The surroundings were familiar for baseball coach Bob Neron as he hit groundballs prior to his team’s American Legion Zone III contest on Tuesday at Kelley Field.

For 13 years, Neron did the same thing every summer as a coach for Smith- Tobey Post 21, but this time around was different.

Neron is the head coach of the first year team from Topsham, Highland Green, and though some things were the same on this night, many were different, including coaching from the visitor’s dugout.

“I can’t remember the last time I was in this dugout,” said Neron prior to his team’s 7-4 loss to Smith-Tobey, dropping Highland Green to 1-5, with a visit to New Auburn’s Roger’s Post 31 slated for Thursday. “What really makes it hard is that I know every single one of those kids for Smith-Tobey, and it makes it difficult. It will be strange for a couple years, but I think it will be best for both programs and towns in the long run.”

“Bob is a good friend of mine, and has coached me a couple times,” said Smith- Tobey (2-2) first baseman Chris Paulus. “With their players, we have a bound. Many of us hang out together, and we always joke around with them. We have a little bit of a rivalry going with them.”

Errors hurt

Despite Highland Green pitcher Brady Murray not allowing a hit through the first two frames, his team trailed 3-0 thanks to three costly errors. Trenton Moore began things for Smith-Tobey by reaching on a miscue, and a walk by Aaron Barrett put the first two runners on.

Murray made a nice play to get Liam McDonough at first on a bunt, but Paulus rapped a groundball to plate Moore for a 1-0 lead, and Barrett scored on a wild pitch.

Ethan Winglass reached on Highland Green’s second error to open the second frame. He stole second, then third, with the throw to third bounding into left field to give Smith-Tobey a 3-0 edge.

Barrett faced the minimum six Highland Green hitters through two innings, but he ran into trouble in the third. Jordan Daigle, who was 2-for-2 before leaving with an apparent shoulder injury, singled, and one out later Jake Liedman walked. Ryan Lathrop bounced a single to center field to score Daigle, and Torrey Charnock tied the game with a tworun single to left.

Smith-Tobey regained the lead in the home half of the third, thanks to three more errors, and singles by Barrett and Paulus accounted for two runs and a 5-3 lead before a lightning delay put a temporary halt to the contest.

During the delay, players from both teams mingled, talking about old times and summer plans, just like before after year’s of combined baseball efforts.

Once play resumed, Murray found his curveball, pitching out of trouble in the third, and his teammates cut the deficit to one in the fourth as Trent Charnock scored on bad-hop single by Sam Coombs to make for a 5-4 game.

As the skies darkened again, Smith- Tobey picked up some insurance when Wade Hunt launched a two-run triple to right-center field for a 7-4 lead.

Moments after the fifth inning ended, the umpires ended the official game, a good decision as heavy rain pelted the players and fans within minutes as they scampered to their cars.

Neron took his time while leaving the field, reflecting on the successes of the past.

“We had a good thing here, and I have no regrets, considering the fantastic way that Smith-Tobey Post takes care of this team,” said Neron. “They care about baseball, these kids, and the parents and fans who come out here to watch.”

Now, Neron looks to get his new team going.

“This makes us 1-5, and with only six teams making it to the playoffs, we are trying hard to get it going and be one of those teams,” added the coach.

Barrett took the mound win, throwing 95 pitches with six strikeouts, five walks and six hits. Murray struck out seven, walked four and permitted just four hits in the loss, with only two Smith-Tobey runs earned.

Smith-Tobey 7, Highland Green 4

At Kelley Field, Bath
Highland — 003 10 — 4-6-6
Smith-Tobey — 212 02 — 7-4-1
Brady Murray and Torrey Charnock; Aaron Barrett and
Wade Hunt.
Triple — Wade Hunt.
Repeat hitter — Jordan Daigle.
Records — Smith-Tobey 2-2, Highland Green 1-5.
Next — Smith-Tobey visits Andy Valley of Turner on Thursday, while Highland Green visits Rogers Post of New
Auburn on Thursday. Both games begin at 5:30 p.m.