BOWDOINHAM
For the second time in five days, the Cumberland-based Post 86 United Senior American Legion team made the short trip to the Bowdoinham Community Field to take on Topsham Post 202 in Zone 3 baseball action.
Tuesday night’s meeting ended in eight innings, tied 9-9 as darkness set in, forcing the squads to begin Saturday by finishing the suspended game.
The visitors made quick work of that game, scoring five runs in the ninth for a 14-10 victory. Wade Sansone launched a three-run home run, and teammate Nathan Cyr cleared the right-field fence for a two-run shot for the win, Post 86 United’s first of the young season.
The regular game started with two innings of fireworks, with three home runs leaving the short porch for a 4-4 deadlock. But Post 86 United scored the only run after that for a 5-4 victory and a 2-1 record.
In the seventh, Topsham loaded the bases against Post 86 pitcher Shea Wagner of Freeport. A fielder’s choice at the plate recorded the second out. Two pitches later, Brunswick native Scout Masse hit a sinking liner that appeared headed for center field. Instead, second baseman Zack Mann dove and snagged the ball inches from the ground to end the game and hand Post 202 a fourth straight defeat (1-4).
Wagner said his heart sank when the ball was hit.
“Kind of far down,” Wagner said pointing to his stomach. “If it landed, it scores one at least. We had some bad luck at Freeport this season, so I was worried if it gets down they score two and win. Zack made a great play there.”
Wagner was solid for Post 86. He relieved started Wade Sansone in the bottom of the first inning after his team fell behind 4-3. He pitched 6 1/3 scoreless frames with three strikeouts, one walk and six hits. He also tied the game in the second inning with a home run to left-center field.
“He settled the team down after the first two innings of a lot of excitement. Shea kept the ball around the plate today,” said Post 86 United coach Glen Cyr.
“My pace worked for me. I pitch quick, and that is what’s helped me this year,” Wagner said after throwing 75 pitches. “Most of my pitches are strikes, and my curveball keeps batters off-balance. It keeps the fielders in the game when you throw strikes.”
Wagner, who also plays for the junior legion team in Freeport, is working hard on his game.
“It is a lot of fun playing both, with senior legion more competitive and junior legion playing against similar competition,” Wagner said. I am working toward next year’s varsity team. I need to work to be successful and to develop good habits.”
Wild first
Post 86 United wasted little time jumping on Topsham Post 202 starting pitcher Devin Tobin. Luke Miller lifted a fly ball to left field that was lost in the sun for a leadoff double. A walk to A.J. Eisenhart was followed by an RBI single by Will Neleski, with the ball misplayed for an error, allowing Eisenhart to also score.
A run-scoring double by Sansone gave the visitors a 3-0 lead.
Back came Post 202. Leadoff hitter Cody Holman lifted a home run just past the left-field fence, and one out later, Austin Damon made it a 3-2 contest with his fourth home run in five games.
“He is hitting the ball hard, and I know this is a short porch but his home runs to center field would leave the park anywhere,” said Topsham Post 202 assistant coach Ryan Card of Damon. “He has four walks too, and they were careful with him.”
“Every swing is the same, and when they throw me curveballs, I am staying back and hitting them,” said Damon.
Cam Dunton singled to keep the Topsham Post 202 inning going, followed by a hit batter and single by Masse to load the bases with one out. A four-pitch walk to Matt Rines tied the game, and a two-out RBI single by Dalton Dickey made for a 4-3 Topsham lead.
Wagner relieved with the bases loaded and retired Holman on a long fly ball to left field.
Tied 4-4 in the fourth, Tobin lost the strike zone, walking four straight hitters to force in a run for a 5-4 Post 86 United lead, with Sansone picking up the go-ahead RBI.
Post 86 left the bases loaded in the fifth against Damon (3 1/3 innings, two strikeouts, one walk, two hits), and left two more runners in scoring position in the sixth to keep Topsham Post 202 close.
“We left 11 guys on base, so it shouldn’t have been 5-4,” Glen Cyr said.
In the seventh, Topsham Post 202 threatened for the final time. Isaiah Cogswell doubled with one out. Wagner intentionally walked Damon, who was 3-for-3, and Danny Stewart reached on a pinch-hit infield single to load the bases with one out.
Tobin grounded to third base, with the throw coming to the plate for the second out. Masse was jammed on the Wagner pitch, but the placement inches to the right of second base forced Mann to dive headlong for the game-ending grab.
“We had the same opportunities in the suspended game on Tuesday, runners on third with less than two outs, but didn’t get the big hit,” said Card.
Dickey was 2-for-3 for Topsham, while Sansone was 3-for-3 with two RBIs for Post 86 United.
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