Navigators earn dramatic first victory

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom COMING HOME — Aron Smested of the Penquis Navigators runs to the plate ahead of the throw to give the team an 8-7 walk-off victory over the Madison 39ers during an American Legion game July 2 at Foxcroft Academy. The Navigators were down 7-6 when Brandon Young came to the plate, and Young’s single to leftfield drove in both Chander Rockwell (6) and Smested for the tying and winning runs. The victory was the team’s first of the season.

DOVER-FOXCROFT —  With four runs in the top of the sixth, the Madison 39ers extended the team’s advantage from 3-2 to 7-2 over the Penquis Navigators during a July 2 American Legion game at Foxcroft Academy. But the game was not over.

The Madison defense was rolling with four consecutive scoreless innings, during which time the team gave up just two baserunners to limit Penquis’ chances. From there the game turned around, as the Navigators scored three times in the sixth and then three more times in the seventh with the tying and winning runs both coming on a single by Brandon Young to enable Penquis (1-6) to earn its first victory of the season over 2-3 Madison.

Aron Smested led the bottom of the sixth off by putting the ball in play. The throw to first was off the mark and Smested ran to second on the error. The 39ers then had a strikeout and a flyball out — hit deep enough to rightfield to enable Smested to tag up and get to third base — to be an out away from keeping the five-run lead intact.

Billy Brock hit the ball past the shortstop and into leftfield to drive in Smested and make the game 7-3. With the run being just a minor inconvenience, Madison was unable to settle as Nick Hagan dropped a single into shallow centerfield and Cam Pratt was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.

Matt Spear then represented the tying run at the plate and he drew a 2-2 count vs. Madison starter Chase Nelson. Spear fouled off three consecutive pitches to stay alive and keep the inning going. He put the eighth pitch of the at-bat in play, but the fielded grounder from shortstop was off the mark.

Brock and Hagan were both off with the pitch, and Brock scored from third and Hagan came home from second to quickly make the score 7-5. Pratt rounded third and came home, but in a close play at the plate the umpire ruled him out to end the inning.

Young moved to the mound from first as the Navigators’ fourth pitcher of the day in the top of the seventh. Despite a single and a pair of walks, Young was able to pick a runner off at first and strike out two 39ers for a scoreless inning which resulted in him earning the victory in the relief.

Nelson tossed the first six innings, and in the seventh Madison opted for a pitching change. Ryan Laffin took advantage of the switch by leading the home half of the seventh off with a walk and then getting into scoring position by stealing second base.

Chandler Rockwell followed with another bases on balls to put the potential tying run at first base. With Smested due up, another 39er pitching change was made with Cody Lawyerson taking to the mound to try to make the save.

The decision backfired for Madison as Smested sent a pitch to rightfield. He was able to get to second and drive in Laffin to make the game 7-6 and put Rockwell at third base.

Brooks Law had a 2-1 count before the decision was made to intentionally walk him, setting up more possibilities for a force out and an increased chance at a double play. The Madison infield stayed in to try to make an out at the plate for Young’s ensuing appearance in the batter’s box.

Behind 1-2 in the count, Young dropped a hit into the shallow grass of leftfield to enable Rockwell to score to tie the game. Young placed his single in just the right place as Smested rounded third with the 39er infield scrambling to get to the ball. Smested came home well ahead of a throw as the Navigators walked off with an 8-7 victory.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

JUST OUT OF REACH  — Brandon Young leaps to catch the throw from pitcher Chander Rockwell, but he ended up getting pulled off the bag to enable the runner to reach in the fourth inning. Young would later earn the victory on the mound by tossing a scoreless seventh, and he drove in both the tying and winning runs on a single in the home half of the inning.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

OUT NO. 1 –– Billy Brock makes the catch in centerfield, as rightfielder Nick Hagan looks on, for the initial out of the first inning on July 2 in Dover-Foxcroft.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

INTO SCORING POSITION — Ryan Laffin followed a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh by stealing second base. He later scored on an RBI double to make the game 7-6  to jumpstart an 8-7 comeback victory for the Navigators.