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BY SCOTT MARTIN 07/23/2008

Sports Editor

A pair of Babe Ruth teams with plenty of state tournament experience will be back in action this week.

The Central Maine Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars, with a number of the same players that won the 13-year-old state tournament last summer, will open tournament play at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Central Maine plays the winner of today's Midcoast North vs. Scarborough game at Westbrook High School.

Meanwhile, the Augusta 13-15-year-old all-stars, made up most of the same players who reached the championship portion of the 14-year-old state tournament last summer, open tournament play at 5:15 p.m. today at Morton Field in Augusta against Tri-County West.

In other Babe Ruth action, the 13-year-old state tournament starts today at Memorial Field in Skowhegan. Play begins when Midcoast South plays Portland at 2:30 p.m. Host Somerset then plays Tri-County West at 5:30 p.m. Augusta, the District 5 champs, will play the winner of the first game at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Not only is Augusta hosting the 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth state tournament this week, it is hosting a pair of Little League state tournaments as well. The 9-10-year-old and 10-11-year-old state tournaments start Friday at Rivelli and Linscott fields on the Piggery Road.

Skowhegan is also a busy place for baseball this week. Along with the Babe Ruth tournament, Skowhegan hosted the early rounds of the Cal Ripken 11-under state tournament. The championship game portion of the tournament will take place today at Harold Alfond Fenway Park in Oakland.

Last summer, Central Maine reached the championship portion of the 13-year-old tournament before losing to Scarborough 5-3 to force the if necessary game. Central Maine cruised in the final, winning 10-3 to earn a berth in the New England Regional.

That state title was the fifth won by the Messalonskee players on Central Maine's roster. That group of players also won the Cal Ripken state title as 9-, 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds.

"We've been to five regionals," Central Maine manager Tom Dexter said. "It's been a really fun experience, and we've been able to go down there and win some games."

This summer, Central Maine beat Augusta's 14-year-old all-star team twice, 4-3 and 9-1, to win the District 5 championship and advance to the state tournament.

There are a few new faces on Central Maine's roster this spring. Waterville is no longer apart of Central Maine Babe Ruth, so those players needed to be replaced. This year's team includes six players from Fairfield, including four who played on the Central Maine 14-year-old all-star team last spring.

The birthdate used to determine the age group players play in changed last summer, allowing those players to play as 14s both years.

As 14-year-olds last summer, Augusta entered the championship portion of the state tournament unbeaten before losing a pair of games to Westbrook 13-0 and 2-1. Westbrook also won the state championship as 13-year-olds and includes many of the same players that reached the Little League World Series in 2005.

Early in the tournament last summer, Augusta beat Westbrook 7-2.

"Personally, we all do," Augusta manager Gary Lapierre said when asked he thought Westbrook was the favorite, "because they are the team that knocked us out. Until someone knocks them off, they have to be the favorites."

This summer, Augusta cruised to the 13-15-year-old District 5 title twice beating Apple Valley, 18-5 and 16-6.

Augusta will start ace Ryan Leach in its opener. Spencer Allen is slated to pitch Augusta's second game. Allen struggled with a tired arm during the District tournament, but after some rest is ready to go.

"We've got him throwing his knuckleball again and that is really his out pitch," Lapierre said. "It was a great out pitch for him last year and he wasn't throwing it earlier."

Scott Martin -- 621-5618

smartin@centralmaine.com

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