On Thursday, Gardiner played the second of three games in three days. After Wednesday’s game at Morse (a 4-3 loss) went 10 innings, the Tigers were in need of an innings eater on the mound Thursday against Maine Central Institute.
Enter Josh McKelvey. The freshman threw a complete game in Gardiner’s 12-5 win over the Huskies, saving the Tigers’ weary arms.
“He only had one tough inning,” Gardiner coach Chris McLaughlin said.
MCI scored all five of its runs in the fifth inning, the only inning in which it strung any hits together. The hits were mostly soft line drives just over the infield, McLaughlin said.
“They never hit (McKelvey) hard,” McLaughlin said. “I told him to go out and throw strikes and the defense would be out there.”
By throwing the complete game, McKelvey ensured Gardiner now has its top two pitchers, Josh Ouellette and Dennis Meehan, available for today’s game at Oak Hill. Aaron Toman, who pitched six innings Wednesday and is unavailable today, will throw on Monday against Medomak Valley, McLaughlin said.
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Maranacook got a couple strong starts this week from senior pitchers Ryan Vanek and Eben Ballard.
On Tuesday, Vanek struck out seven hitters in six innings, helping the Black Bears take a 5-0 win over Oak Hill. On Wednesday, Ballard threw a shutout in a 3-0 win over Leavitt, striking out seven and walking five.
“They’ve both done a good job of making hitters earn what they get,” Maranacook coach Jared Lemieux said. “They’re not blowing the ball by people, but we’re making the plays in the field.”
Ballard did a nice job getting out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth inning unscathed, preserving the shutout.
“He did a great job. He popped a guy up and struck a guy out. He just bore down and made pitches when he needed to,” Lemieux said.
Maranacook (3-1) plays at Morse today. Junior Zack Elwell will get the start, with Nate Johnson and Kevin Johnson available in relief, Lemieux said.
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With a quarter of the season complete, it’s apparent one thing is keeping Skowhegan from the improvement coach Rick York expects this season. While the Indians are pitching and hitting well, they need to improve defensively.
Errors have been costly. Fifteen of the 22 runs allowed by Skowhegan were unearned, including all six runs in a 6-2 loss at Oxford Hills on opening day. The Indians committed 12 errors in the first four games, while scoring 11 runs.
“Errors have been our worst enemy,” York said. “The kids realize, we take away the errors, we’re going to win some ballgames… When we play error free, we can play with anybody.”
Errors have a way of infecting an entire team like a virus, and York has seen that with his club.
“Once one happens, it’s a steamroll effect. And the ball always is going to find the kid who’s struggling,” York said.
Skowhegan (1-3) hosts Brewer today, and has games with playoff contenders Messalonskee, Bangor and Mt. Blue next week.
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Around the state: Greely, last season’s Class B runner-up, is off to a fast start. The Rangers are 2-0, outscoring opponents Lake Region and Sacopee Valley by a combined 38-0 score. In a 28-0 win over Lake Region, Jonah Normandeau threw a five-inning perfect game. In a 10-0 win over Sacopee Valley, Bailey Train struck out 11 and didn’t allow a hit… The big game in the Kennebec Valley Athetic Conference’s Class A division today is at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor, where undefeated Bangor (4-0) hosts undefeated Hampden (3-0)… Presque Isle is 5-0, and opened the season by sweeping a pair of doubleheaders on the road, on consecutive days, at Hermon and Old Town.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
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