Biddeford first baseman Trevor Fleurent applies a swipe tag to the hand of Bangor’s Lonnie Hackett in the first inning of Wednesday’s contest at the Maine State American Legion tournament in Augusta. (DAN HICKLING/Journal Tribune)

SANFORD — Wins are never to be taken for granted, but these days, victory by the Sanford Mainers has almost come to be expected. At least the Mainers believe they can pull out a win every time they take the field. They did so Tuesday, with a 5-3, come-from-behind triumph over the Holyoke Blue Sox, […]

Sanford Mainers starting pitcher Matt Murray delivers a fastball to Holyoke’s Jack Rosenbeck during the third inning of Tuesday’s NECBL contest at Goodall Park. The Mainers registered a 5-3 come from behind win. (DAN HICKLING/Journal Tribune)

SANFORD — Every team wants to be playing its best as the playoffs come into view just around the bend. The Sanford Mainers, defending champions of the NECBL, are no different. But wait. Playoffs? Did somebody say playoffs? The streaking Mainers answered that question, loudly, Monday, with a double-header sweep over the Lowell All-Americans, 3-2 […]

Sanford’s Mark Micowski (3) crosses the plate while Lowell catcher Tim Quinn waits for a throw during the third inning of Game 1 of the Mainers double header with the Lowell All-Americans at Goodall Park, Monday. The Mainers won both games, 3-1 and 8-4. (DAN HICKLING/Journal Tribune)

Members of the East Squad celebrate with Sean Daigle (80) of Edward Little after his touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter of the 20th annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic, Saturday, at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford. The East won the game, 17-16. West Squad’s Aaron Fenstermacher (23) of Dirigo looks in on the play […]

BIDDEFORD — By the clock, the most critical moment in the 20th Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic took no more than a second or two. But if you ask any of the 5,000 or so witnesses, eyes glued to the end zone from all corners of Waterhouse Field, they might say that the football — […]

BIDDEFORD — It’s the sidecar perched on the edge of the milk shake glass, the gravy reservoir in the potatoes, the cost of living raise on top of the hefty bonus. The American Legion Zone 5 championship won by Advanced Tech of Biddeford, Thursday, was all of that and more, coming as it did on […]

Kennebunk pitcher Schuyler Donovan, left, fields the ball and readies to throw to first base to get out Advanced Tech’s Travis Vigneault during their American Legion Zone 5 championship game, Thursday, at St. Louis Field in Biddeford. (CHRIS BROCKMAN/Journal Tribune)

West players John Gilboy, left, and Patrick Randall, right, of Thornton Academy talk with teammates during the media portion of Tuesday’s practice sessions at Hebron Academy in Hebron. The West meets the East in the 20th annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic, Saturday, at 4 p.m. at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford. (CHRIS BROCKMAN/Journal Tribune)