Maine American Legion Tournament recap - By David Fiel

Last Thursday, Windham faced Brewer in a baseball elimination game.  Windham pounded out ten hits and scored eight runs to defeat Brewer. Dennis Meehan pitched the first five innings.  Spencer Hodge came on in relief for three and allowed two runs.  Tanner Laberge closed the game in the ninth.  Calvin Field scored three runs on two walks and a single.  In the third, Shawn Francoeur hit a two run home run to drive in Ethan Petty.  Spencer Hodge scored two runs after reaching on two singles.  Hodge was driven in by Ethan Petty and Cody Dube. The victory set up an elimination game on Friday against Zone III Champion Past-Time.

Friday’s game was rained out.  So, Windham played Saturday morning.  Windham and Past Time went four scoreless innings and it was beginning to play out exactly as the Zone III Championship game that went 16 innings.  Windham got on the board in the fifth. Spencer Hodge reached base on an error, Joey Francoeur hit a single and Cody Dube drew a walk to load the bases.  Ethan Petty hit a single to drive in Hodge and Francoeur.  Shawn Francoeur hit a fielder’s choice to drive in Dube.  Dennis Meehan hit a fielder’s choice to drive in Petty.  Windham hit the board again when Nate Boyle scored on a Spencer Hodge base hit.  Cody Dube pitched the entire game for Windham.  He got into trouble in the seventh when he hit a batter, walked the next and gave up two hits.  Past Time was not finished after scoring those four runs.  In the ninth, Windham took advantage of four errors and Spencer Hodge found the plate to give Windham the 7-4 lead. However, Corbin Hyde hit a two run home run to get Past Time close.  Dube bore down and finished the game for Windham, 7-6.

The victory earned Windham the right to face undefeated Westbrook that afternoon.  Westbrook jumped out quick with two runs on starter Shawn Francoeur.  Windham answered in the third when Joey Francoeur was driven in by his brother, Shawn.  In the fourth, Spencer Hodge was driven in by Joey and he would score on a hit by Cody Dube to take the lead.  In the fifth, Westbrook capitalized on Windham’s errors and plated three runs to take a two run lead.  In the sixth, the heart of Windham’s lineup took advantage of walks, errors and an occasional hit to score five runs.  Windham used Dennis Meehan, Joey Francoeur and Tanner Laberge in relief to seal the win.  Windham scored some insurance runs to seal the victory, 10-6.  Windham then advanced to play on Sunday against Bangor.

In a truly back and forth game, Windham prevailed over Bangor with a 5-4 victory.  Nate Boyle took the hill for Windham and pitched seven innings, allowed two runs and struck out six.  Tanner Laberge scored for Windham in the second inning.  In the fifth, Andrew Whiting reached on a fielder’s choice and Calvin Field batted Whiting in.  Shawn Francoeur batted Field in to give Windham the 3-1 lead.  Bangor put up three runs against reliever Joey Francoeur to tie the game in the eighth.  In the bottom of the ninth, Cody Dube lined a double and Shawn Francoeur was hit by a pitch to set up the win.  Bangor’s starting pitcher was still on the hill and was showing some weariness.  Tanner Laberge, Nate Boyle and Dennis Meehan each hit singles to drive in the runs necessary to give Windham the victory.  Windham was supposed to play the championship game against Westbrook Sunday afternoon, but the game was postponed to Monday due to inclement weather.