The Bangor Rams earned a win in dramatic fashion on Thursday night with a 10th inning walkoff against Hampden Academy.
The 4-3 victory propelled the Rams into second place in the standings, as they leapfrogged over the Broncos in the clash between two of the best teams in Class A North this season.
A single from junior infielder Ethan Sproul knocked in Kyle Johnson for the winning run in the bottom of the third extra frame, according to game information from Game Changer, the official scoring app used by the Maine Principals’ Association for baseball.
“He’s one of those kids that has a lot of experience,” Bangor coach Dave Morris said about Sproul. “And in that situation, he had a great look at a baseball — good swing on it, got a good barrel on it.”
Johnson also got the win for the home team after pitching two and ⅓ scoreless innings in relief for starter Lucas Rutherford, who struck out seven and surrendered three runs (only one earned). Rutherford’s impressive performance stretched all the way into the eighth inning before Bangor turned the ball over to Johnson.
Morris credited Rutherford for his poise after a few errors by the Rams led to runs for Hampden, and felt his starter could have kept going if not for reaching the pitch count limit.
“I like our energy,” said Morris, who noted that Bangor players are trusting each other and competing for each other. “I like how we’ve got some great teammates.”
Hampden coach Jon Perry said his team has been trading close games with Bangor the last few seasons, and added that there is a high level of mutual respect between the two teams. He would have liked to see his squad come away with the win but was happy with the Broncos’ performance.
“We competed, we played hard, we pitched hard,” Perry said. “And it was just one of those games. It was a great high school baseball game and, you know, we just happened to be on the wrong side of it.”
Bangor is now 9-3 on the season, good enough for second in Class A North beyond top ranked Mt. Ararat. Hampden, having another good showing this year after a first place regular season campaign a year ago, fell to 8-5 but remains right behind Bangor in third place heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Hampden won the previous matchup with Bangor 6-2 on April 30.
“I have a great deal of respect for Bangor and the players and the coaching staff,” Perry said.
Of Hampden’s five losses this year, four of them have been by only one run.
The Broncos play at Mt. Blue in Farmington next on Tuesday. Bangor is back in action on Monday against Mount Ararat, and will host that matchup between top ranked teams.
Morris said his team has been playing well but also has areas where it can improve. He’s more focused on the way his team has been playing and the positive steps they are taking rather than their position in the standings.
“You don’t really get a trophy for being in second or even first in the standings. It’s really what you’re gonna do through the playoffs,” the Bangor coach said.
