ALWS Game 10: Maine closes pool play with win over Texas 

When Ellsworth (Maine) Post 207 won the Northeast Regional to advance to its first American Legion World Series, first-year head coach Brad Smith wanted his team to be successful and enjoy being the fourth team in his state’s history to advance this far. 

Despite losses in their first two games of pool play that eliminated Ellsworth from advancing to Monday’s semifinal, Smith’s message to his team hadn’t changed when they met Stars division champion League City (Tex.) Post 554. 

“We don’t like losing,” Smith said. “So we came into this game with the mindset to win and give the other players that haven’t played that much a chance to get some playing time.” 

Then Ellsworth went out and did just that, rallying from an early deficit to take a 4-2 victory over League City in Sunday’s Game 10 that sends Post 207 back home with a 1-2 pool play record. 

It also means all four Maine ALWS participants — Portland in 1995, 1999 and 2004 and Ellsworth this year — have won at least one ALWS game. The 2004 team went 5-0 to win that year’s title. 

“This experience is so special,” Smith said. “And it’s real special for me since it’s my first year as a head coach. 

“It feels really good to have seen these kids battling all year to get here. I couldn’t be more proud.” 

Starter and winner Hunter Curtis made his fourth pitching outing of the year another successful one with a five-hit complete game with four strikeouts and no walks. 

Curtis entered the season as Smith’s closer but recently had started the Maine state tournament title game and the Northeast Regional title game, which garnered him regional MVP honors. 

“He gave us another good effort,” Smith said. 

After League City took a 1-0 in the second inning, Ellsworth tied the score on a two-out fielding error in the fourth and took the lead with a two-run fifth with a double, a fielding error and a RBI single. 

In addition to his pitching, Curtis had two hits and one RBI to lead Ellsworth’s four-hit offense. 

Chase Bourgeois and Brice Smith had two hits apiece to lead League City’s five-hit offense; League City (25-4) plays again on Monday at 7 p.m. in the semifinals against the Stripes division runner-up that will be determined later on Sunday. 

Ellsworth finishes its season at 22-7 overall and will lose three top players from this year’s team in Curtis and outfielders David Baugh and Miles Palmer. But Smith is confident his team can again be successful. 

“So we’re not losing all that much,” Smith said. “Our plan is to reload.”