PORTLAND — The Lewiston Lumberjaxx middle school baseball team traveled to Waynflete’s complex to square off against the Frozen Ropes house team in Fall League action, dropping a 13-7 decision.

Playing with just nine players, including two from their 12U team, the Lewiston team put up an excellent effort against their foe right from the start. Jean-Luc Dostie got the start for the ‘Jaxx, playing as the home team on a neutral field.

Having had a bit of a weather-related layoff in the past week, Dostie came out flat, walking the first two he faced. He retired the next two on ground balls before giving up a two-run single. One fly ball to center field later, he was out of the inning.

The Lumberjaxx drew three straight walks in their half of the inning. With the bases loaded, Caelan Pelletier crushed a double down the left field line, scoring two.

Ben Harris then wasted little time, driving the third pitch into nearly the same spot and scoring another. Zach Boyd then grounded out to score Pelletier and make it 4-2 Lumberjaxx.

Dostie allowed only one hit and striking out four over the next two innings. Gage Cote singled and scored in the bottom of the second, putting Lewiston up 5-2. Cote then came in to relieve Dostie in the top of the fourth and found immediate success with his array of off-speed pitches and deceiving fastball. The ‘Jaxx added one more run in their half of the fourth.

Cote’s stuff did not trouble the top of the Frozen Ropes order, as they scored six times (only one earned) on two hits and two errors before Tyler Blanchard relieved.

His team now down 8-6, Blanchard singled to open the bottom of the fifth. Pelletier reached on a fielder’schoice and Boyd walked, loading the bases, before Blanchard scampered home on a passed ball to cut it to 8-7. In the top of the sixth, Frozen Ropes singled and tripled scoring once before Jaxx catcher Ben Harris gunned down would-be base stealers both at second and at home.

But the magic was over for the Lewiston squad. After not scoring in the bottom of the sixth, Frozen Ropes went back to benefiting from the ‘Jaxx bullpen’s lack of depth, scoring five more times on only one hit.

Cote absorbed the loss for Lewiston. Pelletier also had a second double in the seventh.

12U falls to Oxford Hills

LEWISTON — In the season finale for the 12U Lumberjaxx, the Lewiston squad fought fiercely through five innings against their stout Oxford Hills opponent at Elliot Ave. Little League complex. Pitching and solid fielding by both teams kept the score tight until the final frames.

‘Jaxx starter Damien St.Pierre made quick work of the top of the Oxford lineup, retiring the first two batters before allowing a single to Swanbeck. After swiping second base, Swanbeck was retired on a pinpoint throw by ‘Jaxx catcher Nate Osgood as he attempted to steal third.

Playing on their home field for only the second time this fall season, Lewiston came out of the gates aggressively with Hunter Landry singling to open the home half of the first. St. Pierre walked and both advanced on a passed ball. Oxford starter Chickering then struck out the next two hitters before Osgood stroked a double to deep left, scoring two.

Oxford clawed back in the top of the second. St.P ierre plunked Crane to start the inning. Chickering then singled to right center, moving Crane to third. Chickering advanced on the throw. Crane was erased trying to score on a passed ball. Chickering later scored on a ball to the backstop. St. Pierre escaped the inning without further damage, the score now 2-1 Lumberjaxx.

Lewiston struck next in the bottom of the third. St. Pierre opened with a single to center off reliever Ohayon before Grant Hartley made it first and second when he reached on a fielder’s choice.

Seasonably chilly weather continued to make things difficult for catchers as yet another passed ball advanced the runners, scoring one. Jacob Strout grounded out to drive in Hartley, stretching Lewiston’s lead to 4-1.

Hartley then took the mound in the fourth, allowing one run on a triple by Crane. Hartley fanned two to retire the side, now with a 4-2 edge.

Lewiston was unable to generate any offense in the fourth. ‘Jaxx reliever Strout made quick work of the three hitters he faced in the fifth, striking out a pair. Oxford countered with excellent relief of its own as Bernier toed the rubber in the fifth, striking out the side.

Oxford bats found their stride in the top of the sixth. After retiring the first two batters he faced, Strout gave up back-to-back singles to Bernier and Ohayon before Swanbeck took him deep to right-center for a two-run triple. He later scored on a passed ball, making the score 5-4 Oxford.

Bernier continued to perplex ‘Jaxx hitters in the bottom of the sixth, again striking out three. He used a good mix of blazing heat and off-speed pitches to keep them off balance.

Meanwhile, in the top of the seventh, Oxford continued the pressure with the aid of three consecutive walks by Lewiston relievers. With only one hit (and help from fielding errors), they plated five more runs to run the score to 10-4. Bernier shut the door in the seventh for the win. Strout took the loss for the ‘Jaxx.