The Saco little league team celebrates an extra-inning win over Biddeford in the first round of the 2019 Maine District 4 Little League Baseball Tournament for 10-12-year-olds. (ANTHONY LOMBARDI/Journal Tribune)

SACO – A midsummer classic worthy of the majors unfolded between a pair of local little league teams on Friday.

Saco erased a three-run deficit and pulled out a 9-7 victory over Biddeford in nine innings at Summer Street Field in Saco in a first-round contest of the 2019 Maine District 4 Little League Baseball Tournament for 10 to 12-year-olds. 

“I think it’s just a never-give-up attitude,” said Saco coach Warren Kenniston. “We just can’t quit, and we just kept fighting until the end. Every pitch, every play, every at-bat. That’s our motto. ‘G.N.P. Gritty, not pretty.’” 

Saco advances to the second round of the winner’s bracket in the double-elimination tournament where they’ll face the victor of Friday’s Wells vs. Massabesic contest. Biddeford will look to stave off elimination Sunday against whoever loses between Wells and Massabesic. 

Biddeford’s Tyler Mills makes a grab in right field on a hard hit ball during a little league all-star game in Saco on Friday. (ANTHONY LOMBARDI/Journal Tribune)

With Friday’s game locked at 5-5 in the top of the ninth, Saco took the lead on a throwing error on a ball put into play by Beck Edgerly. Edgerly scored two batters later on a Dominic Hussey RBI single and Henry Kenniston gave Saco a 9-5 edge on an RBI double followed by a steal of home.  

Biddeford attempted a rally, scoring twice, in the bottom of the frame, but Brayden Ames closed the door with a save to strand the tying run at second base. 

“Really well-played game on both sides – you’ve got to hand it to Saco,” said Biddeford Coach Josh Edgerton. “We came in with our best pitching and they did as well … they put the bat on the ball, put it in play, and we didn’t make enough plays at the end of the day.” 

Biddeford took a 3-0 advantage into the fifth behind a brilliant performance from starter Gavin Haggett on the mound. The left-hander struck out eight batters, including the first three Saco hitters of the game, and allowed just two hits. He appeared to tire in the fifth, allowing three batters to reach base on his only two walks and hit-batter on the night. Domenick Smith relieved Haggett with the bases loaded and the first batter he faced, Wyatt Benoit, picked up an RBI on an infield single that was eventually thrown away, allowing two other runners to score. 

Saco took a 5-3 lead in the eighth on an RBI triple to the left field by Benoit that just missed clearing the fence. Hussey plated Benoit for his second RBI. Biddeford answered in the bottom of the eighth on RBI hits from Landon Sirois and Thomas Kaminski but left the winning run on second to end the inning. 

Biddeford starter Gavin Haggett struck out eight batters and allowed just two hits in 4 1/3 innings but Saco pulled out a 9-7 win in extras. (ANTHONY LOMBARDI/Journal Tribune)

“It was a lot of fun,” said Warren Kenniston. “A lot of credit to Biddeford. They played great. A lot of great hitters over there … Great all around game.”  

Edgerly earned the win on the mound for Saco, while Travis Edgerton took the loss after entering in relief. Offensively, Travis Edgerton and Henry Kenniston finished with a game-high three hits. Sirois had three RBIs, while Travis Edgerton, Kaminski and Smith each had one. Hussey led Saco with two RBIs. Wyatt and Henry Kenniston both chipped in with one. 

Despite the loss, Josh Edgerton feels good about his team heading into their win-or-go-home scenario. 

“I was extremely proud of my guys. Every single player contributed. We had some great at-bats,” he said. “No doubt they’re going to give any opponent all that they can handle. Should be a great one.” 

NEW RULE

At the start of the eighth inning, per official Little League rules, and each half inning after, the offensive team starts the inning with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning is placed on second base. 

All four runners who were placed at second in the eighth and ninth innings scored. Josh Edgerton didn’t like the new rule, he said, but he understands its design it to speed up the game. 

“That puts you in a situation where you’ve got to play really good defense,” he said. “Usually, in little league, a runner getting to second is a scoring run … Unfortunately, ground balls were hit in spots we weren’t and we didn’t pull together enough plays.”