By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Going from worst to first is a pretty good accomplishment, but that pales in comparison to what the New Auburn American Legion baseball team did this season.

Jeff Benson’s squad rose from the ashes of extinction to win the Zone III regular season and top seeding entering today’s three-day tournament.

“The kids have played real hard,” said Benson. “They’ve been very committed. I’m just real proud of their effort. We have to give credit to everyone at the Post for what they’ve done to get baseball back.”

The New Auburn did not fielding a squad last year because it could not fill a full roster. This season, Benson was just hoping to have a regular lineup, avoid any forfeits and get players regular action.

“Our goal going in was everybody’s going to get into the playoffs,” said Benson, who said his assistants Scott Sibley and Ryan Cook have played a key role in the team resurgence. “So let’s get as high a seed as possible and give everybody a chance to play.”

Finishing 16-5 and earning the Zone’s automatic spot in the state tournament was far beyond expectations.

“This team seems like it doesn’t have any quit,” said Benson. “The kids have been very consistent. We’ve had some peaks and valleys, but for the most part, we’ve been very consistent and have had some very timely rallies to win games.”

With the Zone III tournament scheduled to begin tonight, New Auburn was one of the few teams that knew its playoff status early Thursday. Being the top seed, New Auburn hosts Gray, a team it beat two out of three times, but Benson expects to see NYA standout Tim DeLuca on the mound.

“He already beat us once during the regular season,” said Benson. “I think the whole zone is very equal.”

The rest of the tournament pairings remained up in the air until Andy Valley and Gayton Post finished a suspended game Thursday night. Andy Valley broke a 1-1 tie to win 5-1 in 12 innings to clinch the second seed.

“It’s always been a goal to get to the state tournament,” said Andy Valley coach Jeff Gilbert. “This is as close as we’ve gotten. I don’t think you can find an Andy Valley team that’s ever been there.”

Andy Valley’s 15-6 record gives them a home game Friday against seventh-seeded Mechanic Falls (6-15) and another Saturday should it advance. Had Andy Valley lost to Gayton, which finished sixth at 7-14, Smith-Tobey Post of Bath would have moved up to second and Bessey Motors would have been third.

Smith-Tobey (14-7) ends up third and will host Gayton. Bessey Motors takes the fourth spot and hosts fifth-place Locke Mills (9-12).

Today’s four winners advance to Saturday’s semifinals, with the championship game Sunday.

Having to play a game Wednesday and three innings Thursday doesn’t help Andy Valley’s cause pitching-wise. If the seeds hold true and both New Auburn and Andy Valley reach Sunday’s championship game, the two berths for the state tournament in Bangor would already be set.

“We’d both be guaranteed and all we’d be doing is seeing who would be the No. 1 seed in the tournament,” said Gilbert. “It’s going to make it tough. Our pitching will be OK, but in the long run, we don’t have a lot of depth.”