Recently, the Ararat 10U squad captured the state championship, downing Sacopee Valley, 14-12 in the title game.

Ararat will represent Maine in the 2017 Cal Ripken 10U New England Regional Tournament, which will be held in Marlborough, Mass., July 14-20.

Leading up to the championship game, Ararat had beaten Sacopee Valley (2-1), Gardiner and Marshwood to remain in the winners bracket. After losing to Ararat, Sacopee Valley had to get through the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament by beating Farmington, Fairfield and Marshwood.

The championship game was unlike the low-scoring first meeting. Andrew Clemons started the game on the rubber for Ararat and Gunnar Saunders started for Sacopee, which jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the opening frame. Ararat managed to get two back in the bottom half of that frame.

Sacopee extended its lead to 9-2 after two innings, and took what appeared to be an insurmountable

12-3 lead after scoring three more times in the top of the fifth.

As Ararat came to bat in the bottom of the fifth, most fans and coaches were likely making plans for a second and deciding game. As it turned out, the Ararat players had other ideas. With one out, Dash Farrell got things started against Dylan Capano with a double to right-center field. Ethan Berry hit a sharp single that plated Farrell, and Clemons doubled to score Berry to begin the rally. The next batter, Kenny Mecham, ripped a single scoring Clemons from third to bring the score to 12-6.

After Brady Alexander drew a walk, Stan Spooner stepped to the plate and scalded the first pitch into the gap between short and third, plating Mecham. With the score now 12-7, Zander Steele managed a walk to load the bases.

With two outs, Nick Brady kept the rally going with a slow roller between short and third that was mishandled, scoring another run and leaving the bases loaded. Farrell laced his second hit of the inning, scoring Spooner and Steele and bringing Ararat within two runs, 12-10.

Another Sacopee miscue brought Ararat to 12-11, and Clemons laced his second double of the inning, plating the tying and go-ahead runs. Mecham followed with his second single of the inning scoring Clemons, giving Ararat a two-run lead before Sacopee got the final out of the inning.

Berry closed out the game on the mound for Ararat. He caught a line drive for the first out, and then struck out the next two batters to secure the state championship.

For Ararat, Mecham went 3-for-3 with a two RBIs, Clemons went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs, and two runs scored, Farrell was 2-for- 2 with a double, two walks, two RBIs and three runs scored, and Berry scored four runs, reaching base safely in all four of his at-bats.