OAKLAND — The Messalonskee High School baseball team scored a run in the bottom of the first inning. Pitcher Josh Casey figured he’d get more run support, but when it wasn’t there, Casey made the one run work.

“I was hoping we’d put the ball in play a little bit more, but I knew if I did my job and the defense did their job, we’d be all right,” Casey, a senior lefty, said.

Messalonskee third baseman Dylan Brown fields a grounder as Cony runner Sean Cummings heads to third base during a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A game Monday afternoon. Staff photo by David Leaming

Casey retired the final 14 Cony hitters of the game, outlasting the Rams’ Justin Rodrigue for a 1-0 win in a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A game Monday.

Tyler Lewis, the Eagles’ leadoff hitter, scored the only run of the game. After starting the bottom of the first inning with a ground rule double to right field, Lewis took third base on Dylan Brown’s popout foul down the first base line. Lewis scored on a wild pitch, and Casey had the only run he’d need.

Messalonskee improved to 8-6, while Cony fell to 5-9.

Both Casey and Messalonskee coach Ray Bernier thought the lefty’s best pitch was a two-seam fastball that ran in on the hands of right handed hitters. Bernier said the pitch reminded him of struggles his team had a few weeks ago against Bangor lefty Trevor Delaite, who threw a similar tough fastball.

“That two seam fastball that comes in on you and forces you to freeze your hand. It hits that corner and it’s tough as a hitter. I thought (Casey had) excellent command of that pitch today,” Bernier said.

Casey gave up three hits while striking out two. The only walk Casey gave up was intentional, to Riley Boivin in the third inning. Lucas Tyler led off for the Rams with a single, and Kolbe Merfeld reached on a bunt single. After Zach Charest’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third base, Bernier took a chance and intentionally walked Boivin with one out to load the bases.

“I was actually nervous, to be honest with you. My scouting report had Justin Rodrigue, the batter that was coming up, has been hitting the ball pretty good. Our defense has historically played pretty well in those times, with a couple double plays,” Bernier said. “Josh, I thought he was going to get a ground ball there, but they hit the ball right at our guy. It bounced in our favor. That’s baseball.”

Rodrigue hit a sharp line drive right at Messalonskee right fielder Sam Bell for the second out and Connor Perry’s fly ball to center ended the inning.

“You’ve just got to keep your cool and that’s what I try to do. Throw strikes, and I trust my defense,” Casey said.

Merfeld’s bunt single was Cony’s final hit of the game, and Boivin was the Rams’ final base runner.

“Nine pop up outs. We’re not swinging at good pitches and just not having great at-bats. It’s that simple. Tip your cap to (Casey). He threw a lot of strikes, but at the same time, he’s definitely a guy I thought we could get more than three hits off,” Cony coach Don Plourde said.

Messalonskee’s best chance to add to its lead came in the bottom of the fifth, when Rodrigue hit Jared Cunningham to load the bases with two outs. Rodrigue got a fly ball from Lewis to end the inning. Rodrigue gave up four hits and one walk while striking out five, four looking. Rodrigue relied heavily on his breaking pitches.

“That was his slider. He’s been throwing that the last three or four games. (Rodrigue) threw great, we obviously didn’t do enough to support him. He threw a gem as well,” Plourde said.

Colby Dexter had two hits for Messalonskee, including a double.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM

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