PORTLAND – Down 5-4, the Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh on consecutive hits by Calvin Field, Shawn Francoeur and Nate Boyle to secure a 6-5 victory over the Scots Tuesday afternoon.

Windham improves to 9-1 on the season, while Bonny Eagle drops to 3-6.

“They’re a confident group,” said Eagles coach Brody Artes. “They know what their abilities are. We knew they could score a run we knew it the whole time, we just had to get it done. We had to put some hits together. These last couple innings, we’d get a guy on, but we couldn’t get him in. But we got one to fall in the seventh, and we got that guy in.”

The lead changed hands more than once. In the top of the fifth, with Windham ahead 4-3, Eagles pitcher Francoeur grazed Bonny Eagle’s Devin Butler with a throw. Butler took first, and though Briar Morin grounded out, Butler advanced to second. Tom Hazelton then knocked a shot down the right field line, bringing Butler home to tie the game 4-4.

Travis Rogers next ripped a line drive at Windham shortstop Tanner Laberge, who couldn’t quite handle the shot; he bobbled it, then overthrew to teammate Joe Francouer at first, allowing Hazelton to reach third and Rogers to reach first. Andy Martel blasted a shot past Laberge and into the outfield behind him, scoring Hazelton and giving Bonny Eagle the 5-4 advantage.

“We were putting the ball in play, playing good defense,” Bonny Eagle coach Dan Stefanilo said of the Scots’ fierce competition. “We kind of stalled them a little bit in the middle innings by playing good defense … and a little timely hitting, we had some timely hitting today, for sure.”

When Shawn Francoeur brushed another Bonny Eagle batter, Artes swapped him out for Spencer Hodge, who guided the Eagles out the fifth without suffering further damage.

“Shawn battled for us,” Artes said. “He’s been doing that all year. He didn’t have his ‘A’ game, but it didn’t matter; he went out, pitched as hard as he could, his pitch count got up a little bit he’s thrown a lot of innings this year. We went to Spencer; Spencer hasn’t thrown a lot of innings this year, but he came in, threw a gem, and kept us where we needed to be.”

The sixth unfolded without any runs, as did the top of the seventh. Three outs away from a major upset, the Scots needed to close the game quickly and flawlessly. It looked like they might do just that when Eagle Joe Francoeur popped out to deep center. But then Calvin Field stepped to the plate. Field lined to right, arriving safely at first and igniting his team. Shawn Francoeur followed Field into the box; during Francoeur’s at-bat, Field stole second. When Francoeur then cannoned the ball deep, Field charged home to tie the game at 5.

With Francoeur on first, teammate Nate Boyle launched the ball nearly to the centerfield wall. It landed on the grass between two Scots, giving Francoeur plenty of time to race the three bases between him and home. Windham went up 6-5, and ended the game.

“We know that Windham’s a great team,” Stefanilo said. “It’s a tough loss. Tom [Hazelton, pitcher] did everything he could today, threw very very well; guys made plays for the most part we played a great game.

“They made a couple more plays than us at the end, but we weren’t nervous about it, we were playing hard, we were ready to go. Just one more play than us at the end.”

Windham may be hot right now, but Artes guards against overconfidence.

“SMAA has a lot of quality teams,” he said. “They have good pitchers, good numbers, and there are a lot of close games. There are blowouts here and there, but on any given day, any team in this conference can beat another team.”

Stefanilo praised a number of his players: “Besides our pitcher, Andy Martel had a couple big hits today, and a couple RBIs; Briar Morin had a couple hits; Devin Butler did a good job behind the plate, calling the game for Tom; Travis Rogers is hobbling around, he’s hurt, our first baseman, he’s playing through it. We’re all right.”

Shawn Francoeur gets the win, and Hazelton absorbs the loss.

Windham’s next game is at Deering, where the Eagles will defend their nine-game win-steak on Thursday, May 16. Bonny Eagle, meanwhile, will travel to Gorham on Thursday in search of their next victory.

Windham’s Calvin Field (center, shouting) is greeted by his team after crossing home to score the tying run in the bottom of the seventh against Bonny Eagle Tuesday. Staff photos by Adam Birt
Bonny Eagle shortstop TJ Reagan catches a Windham runner out as part of a double play.
Bonny Eagle’s Devin Butler resets between pitches Tuesday afternoon.
Scot Tom Hazelton takes a long lead off third against Windham.
The Scots dugout relaxes momentarily between innings.
Windham reliever Spencer Hodge looks for the sign.
Windham’s Jake Mello, pinch-running in the fifth, inches off first, manned by Bonny Eagle’s Travis Rogers.
Scot Briar Morin slides into second on a failed steal attempt.