Spencer Hodge led the Sebago Lakers to a 7-4 victory at Yankee Ford on Saturday morning, going 3-5 at cleanup. Hodge also crossed the plate, but just once; his teammates rounded the team’s other six runs as the Lakers improved to 7-7 on the season.

The squad, which consists of players from the Bonny Eagle, Windham and Sacopee Valley high school teams, trotted onto the Cheverus diamond looking hot.

“We had a big first inning, second inning,” said head coach Max Salevsky Sr., underscoring the quality of his boys’ early play.

Devin Butler walked onto base for the Lakers in the first, and eventually reached home again to put the team on top 1-0. In the third, he reached base once more, this time on a double. He would eventually score, as would teammates Max Salevsky Jr., Drake Laughlin, and Mat Bridges, giving the Lakers a 5-0 advantage.

The team also added one in the fourth – Hodge, after singling – to go up 6-0, but as it would eventually turn out, they were, by now, just icing the proverbial cake.

Yankee Ford sparked in the fifth, notching their first of the game, and caught fire in the sixth, hashing three more. But when the Lakers found themselves tested most, when it looked like they might lose their composure, they stood strong.

Starting pitcher Troy Bogdahn threw just two K on the day, but both came on swings, and both came at critical junctures. The first disrupted Yankee Ford’s momentum in the sixth, and the second palpably quelled them in the seventh.

Bogdahn pitched through the seventh inning. “Troy pitched seven real good innings,” said Salevsky.

Yankee Ford cranked up their own offense on Bogdahn’s watch, it’s true, but, as Salevsky Sr. pointed out, hitters learn.

“The hard thing is, doesn’t matter how good you pitch, when you get seen for the third time through the order, pick up on little things. That’s what [Yankee Ford] started to do…They’re a good team.

“Couple that with a couple little bobbles by us, and that’s what generates runs. Especially in these leagues,” Salevsky Sr. said.

The Lakers would add one more before the close of play. Noah Scribner turned a bouncy grounder down the left-field line into a standing double, stole during Butler’s at-bat, then tagged-up and scored when Butler flew out to left.

“I feel real good,” said Salevsky Sr. of his squad’s odds on reaching the postseason and perhaps making a run. “I know that these guys have exactly what it takes to continue the season and go into the playoffs. Every coach says that, but I really believe that with these guys.

“This team, and I’ve been doing this a long time, it has more talent on it, I think, than any other team I’ve ever been with. It’s just a matter of staying up, especially in these nine inning games.

“It’s a different animal totally than a seven-inning game.”

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The Lakers’ Anthony Haskell dives for a throw as a Yankee Ford runner slides into third.The Lakers’ Spencer Hodge reaches second just ahead of the throw.Lakers starter Troy Bogdahn pitched seven strong innings in the team’s 7-4 win on Saturday.Max Salevskey Jr. takes a cut at home for the Lakers.A shot to the outfield just eludes a sliding Zack Conley.