The bad news for the Mt. Blue High School baseball team is, in three games, the Cougars haven’t had a starting pitcher get through the third inning yet. The good news is, the Cougars are hitting and have a relief ace, and that’s led them to a 2-1 record despite the early inning struggles on the mound.
“The important thing is, we’re giving ourselves a chance,” Mt. Blue coach Dan Stefanilo said. “We’re putting the ball in play and we’re throwing strikes.”
Cam Abbott has been a workhorse out of the bullpen for the Cougars. The sophomore has 18 strikeouts in 11 innings, all in relief, and earned the win in Mt. Blue’s victories over Mt. Ararat (7-5) and Brewer (9-6).
“He’s getting the job done for us,” Stefanilo said.
Offensively, the Cougars have already batted around the lineup in three innings this season, a feat they pulled off just twice last season, Stefanilo said. Leadoff hitter Nick Hilton is a catalyst, and had three hits against Brewer on Wednesday. Andrew Pratt has hit well in the cleanup spot, as has Jordan Whitney in the five hole.
Stefanilo said the Cougars didn’t dwell on a tough opening day loss to Bangor because they’d been there before. Last season, Mt. Blue lost 9-1 at Lawrence on opening day, and went on to win 11 games.
“We knew there was a lot more baseball than the first game,” Stefanilo said.
Mt. Blue plays Messalonskee today at Thomas College in Waterville.
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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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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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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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