Bangor baseball ousts Mt. Ararat in A North semifinal
Bangor High baseball wins Class A North semifinal to reach sixth straight final
Topsham, June 13 – In a rain‑free afternoon in Topsham, the Bangor High School Rams pulled away in the third inning of a Class A North baseball semifinal against the Mt. Ararat Eagles and finished with a 5‑2 victory. The win sends Bangor to its sixth consecutive Class A North final in the state of Maine.
Bangor entered the game as the third‑seeded team in the region, boasting a 15‑3 record. The Rams’ offense exploded in the third inning: a ground ball by Ethan Sproul brought in the first run, a single by Jacoby Harvey added another, and a three‑run homer from catcher Kyle Johnson sealed the rally. “I knew it pretty early off the bat, and it was just a game‑breaking play,” Johnson said after the game.
The Eagles answered in the bottom of the fourth with a two‑run single from Jake Morrell, but Bangor’s defense held strong in the middle innings, and the Rams’ pitchers kept the pressure on. Senior right‑hander Lucas Rutherford started for Bangor, delivering six innings of work that included nine strikeouts, two earned runs and only two walks. He finished the game relaxed, noting that “I was focusing right down the middle and just execute, because I know the defense is going to take care of the outs.” His ability to keep runners off the bases early in the game was a key factor, according to Ararat coach Brett Chase, who said, “He pitched really well. I mean, he was fantastic today.”
Defensive play was also a hallmark of the game. Coach Dave Morris praised the Rams’ resilience and the timely hitting that came off solid pitching and a strong fielding effort. “Guys are just real resilient, and you know, when you have great pitching and good defense, you get a timely hit, you can come out on top,” Morris said. He added that the team deserves credit for beating a formidable opponent, “but give credit to (Mt. Ararat), they’re a great program. They did a great job. They got some really nice players. But I’m proud of our guys. All season long, we’ve been playing with this resiliency.”
The victory marks the only time Bangor has defeated the Oxford Hills Vikings this season, when the Rams beat them 10‑5 on May 8. Bangor will face the top‑seeded Oxford Hills team on Tuesday at Morton Field in Augusta for the state title.
Senior players reflected on the experience. Johnson said, “For us personally, us seniors, this is our fourth time being there. We kind of know what it takes to get there. We’re just trying to get over that hump this year. We’re looking forward to it, and we’ll be ready.”
Bangor’s line‑up featured strong contributors: Kyle Johnson’s three‑run homer, Jacoby Harvey’s single‑run RBI, Jonas Gilley’s perfect 2‑for‑2 at the plate, and Ethan Sproul’s RBI single. Ararat’s standout was Jake Morrell, who drove in two runs, while pitcher Colby MacFawn stayed hitless over three innings.
With the win, the Rams advance to the Class A North final, marking the sixth straight year they have reached this stage of the tournament. The final will be played at the state stadium, with the Rams looking to continue their streak and claim another championship.
