The Bucksport Golden Bucks defeated the John Bapst Memorial High School Crusaders, 4-3 in today's Eastern Maine semi-final contest held in Bucksport.
It was a terrific pitcher's duel between Bucksport's Tyler French and JB's Jason McBurnie all day long.
Bapst jumped on top 2-0 in the first inning as Ryan Carr led off with a single, Bill Wetherbee walked, and Chris Hammond doubled both runners home. McBurnie held Bucksport scoreless for the first 2 innings as he struck out 2 and did not allow a hit.
In the bottom of the third inning, 2 singles and 2 errors led to 2 unearned runs for Bucksport and tied the game at 2.
The Bucks put another run on the board in the 4th with 3 hits to take a 3-2 lead. McBurnie pitched out of a major jam with runners at 2nd and 3rd and one out getting a pop out and strikeout to keep Bapst close.
Bapst scored the equalizer in the 5th with 2 out. Ryan Carr doubled and scored on Bill Wetherbee's single.
Unfortunately Bucksport's pitcher Tyler French found his groove and did not allow a hit or run the rest of the way.
With one out in the 8th, Bucksport's Evan Eldridge doubled. After an intentional walk to the hot-hitting McAllian, 3Bman DeRidden(sp?) singled to RF and Eldridge was able to score the walk-off winning run.
JB had 5 hits on the day: Carr had a single and double (and scored 2 runs). Wetherbee walked, singled, and scored. Hammond doubled, had 2 rbi's and walked. Sean O'Donnell singled and stole a base.
Jason McBurnie went the distance against a very good hitting Bucksport team.
He went 7 and a third innings, gave up 8 hits, walked 1 (intentionally), and struck out 5. JB finishes the season with a fine 11-7 record.
We wish all our senior players: Ryan Carr, Matt Storgaard, Bill Wetherbee, Adam Leadbetter, Jason McBurnie, and Nick Christie all the best as they head off to college.
Congratulations on a great season to all the players. It appears we have a great group of players coming back to go with some of our JV players who also had an outstanding season.
Team Dinner/Awards information (Time/Place/etc.) will be announced soon. An email will go out as soon as a date is set.