WESTBROOK – Windham’s Zach Conley drove in teammate Jake Mello Tuesday afternoon to break a 2-2 stalemate and jumpstart a five-run seventh inning on the way to a 7-2 win at Westbrook.

The victory moves the Eagles to 11-2, following a loss last week to Scarborough, and drops the Blue Blazes to 10-3.

“Every game it’s the same thing: We really don’t hit the ball until we have to,” Windham head coach Brody Artes said. “It’s kind of a stressful situation.”

The Eagles’ preparation for Westbrook was largely psychological.

“We had a half practice yesterday because we couldn’t get on our field – it was wet,” Artes said. “But it was just a matter of really wanting to bounce back after Scarborough. We didn’t want to go two games in a row with a loss. Westbrook’s a rival of ours, and we always want to get up for this game, and be ready to play, because we know that they’re going to bring it.”

“Bringing it” is precisely what Westbrook head coach Greg Souza felt his boys failed to do, however.

“They didn’t come out ready to play,” he said. “That’s a big game. That’s a big, big game. We’re tied for third; [there are] a lot of points on that game.”

The Eagles jumped out to an early lead when Calvin Field knocked a first-inning triple, only to shortly arrive home again on a Tanner Laberge single. Jack Herzig also crossed the plate, on a base hit by Spencer Hodge, giving Windham a 2-0 advantage.

“Calvin’s been great all year,” Artes said of his leadoff hitter. “He’s probably been our most consistent hitter all year. He definitely led us off with that triple and kind of set the tone for us. Unfortunately, we didn’t score again until the seventh, but he’s definitely been a spark for us all year … He’s able to run the bases, he can hit the ball, he’s very smart on the bases.”

Westbrook struggled to put up offense in the face of a nimble Windham defense. The Eagles’ flashy-yet-consistent fielders, who provided spectacular jumping and diving catches to steal key hits from Westbrook, proved another happy talking point for Artes.

“We’ve been having pretty good defense all year long … Our outfield is pretty good no matter who we put out there,” he said. “We’ve got four or five different guys who’ve been playing out there, and they’ve all been contributing. That was a big play by [rightfielder Ethan] Petty, early on – that might’ve been a triple, if he didn’t get it. That could’ve really changed the momentum.”

It took the Blue Blazes six innings to make up the two-run deficit, though they did manage to, on a Zach Bean grounder into left field in the fourth to bring home Kyle Heath, and a Heath double to deep center-left in the sixth to send Kaleb Kent across the plate.

They wouldn’t hold steady for long, however. In Windham’s last at-bats, Shawn Francoeur opened the action with a single, a grounder into right. Mello stepped in to pinch run, and took second when Nate Boyle sacrifice bunted. Joey Francoeur landed on first after getting hit by a pitch, and then it was Zach Conley’s turn in the box. Conley drove a single to right, sending Joey Francoeur all the way to third and scoring Mello to give the Eagles the edge they needed.

The next four runs were all icing. Calvin Field walked to first, pushing Conley to second and loading the bases.

“Our pitcher [Ethan Nash] just ran out of gas a little bit,” Souza said. “He’s not a hard thrower as it is; got to hit his spots, and he let some pitches up, and …[Windham’s] a good club. ”

Souza replaced Nash with freshman Keigan Sears, who had trouble navigating the sticky situation. Windham’s next batter, Tanner Laberge grounded into left, scoring two more, and a pair of errant pitches during Herzig’s at-bat allowed Field to steal all the way home. Herzig’s grounder into center cleared the last remaining runner off the bases, and set the score at 7-2, the final.

Nate Boyle gets the win for Windham, having thrown eight Ks. Ethan Nash absorbs the loss for Westbrook.

Artes expressed continued confidence in starter Boyle.

“He pitched another good game,” Artes said. “They got to him a little bit; [Kyle] Heath had that triple against him, and [Zach] Bean followed up with the base hit to score him, but other than that – he’s been pretty good this year. He’s been keeping hitters off-balance, for the most part. Early in the game he was a little up. I thought he did a good job making adjustments and getting the ball down, especially his curveball. I think that was the difference today.”

“A lot of credit to [catcher] Jack Herzig…as well,” Artes said. “He does a good job calling the game, does a good job spotting fastballs, spotting curveballs. He’s really been huge for us all year, no matter who’s on the mound.”

Artes also took time to applaud the strides his other players have made this season.

“Zach Conley, at third,” Artes said. “Tanner Laberge has made leaps and bounds at the plate. Spencer [Hodge] has been pretty consistent for us [both at shortstop and as a reliever]. He’s a utility guy; he can come in at any point in the game, in any situation, and he’s such a great athlete that we’re very confident that he can come in and make a big play pitching, or at short, or at second.”

Souza is less pleased with his squad’s performance.

“[We’re] not happy,” Souza said of his coaching staff. “Tomorrow…I don’t know what we’re going to do tomorrow. We’ve got to figure something out. But [the team’s] not going to like it.”

Windham’s next challenge is the 9-4 Gorham Rams, who they’ll host on Thursday, May 23. Westbrook will travel to South Portland, where they’ll face off against the 5-8 Red Riots, also on Thursday.

Westbrook’s Collin Joyce swings through.
Westbrook’s Kyle Schumacher returns to the dugout.
Eagle Spencer Hodge can’t quite make it to the bag in time to beat the throw to first baseman Zach Bean.
Westbrook first baseman Zach Bean.
Eagles catcher Jack Herzig and pitcher Nate Boyle confer at the mound.
Eagles first baseman Joey Francouer awaits the action.
Windham’s Zach Conley moves the ball.