This season’s Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference baseball schedule had perennial contenders Messalonskee and Bangor meet just once in the regular season. When Messalonskee won at Bangor, 8-6 on May 5, both teams had a feeling they’d meet again in June.
That game will happen Saturday, when Eastern Class A top seed Bangor (15-2) hosts No. 4 Messalonskee (14-3) in the regional semifinals.
“I think this is a game our guys have been preparing for all year,” Messalonskee coach Peter McLaughlin said.
Eight central Maine baseball teams will be in action for the regional semifinal round. The other Eastern Class A game features No. 7 Mt. Blue (8-9) at No. 3 Brewer (13-4). In Eastern Class B, No. 5 Winslow (14-4) plays at No. 1 Old Town (17-0). Western Class C features No. 8 St. Dominic (13-5) at No. 5 Maranacook (11-7) and No. 6 Monmouth (11-7) at No. 2 Winthrop (15-2). In Western Class D, No. 5 Valley (9-6) takes on No. 1 Richmond (14-3).
Messalonskee is ready to face either of Bangor’s undefeated aces, Trevor Delaite or Andrew Hillier. Each pitched three innings in Bangor’s 6-0 quarterfinal win over Brunswick, and both are available on Saturday. McLaughlin will send 6-foot-8 senior Nick Mayo to the mound.
“We know they have two great pitchers,” McLaughlin said. “Mayo is going to be ready to go.”
Mt. Blue advanced with a 5-2 upset win over No. 2 Edward Little. The Cougars and Witches played once in the regular season, a 6-0 Brewer win.
Winslow and Old Town play in separate leagues, and Saturday’s semifinal will be their first meeting on the diamond this season. The schools did play in the Eastern B boys basketball semifinals, however, a Winslow win. The Coyotes are led by senior Eric Hoogterp, one of the top hitters in the state with a .611 batting average. Winslow counters with Dylan Hapworth and hard-throwing junior Jake Trask, the game’s likely starting pitcher.
In Western Class C, St. Dom’s upset top seed Dirigo, a team that had won 15 games in a row entering the tournament. The Saints face a Maranacook team toughened by a Class B schedule playing in the KVAC. The Black Bears are led by power hitting infielder Cam Brochu.
Winthrop swept a pair of games from rival Monmouth in the regular season, each by a 4-2 score.
East/West Conference rivals Valley and Richmond split a pair of regular season game, each winning on the other’s home field. Valley took an 11-7 win at Richmond on May 5. The Bobcats evened the series with a 10-6 win in Bingham on May 29.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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