TOPSHAM

It has been a long time coming.

On Monday in Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference play, the Mt. Ararat High School baseball team put to rest a seven-game losing streak to “Battle of the Bridge” rival Brunswick, 10-0, in a game called after five innings due to the mercy rule.

“Last year, (Alex) Larson beat us twice, so we just were looking to get a ‘W’ and get something rolling,” said Mt. Ararat coach Bob Neron, whose 1-1 Eagles will host Cony today at 4 p.m.

The Eagles produced two big innings. A five-run second frame featured two bad-hop singles, three Brunswick errors and RBI singles by Kyle Brennan and Nick Merrill.

Mt. Ararat, leading 6-0 in the fifth, scored four more runs to put the game away, with Hunter Lohr (2-for-4, RBI, run scored) delivering a run-scoring single and Merrill ending it with a sacrifice fly ball to left field, scoring Lohr.

“No disrespect to Ararat at all, they deserved to win and we didn’t. But, we just talked to our guys and the difference between 10-0 and 2-0 is a couple bad innings,” said Brunswick coach Luke Potter, whose 0-2 Dragons are scheduled to host Oxford Hills on Wednesday at 4 p.m. “We’re a pitch away, a cleanly fielded ball away. We are a young team, but our heads are on right. The game ate us up a lot today.”

Kyle Brennan, hitting ninth in the Mt. Ararat lineup, had himself a day. His RBI single to center field scored the game’s first run, and his sacrifice fly ball gave his team a 6-0 lead through three. In the fifth, again with the bases loaded, Brennan picked up his third RBI on a fielder’s choice.

“I struggled at the plate last year, so it was good to come to the plate and hit the ball well up the middle and get those guys in,” said Brennan, who was 1-for-2 with two runs scored. “I think this game was pretty important to coach. It is a good win for us. We were looser playing at home. Plus, the warmer weather allowed us to break things in.”

“There is a kid that really struggled with the bat last year, and I am happy to see him get off to a good start like that,” said Neron of Brennan. “When we get up to the top of the order, we have runners on and good things are going to happen.”

Solid pitching

Mt. Ararat pitcher Ryan Glass struggled some with his control in the opening two innings. He walked two Brunswick hitters and threw 37 pitches. But, a double play in the opening inning and a soft ground ball to second in the second inning with two Dragons on base kept the game scoreless.

Glass allowed just two hits — an infield single to Kyle Hanson and a fifth-inning single by Aaron Gary. Glass struck out three and walked three.

“Ryan works fast, which keeps his fielders on the balls of their feet, and they are ready to play behind him,” said Neron of Glass, who threw 68 pitches in his complete-game effort.

The Eagles scored their five second-inning runs off of Brunswick starter Cam Daly (1 2/3 innings, five hits, one walk, one strikeout). Three errors in the frame hurt, leading to four unearned Mt. Ararat runs.

Nate Leslie, who reached base in all three of his at-bats (single, two walks), led off the fifth with a free pass. An error allowed Sam Alexander to reach, followed by a bunt single from Elliot Bowie to load the bases. Brennan’s fielder’s choice made it 7-0, and a double steal scored Alexander. Three batters later, Merrill, who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, ended it.

Despite just two hits, Potter was pleased with his team’s approach at the plate.

“I liked our approach at the plate, didn’t strike out much, and we had a clean day there and will get better. But, defensively we hurt ourselves,” Potter said. “We have to keep playing baseball and these kids need to keep finding themselves in those situations. Right now, we are not prepared. We have to get past that.”

Isaac Boll, Zach Grant and Noah Goddard pitched in relief for Brunswick, combining for three innings on two hits and five walks.

Mt. Ararat 10,
Brunswick 0

At Bruce Kingdon Field in Topsham
Brunswick — 000 00 — 0-2-4
Mt. Ararat — 051 04 — 10-7-2
Cam Daly, Isaac Boll (2), Zach Grant
(4), Noah Goddard (5) and Scout
Masse; Ryan Glass and Cam Cox.
WP — Ryan Glass; LP — Cam Daly.
Repeat hitters — (MtA) Nick Merrill,
Hunter Lohr.
Records — Mt. Ararat 1-1;
Brunswick 0-2.
Up next for the Dragons — Wednesday at home vs. Oxford Hills, 4 p.m.
Up next for the Eagles — Today at
home vs. Cony, 4 p.m.