2025 GNCBL Championship - Puffins Come Out On Top

On July 26th, the South Portland Puffins faced the Bangor Babes in the GNCBL Championship. The Babes looked to repeat as champions, while the Puffins had to battle through the bracket beginning in the first round to reach this point, defeating the Waterville Woodworkers in the first round and Old Orchard Beach Bugs in the semi-finals. On the other side, Bangor received a bye and was the number one seed, defeating the Augusta Surgin’ Sturgeons in the semi-finals.

The Championship Match

The Puffins didn't waste any time; a lead-off walk was followed by Gabe Harmon ripping a double to the right field gap to give South Portland an early 1-0 lead. Bangor responded in the next frame, Christopher Gaudio smoked a two-run single to tie the scoring. Brendan Mahaney added onto that lead in the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly to give Bangor a 2-1 lead. Both pitchers got through the next inning unscathed. South Portland capitalized on a lead-off walk, a Josh Polchies double, and a run-scoring error to even the score in the third. In the next inning, they regained the lead. A sacrifice fly courtesy of Gus Hollen plated David Swift to give them their earlier advantage back. The scoring stalled again in the fifth as Keeler Vogt toed the mound, giving the Puffins a strong five innings, with eight punchouts and only three hits allowed. The Puffins added to their lead in the sixth, Zach Syvertzon singled to score Gabe Harmon. The Bangor Babes did not go down without a fight. Brody Walsh stepped up to bat in the bottom of the sixth and blasted a two-run game-tying home run. The Puffins regained their lead just as quickly as they had lost it. Polchies again was an X Factor scoring Grady Hotham with the hit, while Derek Martin crossed home due to an error. A sacrifice fly one batter later extended the lead to 7-4 with only nine outs left for the Babes. South Portland added onto their lead in the top of the ninth, and with only three outs left, the Babes were unable to score the needed runs as the South Portland Puffins rushed the mound in celebration.