In Auburn Suburban Babe Ruth action, Advanced Dentistry defeated East Auburn, 2-1, in a pitchers’ duel that resulted in only two hits for each team.

The Dentists received outstanding starting pitching from Evan Raymond, who struck out 10 in five innings and helped himself out at the plate by knocking in both runs.

Brian Bonenfant led off the fourth inning with a single and went to second on a throwing error. Michael Hammond then reached on an infield error, which moved Bonenfant over to third. Hammond stole second, and with one out Raymond lined a base hit into right field plating both runners.

Hammond struck out four over the final two innings and did not allow a hit to earn the save. For East Auburn, Tyler Shaefer pitched the first two innings and C.J. Jipson threw the last five. They combined for eight strikeouts.

99 Restaurant broke into the Babe Ruth win column with an 8-3 victory over Advanced Dentistry.

The 99ers found themselves in a 2-0 hole when AD scored single runs in the first and third innings. Bryan Bonenfant scored both of the runs, one on a single by Kyle Romero and the second on a wild pitch.

But the 99 bats broke out in the fourth inning, producing all eight runs. Back-to-back doubles by Llewellyn Jensen and Kaileb Tremaine got the inning going with additional key hits coming from Bryce Gibson, Daveon Brooks and Cam DeMatteo.

Jensen got the win on the mound, striking out six and allowing five hits in five innings. Jarod Norcross-Plourde pitched the final two innings in relief.

Bonenfant, Evan Raymond and Kyle Karkos handled the pitching for AD, with Raymond taking the loss in relief. AD’s offense was led by Bonenfant with three hits. Tyler Blanchard and Kyle Romero each contributed two hits.

On Monday night, Mac’s Grill downed 99, 10-5. Seth and Luke Sterling handled the pitching duties for Mac’s, combining for seven strikeouts and allowing six hits. Mac’s offense was paced by Cam Raymond, who went 3-4 at the plate, including a double. Austin Cox also contributed two hits on the night.

Kaileb Tremaine started on the mound for the 99ers and pitched five strong innings. Alex Brushwein came in and finished up in relief. Matt Keaney contributed offensively with two hits for 99.

Gifford’s Ice Cream registered three wins this past week in the ASLL Major Division.

Gifford’sedged Hardy Wolf & Downing 7-1. Caleb Hebert pitched the complete game for the victory. Jacob Dubuc pitched a strong game in a losing effort for HWD.

Next up was a 10-0 shutout of Auburn Firefighters. Curtis Ouellette pitched a great game to notch the victory. Seth Kolreg had a tremendous diving catch in center field to take away an extra-base hit from Tyler Libby and preserve the shutout.

In a rematch, Gifford’s trimmed Auburn Firefighters, 9-4. Both teams used several pitchers to complete a balanced, well-played contest. Right fielder Jacob Scholfield had the play of the game for Gifford’s, snagging a bases-loaded liner to end an inning, stranding three AFF base runners.

Apple Valley Babe Ruth

Winthrop routed Greene by scores of 24-0 and 17-2 in a doubleheader to open the Apple Valley Babe Ruth season.

Matt Sekerak pitched the shutout in the opener. Jared Hanson had a single and two doubles for Winthrop. Drew Stratton cranked a triple and Mario Meucci mashed a double. Matt Albert had one of two hits for Greene.

Ben Allen was the winning pitcher in the nightcap. Hanson again was a top hitter with a single and a double. Allen and Garrett Settle eached slapped two singles. Jacobs singled for Greene.

Maine Heat 14U AAU opens with sweep

The Maine Heat of Auburn got its 14U AAU baseball season off to good start by sweeping a doubleheader from the Maine Riptide of Kennebunk on Sunday, 6-2 and 11-1.

The Heat got outstanding pitching in both games. Jordan Williams struck out 10 and only allowed three hits in the first game. In the second go-round, Mitch Lorenz allowed two hits while striking out six.

Repeat hitters in Game 1 were Austin Cox, Kyle Romero, Brady LaFrance and Brandon Varney. 

Varney had the the key hit late, knocking in two runs to help secure the victory.

In the second game, The Heat scattered 11 hits throughout the lineup as Brandon Knapp was the lone repeat hitter. Llewelyn Jensen and Drew Lashua had big RBI hits as the Heat scored seven runs in the fourth inning and wrapped up the game in the fifth by the 10-run rule.

The Riptide got a workhorse performance by starting pitcher Rob Hall in Game 1. Hall also was the only repeat hitter for his team on the day.

The Heat are back in action on Saturday at Auburn Suburban with a doubleheader against The Maine Mariners from South Portland.

The local team will be playing a very competitive 2012 schedule this summer against teams throughout Maine and New England. They will be hosting a Memorial Weekend tournament at Auburn Suburban  from May 26 to 28. The three other teams competing in the tournament are The Maine Lightning out of Frozen Ropes, The Central Maine 14U Allstars from Waterville, and The New England Lightning from Peabody, Mass.

After competing in the 14U New England playoffs in July, the Heat’s season will be capped off when it hosts a 14U Japanese National team on August 14 at Auburn Suburban at 7 p.m. The Japanese team is traveling to the U.S. to play teams from New England, and The Maine Heat were fortunate to be selected as a host because of the excellent facilities at Auburn Suburban. Plans are being made for the day’s activities which will include a pregame BBQ/picnic and then a pregame ceramony which will include the two teams exchanging small tokens from their home countries.