GORHAM – The Windham Eagles extended their winning streak to 10 games Tuesday afternoon, as pitcher Shawn Francouer allowed just one unearned run in six innings of work at Gorham on the way to a 4-1 victory.

“He is a contact pitcher,” said Windham coach Mike Fullerton. “He’s not going to overpower many teams, but he is going to keep the ball down and make them put it in play. Defensively we’ve been playing a lot better and he’s been looking better too.”

Perhaps it wasn’t their most dominating performance of the streak, but you won’t hear Fullerton complain. His team has just been finding ways to win. Tuesday, it was Francouer’s gutty pitching, along with Robbie Hamilton’s RBI double and John Herzig’s RBI single.

For the Rams, sophomore Corey Nadeau pitched six innings, giving up four runs, while sophomore Mat LeClair pitched one inning in relief. Dylan Turner, also a sophomore, had two hits for Gorham, while Elliot Speirs scored the team’s only run.

The Eagles (11-2) only managed four hits themselves, but their heads-up play on the base paths allowed them to manufacture timely runs.

“It’s been happening lately, we’ve been sporadic with the bats,” said Fullerton. “The base running and the defense and the pitching, obviously, seem to be what’s keeping us going. It’s helping us a lot.”

With the Eagles’ bats in a lull, Francouer was forced to carry more of the weight on his shoulders. He took a no-hitter into the fourth and left the game after the sixth after allowing only four hits.

“He is a contact pitcher,” said Fullerton. “He’s not going to overpower many teams but he is going to keep the ball down and make them put it in play. Defensively we’ve been playing a lot better and he’s been looking better too.”

Francouer found himself in jams in the fifth in sixth innings but managed to escape having surrendered only one unearned run.

“He’s a tough kid,” said Fullerton. “Pressure really doesn’t affect him. He’s been used to it a long time and he’s the type of kid who will take it in stride. He’s very focused at all times on what to do. He’s a strategist.”

Nathan Boyle came in to close the game in the seventh and pitched a perfect frame for the save.

After the win at Gorham, the Eagles were looking forward to Thursday’s game against the visiting Scarborough Red Storm, the league’s top-ranked team. (For more on that game, go to keepmecurrent.com.)

“It’s a big game,” said Fullerton. “Both teams are evenly matched, you’re going to see some good pitching and some good defense. A lot of it is going to depend on who comes to hit that day. I know (Scarborough) is a good team, they’re very deep, so we got a good test ahead of us.”

Windham second baseman Johnny Weymouth makes a leaping but unsuccessful attempt to stop a ground ball from getting into right field in the sixth inning. (Photo by Rich Obrey)
Nate Boyle came on in relief to shut the Rams down over the final two innings.

Sophomore Mat LeClair pitched an inning of relief for Gorham, setting down three batters in order in the top of the seventh.