LEWISTON — With a state tournament bid already clinched by winning the Zone 2 American Legion regular season title, Pastime coach Jake Brown knows pitching depth will soon be needed.

On Monday, he had to go to the bullpen early in Pastime’s Zone 2 quarterfinal contest with Franklin County at Lewiston High School.

The bullpen did its job as it allowed no runs on three hits in seven innings of work in the 9-4 victory. Lewiston freshman Hunter Landry threw four innings and struck out two. Gordon Beckwith threw two 1-2-3 innings, and four of the six outs came via of the strikeout. Kyle Bourget came on in the ninth inning and closed the game out.

“With a bid to states, we have to develop our arms,” Brown said. “If you make a run at states, you need seven or eight arms.”

Bourget, who just completed his freshman season at Husson University in Bangor, was pitching for the first time in a week.

“Rest was good, but I was glad to get an inning back because we aren’t going to have practice the next couple of days,” Kyle Bourget said.

Pastime (19-0) will move onto the semifinals in which it will host Gardiner on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Gardiner defeated Augusta 4-0 on Monday.

Pastime starter Austin Wing struggled with his command in the opening two innings. Franklin worked the bases loaded in the top of the first with a single and three walks. Tom Wing drew the fourth walk of the inning to bring home Ethan Andrews, who led off the game with a two-strike single into center field. The next batter, Alex Philbrick, drew a walk that brought home Ryan Pratt for a 2-0 lead.

Austin Wing got out of the jam with as David McDonald popped out to catcher Brock Belanger and Corey Rogers both flew out to the shortstop.

“We are an awfully young team. We were looking to jump a little bit to come out, but you have to play a solid game,” Franklin coach Kyle Gunzinger said. “You have to make very few mistakes, particularly when you are at a major disadvantage.”

Pastime scored one in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Gage Cote singled and stole second. Then he stole third. The throw went into foul territory so he took off and beat the throw to home.

In the bottom of the second, Pastime took a 4-3 lead. Bourget led off with a single and stole second. Chad Morin reached on an error, and Cote hit a single that scored Bourget. Morin moved from first to third, colliding with third baseman Philbrick. Morin was ruled safe. Cote moved up to second on the throw to third.

Philbrick would later leave the game due to the collision.

Belanger drove in Morin and Philbrick with a single to put Pastime up 4-3.

In the bottom of the third, Austin Wing earned a walk, stole second and moved to third on a Lucas Francis single. Bourget reached on a fielder’s choice when he hit the ball to third base. The third baseman charged the infield and decided to try pick off Austin Wing, whose foot was off the bag, at third. The throw went to the outfield, allowing Austin Wing to score.

Francis and Bourget later scored in the inning as Pastime took a 7-3 lead into the fourth.

After Landry notched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth, Pastime scored again.

Landry reached with a single and stole second. Francis was hit by a pitch, and Eddie Turgeon came into pinch run for him.

Before Franklin starter Colton Lawrence could throw a pitch to home to Bourget, Turgeon was off and running. Lawrence stepped off the mound and tried to get Landry at third, but the throw missed the mark and Landry scored. Turgeon kept running after taking second and beat the throw into third.

“Francis hurt his arm so I took him out,” Brown said. “I was going to do it with Francis or whoever, that was the play going forward. It was easier because I could tell Turgeon the play before he went out there. The object was to get kids moving, try to get (Franklin) to panic a little bit. We are really athletic, so if we can get on base, we have speed everywhere.

Bourget drove Turgeon home for the 9-3 lead with a double to deep left center that was nearly a home run.

“That was a good at-bat for me,” Bourget said. “I was seeing pitches well. I fouled that one, I was out in front of that one I fouled off before. I was sitting fastball 3-and-2 and I got a good piece on it.

It was Lawrence’s final inning . He allowed eight hits, three walks and seven strikeouts.

“Colton has been a (heck) of a player for us for four or five years now,” Gunzinger said. “It hurts to loose him. I lose two kids here. I have all but two (who) are back.”

Franklin (4-15) ended the regular season winning three out of their last four games to get into the playoffs. One of the games won was by forfeit.

Pitching took over in the second half of the game as the teams combined for just more three hits.

Franklin did get to Landry in the sixth. Kenny Williamson led off with a walk and stole second. Rogers’ single with one out put Williamson at third.

Bo Beaulieu appeared to reach with a fielder’s choice as the shortstop tossed it to second to get Rogers. The umpire at second called Rogers for interference because he had his hands up, which didn’t allow Pastime to attempt the double play. Beaulieu was ruled out on the play, but Williamson did come to home for Franklin’s fourth run.

nfournier@sunjournal.com