SACO — It was a tale of “anything you can do, I can do Better” as the 12U L/A Lumberjaxx road-tripped to Saco this past Sunday, slugging it with the hosts before absorbing a 10-9 loss.

Saco starter Brogran Searle-Belanger threw the first punch, striking out the side in the first. Grant Hartley returned fire, mixing a deceiving change-up with his fast ball to punch out Saco’s first three hitters. Saco broke through in the bottom of the second inning when Hartley plunked the Dan McLeer and walked Cam Cross before striking out the next two. Passed balls hurt the ‘Jaxx as both runners would eventually score.

Down 2-0, L/A clawed back when Hunter Landry walked and was driven in on a Keegan Voss single in the top of the third. Hartley stranded two in the bottom half before igniting a two-out rally with a single in the fourth. Saco reliever Tim Smith struggled with his control, walking the next three and making it 2-2.

Saco fought back immediately, reaching reliever Hunter Landry for a run before ‘Jaxx bats came out swinging. Gordon Beckwith started the flurry of hits, singling to left. Voss then matched the feat, scoring Landry on a throwing error. Jack Leblond reached on a fielder’s choice before Matt Clifford mashed a double into the gap in right-center, plating two more. Matt Forges then drove him home to make the score 6-3 L/A.

Clifford pitched the sixth and allowed a run despite striking out the side. Leblond singled and scored in the seventh on a Clifford single, padding the lead. Saco fought right back as Cal Christoforo doubled, two reached on walks, and Patrick Sawyer drove him in. Luke Ham drove in three more on a sharp double, posting a four-spot to make it a 7-6 Saco lead.

Beckwith and Jacob Strout each singled in the eighth, but neither would score.

Elias Atkins took the mound for L/A in the bottom half of the inning. Despite his relatively good control, Saco added two more to itslead, aided by two full-count walks and an error.

Now down by three in the top of the ninth, the Lumberjaxx would not go down without a fight. With two men on courtesy of two walks, Lewiston got a big two-run, two-out hit from Hartley.

Hartley was stranded, however, when Saco pitcher Sawyer struck out Atkins to end the contest.