’ve got to throw strikes no matter who you are.”

“We’ll be all right,” he added. “We’ve just got to come out of the loser’s bracket and do it the hard way.”