SANFORD — Most of the parts were something good, but the sum of those parts was something special.

Proving the notion that a lot of little things do add up, the Sanford Mainers received clutch plays at critical stages and wound up squeaking past the Manchester Silkworms, 4-3, before 444 at Goodall Park.

It was the first win of the season for the Mainers after two losses. Sanford also provided rookie skipper Aaron Izaryk with his first managerial win.

“It’s huge,” said Mainers third baseman Doug Elliot, who provided one of those small, but crucial contributions with his at bat in the bottom of the fourth. “We were joking around about getting the first win. But it was kind of eating on us. We all (knew) that we were the first Sanford Mainer team to go 0-2. It’s something we wanted to go and check off. Get our season moving forward.”

That the Mainers didn’t go 0-3 is a testament to their pluckiness.

Witness the five-out save gutted out by Sanford closer Tyler Mizenko.

Mizenko walked two hitters in the ninth inning, losing both on full counts, with the runners representing the tying and go-ahead runs, with two out.

Needing one more out to button down the win, Mizenko battled Silkworms’ designated hitter Ryan Wilkins to yet another full count, before freezing Wilkins with a game-ending slider.

“He was getting squeezed a little bit,” said Izaryk. “But he dealt with it. He dealt with the adversity. As a closer, whether he wins or loses, he’d better have a short memory.”

The Mainers fought back from a pair of early one run deficits, eventually knotting the score 2-2 on Mark Micowski’s third inning solo homer.

With one out, Micowski worked his way to a full count before turning on a fastball from Manchester starter Andrew Janiga, lining it into the trees beyond the right field fence.

It was the first round tripper hit by a Mainers player this season.

Next inning, Sanford grabbed the leads with a pair of runs, to make it 4-2.

Justin Holt legged out a lead off double, then scampered home when Elliot, showing a great deal of concentration, slapped a two-strike opposite field single to right.

“I’ve been working on hitting that curveball with two strikes,” said Elliot. “In a wooden bat league, you can’t strike out. You’ve got to put the ball in play. I cut down my swing, (shot) it the other way. Good things happened.

“He left the ball up and I was able to put the barrel on it.”

Elliot eventually made his way to third. Then was forced home on Bob Stumpo’s bases loaded walk.

Manchester crept to within a run in the eighth, and nearly tied the game, when with two away, Steve Kletke took off from second on a ground single through the infield.

However, Mainers left fielder Adam Matthews charged the ball and came up throwing.

Matthews’ throw to catcher Bob Stumpo beat Kletke by 10 feet, preserving the slim lead for Mizenko to hold.

“The things we did well today,” said Izaryk, “are things we hadn’t done well the past two games. We didn’t give free outs. And we made good adjustments with two strikes. Our guys had a plan for each at bat. Guys are starting to settle in.”

CHIN MUSIC: Additional players continue to filter into Sanford to bolster the Mainers’ roster. The latest additions are right handed pitchers Matt Murray and Colin Snow. Both were freshmen this year at Georgia Southern. It may be a while before SS Corey Hunt and LHP Scott Silverstein, both with the University of Virginia, make it into town. The Cavaliers qualified for the College Baseball World Series in Omaha, Neb”¦Sanford starter Andrew Guarassi earned the win, having scattered just three hits and two walks for two earned runs over five innings.

Tonight, the Mainers are slated to travel to visit the NECBL’s newest team, the New Bedford Bay Sox. They are schedule to return to Goodall, Wednesday to host the North Shore Navigators. Righthander Chad O’Connor will get the start for Sanford.

— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535 ext. 315 or dhickling@journaltribune.com.