PORTLAND — The 14/15-year-old Auburn Suburban Babe Ruth All-Stars have advanced to the final four of the state tournament at Deering Oaks. Auburn is alive in a field that started with nine teams from around the state.

In its opening game Auburn came out hitting against Midcoast in a 14-6 victory. Auburn banged out 12 hits and collected 11 walks as it scored three runs in the first and second innings and then opened things up with seven runs in the top of the seventh.

Kyle Romero led the way with three hits and four RBIs while Evan Raymond and Brandon Knapp were also repeat hitters with two hits apiece. Midcoast was led by Sean Pierce, who collected three hits, including two doubles. Auburn used four pitchers in the victory, with Raymond pitching the middle innings to earn the win.

In their second game, Auburn lost a heartbreaker to Augusta, 8-7.

With the game tied 1-1, Auburn pushed across four runs in the top of third. After two were out, Kyle Romero singled, Matt Keaney was hit by a pitch and Brandon Varney singled to load the bases. Drew Lashua was then hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Luke Sterling followed with a hit to clear the bases.

After scoring a single run in the bottom of the third, Augusta got three in the bottom of the fifth on Brandon Morris’ home run to center field.

Auburn scored single runs in the top of the sixth and seventh to take a 7-5 lead into the seventh. However, in the bottom of the seventh, Shawn Carrier hit a two-run home run for Augusta to tie the score, and back-to-back doubles by Kyle Lucas and Morris provided the winning run. Llewellyn Jensen had three hits for Auburn.

Auburn bounced back in dramatic fashion in the next game against Somerset County with a thrilling 10-9 victory. Auburn jumped out to a quick three-run lead in the first when Michael Hammond and Llewellyn Jensen walked, followed by an RBI single by Kyle Romero and a two-run double by Evan Raymond.

Somerset exploded for eight runs in the top of the sixth to take a 9-7 lead. They took advantage of walks, two errors and five hits to gain the advantage.

In the bottom of the seventh, Auburn’s Hammond led things off with a single but the next two batters were easily handled so Auburn was down to its last out. Hammond then stole second base, and on the next pitch Romero hit a ground ball to shortstop that was mishandled, putting runners on the corners.

Raymond then stepped to the plate and quickly drew two strikes. On the next pitch he unloaded a towering home run to right field for a dramatic walkoff win. He also pitched the seventh inning to earn the victory.

In Game 4, Auburn received six strong innings from Evan Raymond on the mound and beat Apple Valley, 5-2.

Tyler Scheafer struck out the side in the seventh to earn the save. The two pitchers combined to strike out 14 while only walking two and giving up four hits. Auburn scored three runs in the third as Hammond, Romero, Raymond and Varney all banged out hits to knock in runs. Varney was the big stick with three hits and two RBIs.

Auburn faces Franklin County in the next round.