AUGUSTA – The Windham Merchants guarded a 1-0, first-inning lead over Biddeford and Saco Savings of Westbrook Monday afternoon until the fifth, when twins Joey and Shawn Francoeur combined for four RBIs to break the game open.

Windham tallied four more in the seventh and ultimately cruised to a 9-1 American Legion baseball state championship victory their first Legion title. They improve to 22-5 this season and move on to the Northeast Regionals in Middletown, Conn. Westbrook finishes their season 14-8.

“It was good for us to get a lead early,” Windham head coach Brody Artes said. “That was real important. It was part of the game plan, to get a lead and really control the outs off the mound.”

“We hit some balls right at people, early. We couldn’t get anything to go in,” said Westbrook head coach Greg Souza. “Then they had some line drives that got in, a couple…choppers over [my third baseman].”

After losing its first game of the double-elimination tournament to Westbrook last week, Windham had no breathing room left. In every subsequent game, a loss meant going home, heads hung low.

They persevered, however, winning five straight, including two over Westbrook, to secure the state crown and a trip to the next level.

“They battled,” Souza said of Windham’s streak. “They came back from loser’s bracket.”

The title bout’s first half simmered, each team’s defense keeping the other’s offense in check. Westbrook’s Joe Quinlan, for instance, made a leaping catch at the centerfield wall to deny Windham’s Shawn Francoeur a home run.

The action finally boiled over in the fifth, when Windham’s Jack Herzig stepped to the plate and clubbed a little shot that Westbrook pitcher Keenan Lowe couldn’t reach and second baseman Brett Goodnow couldn’t barehand. It trickled into right and Herzig landed safely on first.

Calvin Field followed Herzig into the batter’s box; Herzig stole second while Field faced off with Lowe, though he could’ve bided his time, as Lowe eventually walked Field anyway.

Spencer Hodge sacrifice bunted to push Herzig and Field ahead one base a piece, before Joey Francoeur took his fateful turn swinging. He drove a ball to deep centerfield, rounding Herzig and Field all the way to home and landing himself on second.

“He had a big tournament,” Artes said of Joey Francoeur. “The last couple games of the regular season, leading into the zone tournament, leading into the state tournament, he’s probably batting somewhere around .400.”

Lowe walked Cody Dube, then Shawn Francoeur pulled one of those mystical stunts twins are always pulling and dropped a long ball not far from his brother’s, bringing Joey and Dube home again and setting the score at 5-0.

“We hit the ball very well all tournament,” Artes said. “We’ve put up big numbers throughout the last five or six days.”

In the seventh, the Merchants peddled still more offense. Field walked onto first again, and two batters later Joey Francoeur belted a ball into center the Westbrook fielder slightly misjudged. Field ran all the way to third, while Francoeur stopped at first.

Dube’s grounder took a bizarre bounce over the outstretched glove of Westbrook third baseman Derek Bouchard, scoring Field. Tanner Laberge took first on balls, loading the bases for Nate Boyle.

Boyle’s grounder took an even more bizarre bounce over Bouchard’s glove, allowing Dube and Francoeur to cross home. Dennis Meehan capped the display, smacking a grounder into center, clearing Laberge off the bases, and giving Windham a 9-0 lead.

Westbrook came to life briefly in the eighth. Robbie Hamilton knocked a grounder that gave him first, Lowe knocked a shot to shallow center to move Hamilton forward a base, and Austin Blake returned the ball to centerfield to send Hamilton steamrolling home again.

It was a blip on the scoring radar, however, the only run Westbrook would manage. The game would close at 9-1, Windham going wild.

Souza maintains a positive outlook, even in defeat. “It was great fun; these guys won a lot of games. One win away from two state championships in one year,” he says, referring to the Class A crown that Westbrook High School won in June. “I’m proud of these guys.”

Windham used five pitchers in the outing, beginning with Meehan. They switched to Laberge in the fourth, Joey Francoeur in the sixth, Shawn Francoeur in the eighth, and Dube in the ninth. Westbrook, on the other hand, pitched Lowe primarily, though Zach Bean relieved in him the eighth.

Westbrook’s Robbie Hamilton earned the tournament’s MVP award for his eight hits, including four doubles and three home runs, for nine RBIs.

Windham treks to Middletown later this week; the regionals run from Thursday, Aug. 8 to Monday, Aug. 12.

“I feel good about our chances,” Artes said.

Windham Merchants rush from the dugout after their victory is secure Saturday afternoon.Windham hoists its hard-won trophy.The Windham Merchants celebrate with their state championship trophy.Westbrook first baseman Austin Blake readies himself for the play.Westbrook catcher Kyle Heath tags Windham runner Shawn Francoeur out at home.Westbrook’s Brett Goodnow slides into third while Windham’s Shawn Francoeur leaps to catch the throw.Windham pitcher Dennis Meehan preps his throw. In the background, Westbrook runner Brett Goodnow leads off first.