Cougars earn big win over Rebels

DIXFIELD -- The Dirigo baseball earned a big win Friday.

Senior Arik Fenstermacher pitched a complete game four hitter and Justin Conant drove in the eventual winning run with a sacrifice fly on a heads up play by Caleb Turner in the third inning as the Cougars remained unbeaten with a triumph against Telstar at sunny Harlow Park.

“At the beginning of the season we knew Telstar would be a good team,” said Fenstermacher. “They have been together for quite a few years and are well coached. So we knew that we couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.”

Turner led off with a double off Kyle Peterson and Ben Holmes singled. Conant hit a foul ball that faded beside the tower. Holmes had broke toward second, but retreated. Telstar right fielder Casey Thornton threw the ball to first base and this provided extra time for Turner, who had tagged up, to rush home.

Telstar had scored a run in the second inning on an RBI single by Drew Wilson. Dirigo tied the score in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by TJ Frost. Cody St. Germain had singled and advanced on a sac bunt by Jake Dowland. Chad Snowman bounced out, but Frost drilled the ball by Nash street.

“We knew the top of Telstar’s top of the lineup was productive,” said Dirigo coach Ryan Palmer. “The opposite is true for the bottom of their order. Arik Fenstermacher settled down and our defense made the plays.”

Telstar (6-2) had a limited amount of opportunities as three innings their leadoff batter reached. In the third, Dan Whitney singled, but Turner snared a sharp ground ball, threw to shortstop Spencer Ross and over to St. Germain, completing the 4-6-3 double play. In the fourth, Holmes caught a ground ball by third base and threw to Turner to force out the lead runner.

“It’s important to get ahead in the count," said Fenstermacher, who was being scouted by Saint Josephs College. “But I was falling behind (in count) early on in the game. I was able to settle down (six strike outs).”

Dirigo scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Turner (two runs) reached on an error and when Fenstermacher hit a grounder and the throw went in the outfield. Turner scored on a Holmes' single and Fenstermacher raced home on St. Germain’s double.