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BY TRAVIS LAZARCZYK
Staff Writer 05/22/2008

enlarge Staff photo by David Leaming

OUT: Lawrence shortstop John Flynn tags out Skowhegan’s Mike Saucier at second base during a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A game Wednesday. Skowhegan lost a four-run lead but pulled out a 5-4 win on a walk-off home run by John Little with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

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That's first baseman John Little, who hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Indians a 5-4 rain-soaked, extra- inning win against Lawrence.

"It was a fastball, middle in," Little said of the pitch he deposited over Memorial Field's left center-field wall. "I was hoping it wouldn't be a curveball because I haven't hit it all year."

Little's blast spoiled an impressive outing by Lawrence (4-8) starter Nick Nelson. Prior to Little's home run, the lefty hadn't given up a hit since the third inning. Nelson gave up four hits, struck out six and walked three.

"(Nelson) pitched a gem," Skowhegan coach Rick York said. "He had us baffled and he was throwing his fastball by us."

"He was mixing up most of his pitches," Little said of Nelson. "We were swinging at first pitch fastball. We wanted to make him work. When you make a pitcher work, they'll throw one right down the middle."

Skowhegan (11-1) took a 4-0 lead with four runs in the third inning. Andy Calder hit a two- run single for the Indians, and a pair of Lawrence errors helped extend the rally.

"That inning was our undoing," Lawrence coach Wally Covell said. "That seems to be the way our season is going. We play a good team very tough and have one bad inning."

The Bulldogs got two runs back in the fourth. After John Flynn led off the inning with a single, Bryan Manzo homered to right center. Lawrence picked up another run in the fifth inning when Chris Smedberg led off with a double, went to third on Jim Melcher's fly ball to center and scored on a Brock Lawrence groundout to second base.

Lawrence tied the game in the sixth when Flynn scored on a wild pitch.

"They had some timely hits," York said. "We knew coming into this game that Lawrence was coming ready to play."

Cody Vigue threw a complete game for Skowhegan, allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out six.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861- 9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

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