WINTHROP – West Paris downed Winthrop, 8-3, in the deciding game of the best-of-three Pine Tree League senior baseball championship series at Winthrop High School.

The Red Sox stayed close through seven innings, trailing only 5-3 until the Westies’ Eben Gilman lined a two-out, bases-clearing double over the head of center fielder Ian McCarthy.

Six of West Paris’ eight runs came on two-out hits.

Winthrop struck first when Mike House led off the game with a double and later scored on a fielder’s choice.

West Paris tied it up in their half of the inning on a Brian Cox RBI double. Jerod Verrill’s double and an RBI single by Jeff Austin put the Westies up 2-1 after two innings.

The Sox threatened again in the fourth following a Sam Shain double and Brett Witherell single, putting two in scoring position with one out. Shain scored to tie the game on Matt Richardson’s sacrifice fly, but the threat ended when Witherell was gunned down at third base trying to advance on the throw.

Witherell was one of four Red Sox base runners throws out at third base.

West Paris scored twice in the fourth and once in the fifth before the big eighth inning.

Mike Godin pitched five strong innings in picking up the win. Brian Cox threw three frames of relief, and Mark Hreben closed the door by striking out the side in the ninth. Torey Carr went the distance for Winthrop.

Gilman led all hitters with three hits, including two doubles., Cox and Hreben also repeated for West Paris.

The PTL wishes to recognize all 11 teams and their sponsors for a successful season.