Messalonskee’s 7-6, nine-inning win over Oxford Hills on Wednesday was essentially a playoff preview. The two teams will meet again next week in an Eastern Class A quarterfinal game. This regular-season finale was for home-field advantage in next week’s rematch and the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.

“That was one of the goals I gave the kids before the game. If we won, we wouldn’t have to go all the way to Oxford Hills for the playoffs,” Messalonksee coach Ray Bernier said. “We used it as incentive.”

Bernier expects another close game when his Eagles (11-5) meet the Vikings (10-6) again.

“I think we’re pretty well matched teams,” Bernier said.

Third baseman Travis St. Pierre scored the game-winning run against Oxford Hills, and has been a bright spot in the middle of the lineup all season. Hitting cleanup behind Sam Dexter, St. Pierre has a .375 batting average with 16 runs batted in.

“He’s had a great year on both ends, defense and hitting,” Bernier said of St. Pierre. “It gave me some freedom. Now I’m not so hesitant to bunt somebody ahead of Sam over, in fear they intentionally walk him. It hasn’t really happened because then they have to pitch to Travis.”

* * *

Waterville will host Morse at 4:15 p.m. today in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B championship game. It’s the fourth consecutive year in the conference title game for Waterville, and coach Don Sawyer looks at the game as a good tuneup for the Eastern B tournament.

“It’s a good, quality opponent, that’s for sure,” Sawyer said.

Morse handed Waterville (15-1) its only loss of the regular season, a 13-3 drubbing on May 3.

In first place in Eastern Class B for most of the season, Waterville was passed by Presque Isle (15-1) this week and will enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed.

“Two or one, it doesn’t matter. We’re home until the Eastern B game, if we get that far,” Sawyer said.

* * *

Madison’s 15-4 win over Boothbay on Wednesday ensured the Bulldogs their first playoff appearance since 2009. Now, Madison is eager to see who its opponent will be.

“We talked after every game about what we had to do to make the playoffs,” Madison coach Scott Franzose said. “We have a very young team, but we have a good nucleus.”

The Bulldogs (6-10) are locked into the 10th seed in the Western Class C tournament. The seventh seed, Madison’s opponent in the preliminary round, is up for grabs. Waynflete (10-5) currently holds the spot, but Franzose said the outcome of Thursday’s game between Lisbon and Hall-Dale could change that.

“I’m checking the Heal points like everybody else,” Franzose said. “I think we could play Winthrop or Old Orchard Beach.”

With its upset of Old Orchard Beach on Wednesday, Sacopee Valley jumped over Mt. Abram for the 11th and final spot in the Western C tournament.

* * *

The times, dates and locations for the postseason all-star games are set.

The top seniors from Maine will face the top seniors from New Hampshire at 10 a.m. June 18 at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.

The underclassmen all-star game will be at 1 p.m. June 20 at St. Joseph’s College in Standish. The Maine senior all-star game will be at 6 p.m. June 22 at the University of Maine in Orono. Prior to the game, the John Winkin Award, given annually to the top senior in the state, will be presented.

Rosters for these games, as well as the finalists for the Winkin Award, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

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