BAR HARBOR — When Jared Brooks finished the game with a strikeout, the Scarborough 12-year-old Little League team knew exactly what to do.

Jump up in celebration on the infield. Pose for a picture behind the championship banner. Take a victory lap.

This group of Scarborough boys have had plenty of practice. They won their third straight state championship Wednesday afternoon, beating Dirigo 12-1 in the championship game.

The game was shortened to five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. And when Scarborough won the 10-year-old and 11-year-old titles, it was also by the mercy rule in the championship game.

“We wanted it super bad,” said Brooks, who struck out 10.

The 12-year-old title is the crown jewell of Little League baseball. Scarborough will move on to the New England regional next week in Bristol, Conn. The winner there advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

As 11-year-olds, Scarborough did not compete in a regional. As 10-year-olds, Scarborough reached the regional semifinal, losing to Rhode Island.

“We want to see that Rhode Island team again,” said manager Neal Pratt, whose team is 27-3 over the past three years.

But Pratt was not looking past Wednesday, especially when the game was scoreless through two innings. Scarborough stranded four runners, including bases loaded in the first.

But in the third, Connor Kelly led off with a walk. Singles by Brooks and Zoltan Panyi loaded the bases again. Alex Dobecki walked in a run. Another run scored when Ogden Timpson reached on an error.

Owen Garrard made it 4-0 with a two-run double.

In the fourth, Morgan Pratt led off with a double. After an error and a single loaded the bases, Scarborough got RBI singles from Panyi and Dobecki, and a two-run double by Timpson, for an 8-0 lead.

Dirigo, which got only three hits, scored in the fourth on a single, walk and two passed balls.

In the top of the fifth, Nick Anderson reached on a bunt single. Kelly doubled, and Brooks doubled in two runs. Panyi followed with a two-run homer to center, for a 12-1 lead. Glade Fredenburg also singled in the inning, one of 16 Scarborough hits.

Dirigo’s Tyler Dostie reached on an error in the bottom of the fifth, but then Brooks struck out three straight.

The celebration followed. The team, which includes Andrew Goodwin, Justin Tanguay and Zach DeQuattro, rushed to the infield, enjoying another title.

“If you’ve won before, you sort of have a target on your back, which sort of makes you the underdog,” said shortstop Morgan Pratt. “So you have to power through every team, working together to prevail.

“And we work very well together. I think we just mesh.”

Kevin Thomas — 791-6411

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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