Trenton wins its 1st senior American Legion state baseball title
The Trenton Acadians’ Senior American Legion baseball workforce turned a actuality in 1979, when Mount Desert Island baseball coach Dennis Damon and Ellsworth coach Jack Scott teamed as much as create and coach the workforce.
Now, 44 years later, the Acadians will characterize the state of Maine on the Northeast Regional Match for the primary time after successful their first state championship over the weekend.
The Acadians, comprising gamers from MDI, Ellsworth and Blue Hill’s George Stevens Academy, went 5-0 within the eight-team, double-elimination state match held in Augusta and punched their ticket to Fitton Area on the campus of Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, with a 2-0 win over defending champ Hampden within the championship recreation.
It was their tenth consecutive win and improved their file to 17-4.
The Acadians will open the eight-team, double-elimination regional match towards New Hampshire champ Nashua on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
The Trenton Junior American Legion workforce additionally received its state title with a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Augusta after Augusta had compelled a title recreation by beating Trenton 8-3 earlier within the day on Saturday. That was a four-team, double-elimination affair.
Ellsworth’s Hunter Curtis, who was the North Atlantic Convention’s Rookie of the Yr at Husson College in Bangor this previous spring, was the American Legion Senior tourney’s Most Invaluable Participant after hitting two homers and pitching an eight-hit shutout within the remaining towards Hampden.
Curtis hadn’t pitched in additional than a yr, as he was completely a proper fielder at Husson.
“It had been a very long time since I pitched however I had pitched rather a lot in highschool. I simply went out and threw strikes,” stated Curtis, who was backed by an distinctive defensive efficiency from his teammates.
“We haven’t made many errors this season,” Curtis stated.
He was additionally happy to have the ability to come by means of on the plate for his workforce.
“I took over a month off after the school season and I had struggled somewhat bit adjusting to enjoying once more. However I lastly received again and I felt fairly good within the match,” Curtis added.
“Hunter sparked our offense within the match,” stated 23-year-old first-year head coach Brad Smith, who performed for Curtis’ father, Dan, at Ellsworth earlier than enjoying at Waterville’s Thomas School.
Hunter Curtis stated it’s “fairly particular” to play for the primary Trenton state championship Senior Legion workforce.
“My dad performed for Trenton and there have been fairly a couple of different good gamers who additionally by no means received [a state championship],” Curtis stated.
He added that one of many highlights of the summer time has been enjoying along with his youthful brother Dawson, who simply turned 15. Hunter is nineteen and he performed along with his older brother, Jackson, at Husson this spring. Jackson was a junior.
“This was the primary time I used to be in a position to play on the identical workforce with Dawson in any sport,” Hunter Curtis stated.
Dawson Curtis and MDI Excessive College’s Colin Sullivan helped lead Trenton to the junior Legion championship along with enjoying for the senior Legion workforce.
Sullivan was chosen the Most Invaluable Participant of the Junior match.
Dawson Curtis and Sullivan are each going to be sophomores at their respective excessive faculties within the fall.
Dawson Curtis is a primary baseman and Sullivan performs second base and shortstop, along with pitching.
“They each play at a degree means above their ages,” Smith stated.
Smith stated the important thing to the workforce’s success has been the pitching.
“Our pitching has enabled us to remain in each recreation, even when we weren’t hitting. And now we have been getting well timed hits throughout our successful streak,” Smith stated.
Ellsworth’s Craig Burnett and Peter Keblinsky have had great seasons on the mound. Burnett, who pitched as a freshman at Central Maine Group School in Auburn this spring, is 6-0 with a 0.32 earned-run common and Keblinsky is 5-1 with an 0.70 ERA.
Keblinsky simply graduated from Ellsworth Excessive.
Sullivan was 2-1 with a 4.40 ERA within the third spot within the rotation.
Keblinsky, who’s the shortstop when he’s not pitching, is the workforce’s main hitter at .367. Hunter Curtis is hitting .362 with a powerful on-base share of .538 from the leadoff spot.
David Baugh, the left fielder, is hitting .351, Dawson Curtis is at .350 and leads the workforce with 12 runs batted in, and Sullivan is a .327 hitter. Third baseman Wyatt Bragdon is hitting .297.
Bragdon’s brother, Brett, has caught each recreation.
Miles Palmer is an impressive defensive participant in proper subject and is the No. 2 hitter within the lineup.
The opposite gamers are second baseman Joey Wellman-Clouse, outfielder Drew Cote, pitcher-pinch runner A.J. Lozano, outfielder-second baseman Brady Pert, utility participant Dan Howie, pitcher Brayden King, catcher Hollis Grindal and first baseman Isaac McDonnell.
Damon, who’s the sphere director for the State American Legion Match, stated it was “very gratifying” to see a program he helped begin with Scott lastly win a state title.
“I’m happy with the best way they play and it’s a stylish younger bunch of children on each ranges (Senior and Junior Legion),” Damon stated. “It’s fairly pleasing.”
Smith is assisted by Josh Jackon and the Junior Legion coaches are Conner Wagstaff and Mike Boles.
