Local players to watch: Dirigo — Gavin Arsenault (So. OF/P), Tyler Frost (Jr. C/P), Kaine Hutchins (Jr. P/3B); Lisbon —Kyle Bourget (Jr. P/SS), Tucker Brannon (Sr. C), Tyler Halls (Fr. OF/P); Monmouth — Alex Curtis (Sr. 1B), Kyle Fletcher (Sr. OF/P), Nate Gagne (Sr. P); St. Dom’s — Mike Bryant (Jr. 3B/1B/P), Caleb Dostie (Sr. SS/P), Mitch Lorenz (Jr. P/1B); Winthrop — Ben Allen (Jr. 1B/P), Jared Hanson (Sr. P/SS), Drew Stratton (Sr. OF).

Favorites: Monmouth (15-1) dominated the MVC, averaging 10 runs per game with a deep and potent lineup where the bottom, led by Phil Rowe and Brett Wilson, can often be just as lethal as the middle, featuring MVC Player of the Year Kyle Fletcher and Alex Curtis. The Mustangs also have a deep pitching staff led by Nate Gagne,Kyle Fletcher and Nick Sanborn. Dirigo (13-3) couldn’t quite keep pace with the Mustangs during the regular season and lost, 5-1, in their only meeting. But the Cougars are the two-time defending state champions, looking to become the first Class C team to win three in a row, and have a playoff-tested battery in Kaine Hutchins and Tyler Frost.

Dark horses: Although it struggled down the stretch, St. Dom’s (12-4) is always a major factor in Western C. Last year’s regional runner-up handed Monmouth its only loss on the season, 5-3 on May 14. Sacopee Valley (16-0) is the only unbeaten team in the state, and although five of those wins came against Class D teams, the Hawks handled the Class B and C teams on the WMC schedule fairly easily, too.

Prediction: Monmouth.

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