After a win over rival Bath and a tough loss to host Andy Valley, Ararat made its way through the loser’s bracket with wins over Gardiner and Western Mountain.
In a rematch with Andy Valley, Ararat fell 12-11 to finish third.
Victories over Maranacook, Western Mountain and Brunswick moved the squad through the winner’s bracket before a loss to host Berwick on Tuesday.
Ararat had little time to wait, taking on Andy Valley East Tuesday evening with a chance to advance to the championship round and a rematch against Berwick.
However, Andy Valley East came away with a 9-6 victory to end Ararat’s run.
Ararat 11s
Ararat opened the tournament against a familiar foe in Bath on Saturday, taking a 13-2 decision.
On the mound, Grant and Hawkes each pitched two innings.
After a 7-5 loss to Andy Valley dropped Ararat into the loser’s bracket in the double-elimination tournament, a tough matchup with Gardiner followed on Sunday. Tied 9- 9 in the sixth inning, Grant turned on a pitch and ripped a walk-off grand-slam home run to give Ararat a 13-9 victory.
Kelly also homered in the win, while Grant came within a triple of the cycle. Merrill had three hits, including a double, while Liam Huston doubled twice. Damon had two singles, with a single each coming from Hawkes and Lopez.
Ararat pounded out 18 hits, led by Hawkes with two singles and two doubles, and Kelly with three hits, including a double. Merrill doubled twice, Huston and Damon doubled, and Parker Swanson and Lopez each singled two times.
Grant and Hawkes combined on the shutout.
Next was a rematch with Andy Valley on Tuesday. The hosts managed to come away with a 12-11 victory in seven innings, giving Andy Valley a spot in the title game against undefeated Gorham.
Kelly and Huston had a single and double each for Ararat, with Grant, Hawkes and Freeman chipping in two singles apiece. Mello and Lopez each singled.
In Wednesday’s title game, Gorham walked-off with an 11-7 victory in extra frames.
Both Gorham and Andy Valley advanced to the New England Regionals in Norton, Mass.
After dropping its opener to Ararat, Bath bounced back with a 5- 3 victory over River Valley in the first elimination contest on Saturday.
Bath wasn’t as fortunate on Sunday, falling to Western Mountain, 13- 4.
U9s in Berwick
Brunswick and Lisbon faced off Saturday in opening-round play, with Brunswick coming away with the victory.
Lisbon dropped into the loser’s bracket and defeated River Valley to stay alive before being knocked out by Andy Valley East on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Brunswick scored a victory over Andy Valley Central in its second game on Saturday to move on to a matchup with Ararat.
Next was an elimination contest with Andy Valley East, which knocked Brunswick out of the tourney on its way to a second-place finish.
Host Berwick came away with the state title and will represent Maine in the Cal Ripken 9U Regional Tournament at Hebron, Conn.
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