The Boothbay 36ers are heading to the American Legion Baseball State Championship tournament. Two wins in the southern zone tournament action over Central Maine Hammond Lumber and Capital Area this weekend led to their finish as one of two southern zone teams qualifying for the state tournament. On July 22, Boothbay plays Skowhegan  (8-6) at 5:30 p.m. in the southern zone championship game at Thomas College in Waterville. Both teams earned spots in next weekend’s state championship tournament.

Boothbay (7-8-1) beat Central Maine Hamnond Lumber (6-8)  of Oakland 4-2 at Messalonskee High School July 19 to qualify for the four-team south playoffs. On July 20, Boothbay beat No.2  Capital Area Senior Legion, 8-5. No. 2 Capital Area is now 8-5. Skowhegan (8-6) beat No. 1 Franklin (10-3). “It’s a spectacular feeling,” Boothbay coach Adam Harkins said. “Our hitting has really turned our season around. Our fielding has improved too, but the hitting has made up for mistakes in the field.”

On July 19, Boothbay pitcher Jacob Watkinson pitched 6.2 innings, allowing two hits, no earned runs, striking out four and walking two. Aidan Sanborn pitched a third of an inning and struck out one and allowed no runs. Boothbay scored twice in the top of the first and two more in the sixth. Boothbay had four singles: Brady Brann, Dom Frisone, Bryson Mattox and Watkinson. Mattox also had a run batted in. 

On July 20, Boothbay won 8-5 aided by six Capital Area errors. Finn Harkins pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four earned runs, six hits, striking out three and walking two. Gryffin Kristan pitched 2.2 innings in relief. He allowed no runs and no hits. Kristan struck out three and walked none. 

Boothbay banged out seven hits against Capital Area. Taygen McAllister tripled, scored two runs and had one run batted in. Sanborn went two-for-four with a single and a double. Sam Markowitz singled and had an rbi. Frisone also had an rbi. Kristan singled. 

In the southern zone championship game against Skowhegan, Liam Jacobs will pitch for the 36ers. During the regular season, Skowhegan beat Boothbay twice.