New Hampshire state champion Concord Post 21 can pitch four aces in its quest to win the American Legion Northeast Regional baseball tournament.

Play begins today in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, featuring state champions from the six New England states and New York, along with the host squad from Saco.

Concord faces Barnstable Post 206, the Massachusetts champ in the second game of this morning’s doubleheader.

Concord has a deep bullpen. Ten of the 17 players pitch at least part-time. The staff features the top pitcher from four area high schools, including state champions Concord (Division I) and Hopkinton (Division III).

“Pitching has carried us all year,” said Concord coach Bryan Caruso.

The staff posted a 3.05 ERA, averaging 1.16 baserunners an inning while helping the team post a 22-5 mark.

“With good pitching, you’re never out of a game,” Caruso said.

Playing six games in five days to win the New Hampshire state tournament last week, Concord wore out the opposition by rolling out one good pitcher after another, including Concord High’s Eddie Dionne (4-0, 2.56 ERA in Legion ball), Merrimack Valley of Penacook’s David Drouin (5-2. 0.85 ERA), Pembroke Academy’s Autrey Gates (6-1, 2.26 ERA) and Hopkinton’s Sam Bonifant (3-2, 4.73 ERA).

Soon-to-be senior Drouin, being scouted by the Cincinnati Reds and other major-league teams, struck out 56 in 52 innings. Overall, the club struck out 166 in 218 innings.

With Concord’s pitchers keeping games close, the team overcame deficits in every game, going 5-1 despite hitting just .205. It’s a well-seasoned unit. Eleven players played in June high school championship games. Many returned from last summer’s Legion team, which advanced to the state tourney for the first time since 1994.

And the team batting average didn’t tell the total tale. Concord hitters took a lot of pitches, went deep in a lot of counts and had opposing starters either tired or out of the game by the sixth inning. Caruso noted how Concord hitters feasted in clutch situations late in games.

First baseman Dillon Emerson, who contributed the walk-off hit in the ninth inning of the high school baseball championship, sparked several late-inning Legion comebacks by hitting .400 and driving in nine runs. The recent Concord High graduate has hit .402 for the season, with 10 doubles and 24 RBIs.

“Our motto all season is that the game starts in the seventh, eighth and nine innings,” said Caruso. “We get quality innings out of our pitchers, and our hitters grind out at bats to force other teams to use their bullpen early.”

Concord, which hit .350 at a team during New Hampshire’s wooden-bat regular season, is excited about returning to aluminum bats in the Northeast Regional.

“There will be a lot more balls put in play. Our pitchers won’t strike out as many. As long as they continue locating their pitches, they will rack up outs,” said Caruso. “Our hitters are looking forward to swinging lighter bats with bigger sweet spots.

Along with Emerson, catcher Braden Smith (.358, 26 RBIs), third baseman Kenny Hart (.337, 30 RBIs and 10 stolen bases), center fielder Pat Cannon (.312, 20 RBIs, 12 stolen bases) and second baseman Sam McManus (.309, 21 RBI’s) took turns providing offensive leadership.

Like Concord, Barnstable boasts a strong pitching staff. Four hurlers have yet to lose a game for the 22-2 squad. Top ace and likely starter Keegan Dellacona (7-0, 0.79) used a 90 mph fastball to strike out 70 in 53 innings. The 6-foot 3-inch righty, who recently opted to play at the Community College of Rhode Island next spring, threw first-pitch strikes 70 percent of the time.

Barnstable used team speed to claim its first state title in the program’s 82-year history. Five players have stolen at least 10 bases this summer.

eemmerling@unionleader.com