Runs seemed to come fairly easily for both Calais and Dirigo during the 2010 regular season.

Calais averaged nearly nine runs per game in the Downeast Athletic Conference. Dirigo tallied 10 runs per Mountain Valley Conference outing. That is about where the similarities end, however.

The Blue Devils (15-3) and Cougars (17-2) have a date for 5 p.m. Saturday at Mahaney Diamond on the campus of St. Joseph’s College with the Class C baseball championship on the line. Calais, playing in its first title game since 1992, hasn’t won a state title since 1976. Dirigo is playing in its first baseball championship.

Both teams could bring back Tuesday’s starters on three days’ rest. Adam Geel, a righthander for third-seeded Calais, scattered eight hits, all singles, in a complete game, 4-3 victory over Penobscot Valley, but righthander Josh Gillespie, one of just three seniors on the Devils’ roster, will likely get the starting nod.

Dirigo righty Ryan Lafleur threw 4.2 innings in the top-ranked Cougars’ 6-4 triumph over St. Dom’s to improve to 8-0 and will likely get the start. Southpaw Arik Fenstermacher, who pitched well in relief on Tuesday, will be available along with Bolduc and Ben Holmes.

Whoever pitches Saturday will have their hands full with the opposing offense. Catcher Jeremy Carr provides pop in the lineup but the major concern for Lafleur and batterymate Bolduc will be Calais’ running game. The Blue Devils stole seven bases Tuesday, which is not unusual. They had several players reach double figures in steals this season. The Cougars faced a similar kind of small-ball approach against St. Dom’s and found the best way to get them to take the foot off the gas pedal was to get up early and then minimize their own mistakes.

The Cougars have a speedster at the top of their order in Spencer Ross, who sets the table along with Tyler Gates. All of Dirigo’s baserunners will have to be on their toes if Geel is on the mound. He picked off runners at second and third in the regional final and had a half-dozen pickoffs during the regular season.

Senior third baseman Tyler Chiasson has been on a power surge in the playoffs, hitting a two-run homer in the quarterfinals against Old Orchard Beach and ripping two doubles and knocking in three runs against St. Dom’s. Fenstermacher has also been an offensive standout, but the Cougars usually can count on contributions up and down the lineup.

All three of the Blue Devils’ wins in the postseason have been one-run games, a testament to their pitching and defense. Dirigo’s defense has been solid throughout the post-season, as well.

The Cougars have an edge in championship game experience. Eight Cougars played on both the state title-winning football and Western Maine title-winning basketball teams. They also may have a little revenge in mind, since Calais denied them a potential Gold Ball in the 2009 basketball state championship game.