MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Gayton proved throughout the state Legion tournament and the first game of the Northeast Regional that the scrappy Lewiston-based club had the ability to fight back from deficits to win games.

But, a huge hole of its own making — four errors, six unearned runs and 17 strikeouts — was simply too steep to climb out from Friday.

Branford’s final two unearned runs broke a  deadlock in the eighth inning to hand the Connecticut champions a 6-4 victory over Gayton on Day 2 of the American Legion Northeast Regional.

The loss sends Gayton to the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

Alex Wong went the distance for Gayton, scattering eight singles, but was left with a loss after four Gayton errors led to all  six of Branford’s unearned runs.

“We were tight defensively,” said Gayton coach Todd Cifelli, who noted that there were other defensive plays that were not errors that led to some runs.

The game ended on a somewhat controversial play when Scott Ouellete hit a two-out infield single with the bases loaded that appeared to cut the Branford lead in half, but the home plate umpire overruled to base umpire and claimed Ouellette’s hit struck runner Jeff Keene at second base for an automatic out.

After tying the game in the eighth, Gayton also had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth inning, but reliever Oliver Hart struck out the next two hitters to escape the jam.

Branford lefty Pat Simone kept Gayton’s hitters off track, striking out 14 hitters through seven innings, including 12 through the first five.

Gayton finally got to Simone with two runs in the sixth to take a 3-1 lead. After Wong walked, Mekae Hyde doubled off the fence in right center for an RBI. One out later, Greg LaBonte singled home Hyde.

After an infield error in the seventh led to three unearned runs for Branford, Gayton took advantage of a pitching change to tie the game in the eighth when Ouellette dropped an RBI double down the left-field line to score Mekae Hyde.

Hyde led Gayton with three hits, including a double, while Jeff Keene and Scott Ouellette also hit doubles.

Gayton will face Massachusetts champion East Longmeadow in an elimination game Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Junior Legion tournament

Westbrook, Conn. 9, Lewiston 8

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Lewiston tried to rally in a four-run seventh inning, but came up short, allowing Westbrook, Conn., to slip away with a 9-8 victory in a Junior Legion tournament game Friday night.

Lewiston will play either Dover, N.H., or Denvil, N.J., in the consolation game today.

Lewiston held a 4-1 lead before Westbrook erupted with a total of six runs in the four and fifth innings. Both teams had nine hits apiece and each committed just one error.

For Lewiston, Chris Madden led the way with two triples and three RBIs. Teammate Tucker Beaudon had two hits, including a double.

Westbrook’s Mac Finnegan tripled and doubled.

Lewiston’s Chris Madden got the loss after taking over in the sixth inning on the mound. Wes Nuhn grabbed the win on the mound after being relieved in the sixth inning by Nate Silas.