Bangor Babes steal 15 bases in sweep of Old Orchard Beach

BANGOR – The Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League’s two best teams squared off in a Sunday doubleheader and the Bangor Babes literally ran to a sweep over Old Orchard Beach.

The Babes stole 15 bases in the two seven-inning games and received quality pitching performances from Husson University teammates Alex Smith and Allen Wheaton to beat the Old Orchard Beach Bugs 7-2 and 4-2 at the Winkin Sports Complex on the Husson campus in Bangor.

The Babes improved to 11-0 while the Bugs fell to 12-4 with all four losses coming to the Babes.

Old Orchard Beach had its 12-game winning streak snapped.

“I never thought we would steal so much but they’ve done a good job getting good jumps and being attentive to who’s on the mound and what’s going on,” said Bangor head coach Trevor DeLaite. “So I figured we might as well steal bases to get into scoring position.”

The Babes stole seven bases in the first game and eight more in the second against two different catchers.

“(Stealing bases) has worked to our advantage so we’ll keep on going until somebody stops us,” said shortstop Liam O’Neal from Tenants Harbor and the University of Bridgeport (Conn.).

“We have guys who can run and guys who get good jumps. We have good IQs and we’re always looking for tips pitchers give us. Then we take the bags,” added O’Neal, a former standout at Camden Hills High School in Rockport who had two steals in the second game.

Stolen bases were instrumental in all four runs in the nightcap.

The Babes scored three runs in the second inning to take a lead they would never relinquish.

Lincoln’s Isaac Hainer drew a lead-off walk, O’Neal poked a single into left and they worked a double steal.

Skowhegan’s Tyler Annis walked to load the bases and Belfast’s Jason Bartlett lined a single to left to deliver Hainer.

Hampden’s Sam Economy walked to produce the second run and the third run scored on a wild pitch.

Annis produced an insurance run with his legs in the fourth inning.

He hooked an 0-2 pitch into left field for a lead-off single, stole second and sprinted home on catcher Cole Whitehead’s errant throw as he stole third.

“We’ve been (running) all year,” said Annis, who was a freshman on the University of Maine baseball team this past spring. “If we get on base, we have the green light to go if we feel we can (steal) it.”

Glenburn’s Wheaton, who played for Bangor’s John Bapst High School before going to Husson, threw five innings of three-hit, one-run ball.

He had three strikeouts, two walks and a hit batter.

“My slider and fastball were working today. My change-up was there a little bit,” said Wheaton, who will be a junior at Husson in the fall. “I didn’t throw my curve much but when I did, it was kind of there, which I’m happy about.”

Kyle Poissoit allowed an unearned run in the sixth for Bangor and Johnny Miles pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the save.

Conor Moriarty had a three-hit game and figured in both runs for the Bugs.

He delivered a clutch two-out single to right center to drive in a third-inning run and doubled into the gap in right center in the sixth and eventually scored on a passed ball.

He also had a first-inning base hit.

O’Neal was Bangor’s only repeat hitter with two singles. Economy had a double.

Losing pitcher Colin McDonald from Gorham and the University of Southern Maine struck out six in four innings and allowed four hits and all four runs.

In the opener, Smith, who was a senior at Husson, tossed five innings of four-hit, one-run ball with three walks and three strikeouts.

“I felt real good with my slider and my changeup was pretty good. I spotted my fastball when I had to,” said Smith, who is from Northborough, Mass.

O’Neal had two singles for the Babes and Old Town’s Matt Seymour delivered two runs with a base hit and a bases-loaded walk.

Firmin had two singles and an RBI for the Bugs.

The Babes committed just one error in the two games and that was an errant pickoff throw by Miles in the seventh inning of the second game.

The Babes, who had Saturday’s doubleheader against Sebago postponed, will entertain the Augusta Surgin’ Sturgeon on Thursday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

Old Orchard Beach will host the Gorham Lightning on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. twinbill.