BATH

There are days when a hitter just sees a pitcher, no matter how well the hurler is throwing.

Such was the case on Thursday for Morse’s Riley Lamarre. Facing Maranacook right-hander Chris Florek, Lamarre was locked in, going 3-for-3 and giving his Shipbuilders the lead in the seventh inning for a 6-3 Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference high school baseball win on Kelley Field.

Lamarre’s heroics broke a 1- 1 tie, with his two-run double to center field getting past the dive of Black Bears center fielder Silas Mohlar and scoring Jackson Walker and Chase Smith for a 3-1 Morse lead. Lamarre later scored on a Maranacook error as the Shipbuilders put up five runs in their final swings to improve to 6-1.

Morse bounced back from Wednesday’s 13-2 setback to Gardiner, a game Morse coach Garrett Olson said his team struggled in the field. On Thursday, the Shipbuilders committed just two defensive miscues.

“This was polar opposite of the way we played yesterday, with solid defense,” said Olson. “They came in today and forgot about yesterday.”

“After last game, it was a big loss and I wanted to come out, see the ball, hit the ball and see what happens,” said Lamarre. “I saw yesterday’s loss as a reality check. It was good for us to get that loss early, and it kicked us into a different gear today.”

Lamarre made sure Morse didn’t suffer two losses in a row. After Maranacook pitcher Chris Florek retired the first seven Shipbuilders, Lamarre poked a single to right field. After a sacrifice bunt by Isaiah Cogswell, Parker Onorato slapped a single to right-center field for a 1-0 Morse lead.

The Black Bears battled back to tie it against Morse starter Jackson Walker in the fourth. Florek doubled for the second time and just beat a throw to the plate on an RBI single by Nick Bowie.

Walker was solid, going four innings. He struck out six, walked one and permitted just three hits.

“Jackson has been one of our starters, and we have four games in four days and was able to keep his pitch-count down,” said Olson of Walker, who threw 67 pitches over his four frames. “We will need to have him back on the mound Monday (home against Waterville).

Away sweet home

Morse served as the visiting team on its home field, with Maranacook unable to host due to a track meet.

Tied 1-1 in the fifth, the Shipbuilders had the first crack to break the 1-1 tie. Chase Smith singled and Lamarre followed with a perfectly executed hit-and-run. An error allowed both runners to move into scoring position with one out.

But, Florek picked up a strikeout and a fly ball to shallow center field to escape.

The Black Bears also threatened in the fifth against reliever Tom Warren. A pair of errors, a single by Aric Belanger and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. But, Florek hit into an inning-ending double play to keep the game deadlocked.

Maranacook again had a chance to take the lead in the sixth. Nick Bowie walked against Warren, and Duncan Rogers followed suit while facing reliever Tucker Banger. However, a ground ball ended the frame, setting up a wild seventh inning.

Walker singled and Smith was hit by a pitch, with both runners moving up 90 feet on stolen bases. Lamarre ripped a 1-0 pitch to center field that scooted underneath the dive of Mohlar for 3-1 lead.

“When I saw that it was right up the middle, right where (Mohlar) was, I was like, ‘Oh no,’” said Lamarre. “It dropped, so it got two runs across. That was big.”

“Riley, when it is a meaningless at-bat with no pressure, he doesn’t do that well. But, when it is a big situation with guys on base, he comes up with a lot of big hits for us,” said Olson of Lamarre. “He had a big hit for us against Belfast (4-3 nine-inning win) that came out of nowhere that won us the game. Today, he had a couple clutch hits, a hit-and-run and the one in the seventh. He is a lively character.”

The inning kept going as Maranacook made two errors, with Lamarre, Cogswell and Onorato each scoring for a 6-1 lead.

Florek went the distance for Maranacook (2-5) on four strikeouts and seven hits.

Smith relieved for Morse in the seventh and was hit hard, as the Black Bears bashed four hits (Jared Beckwith, Belanger, McQuillan and Dan Garard), but a double play and a slow roller to first base gave Morse the 6-3 victory.

Belanger and Florek were each 2-for-4 for Maranacook. The four Morse pitchers combined to allow eight hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.

The Shipbuilders play again today, visiting Spruce Mountain at 4 p.m.

Morse 6, Maranacook 3

At Kelley Field in Bath

Jackson Walker, Tom Warren (5), Tucker Banger (6), Chase Smith (7) and Isaiah Cogswell; Chris Florek and Max McQuillan. WP — Banger; LP — Florek. Doubles — (Mo) Riley Lamarre; (Maran) Chris Florek (2), Jared Beckwith Repeat hitters — (Mo) Riley Lamarre (3); (Maran) Chris Florek, Aric Belanger. Records — Morse 6-1; Maranacook 2-5. Up next for the Shipbuilders — Today at Spruce Mountain, 4 p.m.