Falcon boys climb past the Andies

RUMFORD -- Attention to detail can make a difference and the Mountain Valley baseball team made the right moves by using every available player which ultimately proved to be the difference.

The Falcon offense came alive with three runs in the third inning, highlighted by Kyle Gauvin’s RBI double to score Brandon Jacques with the eventual game-winning run in the season opener, a 6-4 triumph over Livermore Falls at Hosmer Field.

The contest began under a drizzling rain, however the Falcons made the most of their opportunities. The pitching staff was a revolving door as four toed the rubber. Izaak Mills retired the side in order on three pitches in the seventh inning to earn the save.

”I am really proud of these guys," said Mountain Valley coach Steve LaPointe. “They hung in there and every one of them contributed in one way or another, whether it was pinch running and so on. Everyone accepted their roles and it made a difference.”

Adam Volkernick started and pitched the first three innings. Ryan Nicols threw one, Jacques hurled two and Mills sealed the deal.

“We threw a couple sophomores,” said LaPointe. “That was Brandon Jacques' first-ever varsity game he has pitched. Adam and Ryan were varsity last year, but they don’t have that much experience pitching.”

The score was tied 2-2, when Mills (three hits) singled sharply leading off the third, Cam Kaubris drew a walk and Jacques reached on an error to load the bases. Nicols popped out, but Colin Merrill’s grounder plated Mills and on the play Kaubris scored following a Livermore Falls miscue. Gauvin delivered a line drive just inside the line in right field to score Jacques for a 5-2 lead.

Nicols pitched a scoreless fourth, but the Andies scored two unearned runs in the fifth. The Andies' Alex Rose singled and advanced on an error and Hunter Brett walked. Both runners eventually scored.

Mills hit a three-run homer and earned the pitching win against Madison.

LF had scored on a Brandon House RBI-single in the first, but the youthful Falcons responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Volkernick walked and Zach Radcliffe (two hits) singled. Mills smashed an RBI-single and Radcliffe scored when Brett committed a balk. MV scored an insurance run in the sixth inning.