Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

13-YEAR-OLD BABE RUTH BASEBALL

Central Maine ready for New Englands

By Travis Lazarczyk tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

BY TRAVIS LAZARCZYK

click image to enlarge

STATE CHAMPS: Central Maine Babe Ruth 13-year-old coach Jeff Gardiner speaks with the team during practice earlier this week in Winslow. Central Maine will take on Connecticut in the New England tournament beginning Saturday.

Staff photo by David Leaming

Select images available for purchase in the
Maine Today Photo Store

Staff Writer

Before Monday's practice at Winslow's Nivison Field, coach Jeff Gardiner asked one question to the Central Maine Babe Ruth 13-year-old team.

"Has it sunk into you guys that you're state champions yet?" Gardiner asked.

The players looked around the dugout and at each other, and everyone smiled.

On Saturday, Central Maine opens play in the New England regional tournament in Winooski, Vt. Central Maine's first game in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament is at 9 a.m. Saturday against Connecticut. The winner of the tournament moves on to the World Series on Aug. 19-26 in Levelland, Texas.

"I think we're going to do very good," Coach Gardiner said. "They're starting to understand how good they are."

Central Maine is comprised of players from Waterville, Winslow, Belgrade, Fairfield, Oakland, Rome, Sidney, Albion, Benton and Clinton. After finishing as runner-up in the district tournament (Central Maine earned a spot in the state tourney because district champ Somerset was host and already was in), Central Maine's offense exploded in the state tourney.

"We have good hitting and good pitching," pitcher and second baseman Zach Mathieu said.

Central Maine scored 48 runs in four games at the state tournament. Central Maine won the final with a 12-5 victory against Somerset, scoring 10 runs in the first inning.

"The bottom line is, they're starting to learn patience. They're starting to become baseball players," Coach Gardiner said.

With players coming from so many towns and schools, rivalries were tough to put aside at first.

"The hardest part was, nobody was talking to each other at first," first baseman Cam Gardiner said.

Added Coach Gardiner: "It took us a little bit (of time) to click. Now they realize they don't have to play like they're the only thing that makes this team win. It's a loose bunch of kids. They have some confidence in themselves."

The lineup is led by a strong core in the two through five spots. Cam Gardiner, Dylan Hapworth, Mathieu and Austin Woodbury are each hitting well, and each have an on-base percentage over .600. Each is hitting at least .333, and Hapworth has a batting average of .526 in the district and state tournaments.

Hapworth and Mathieu are the team's top two pitchers. Hapworth's fastball can reach the low 80s, Coach Gardiner said, and he has a strong breaking pitch.

"He has a curve like a high school player," Gardiner said. "My catchers can't catch him. We've had a lot of passed balls. It's driving me crazy."

In the practices leading up to the New England tournament, Central Maine planned to focus on defense.

"We work on it every day," Coach Gardiner said.

Opening ceremonies for the tournament are Friday night, followed by a trip to a Vermont Lake Monsters game. The Lake Monsters are Burlington's Single A team.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com