Mainers head coach Cejay Suarez meets with the team during the sixth inning of Sanford’s baseball game Monday night. Sanford came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Upper Valley. (SAM BONSEY/Journal Tribune)

SANFORD — Even though Sanford is out of contention for the NECBL playoffs, All-Star second baseman Drew DeMartino said the Mainers are still going to fight until the last out of the season.

Games like Monday night at Goodall Park show that the Mainers are capable of the task.

Sterling Hayes broke a 3-3 tie with an RBI double to center to start a three-run inning, and the Mainers erased a three-run deficit to beat the Nighthawks 6-3 in Sanford.

“(Head coach Cejay Suarez) told us to keep hanging in there, keep battling, keep playing hard,” DeMartino said. “Scouts are going to notice that, and we also want to represent ourselves well.”

DeMartino finished with three hits and two runs scored, and he brought Hayes home with a double to center later in the inning to push Sanford ahead 5-3. Then, with Nick Howie at the plate, Sanford (16-25) converted a double-steal, which allowed DeMartino to cross the plate and put the Mainers ahead 6-3.

“I’m just trying to hunt my pitches,” DeMartino said. “I’m not trying to swing at pitches out of the zone, but I definitely feel comfortable at the plate right now … But it was definitely a good team win tonight.”

Upper Valley threatened in the ninth with a walk from David Marcano and a single from Gregory Hardison to bring up Jack Zyska, who represented the tying run. But Nolan Wilson got Syska to strike out looking on a fastball on the outside corner.

Erik Stock runs out a ground ball during the sixth inning of Sanford’s baseball game against Upper Valley. (SAM BONSEY/Journal Tribune)

Upper Valley (23-17)  took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second off Sanford starter Gage Feeney on a two-run double off the right field from Jack Costello. Costello struck again in the fourth with an RBI single, scoring Brian Moore, to extend the Nighthawks lead. 

But Sanford chipped away in the bottom of the inning.

With Connor Tate and Orlando Adams on base, Erick Stock delivered a single to right field to bring in Tate and get Adams to third. Then, with Reece Armitage at the plate, Adams scored on a passed ball to make it 3-2. 

Sanford tied the game in the fifth off reliever Jordy Allord when Shane Marshall hit a broken bat single to left to score DeMartino, who reached on a double. 

Nick Laster pitched four scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and allowing just one hit, to pick up his second win of the season. Feeney allowed three runs over four innings to get the no decision.

DeMartino said he’ll hope to carry Suarez’s message of not giving up into the school year, as well as next summer with Sanford. 

“Every game matters,” said DeMartino. “(Suarez) is trying to preach that to us, going into next year as well. Every thing matters and we need to bring it every day. Don’t slack just because we’re not going to make the playoffs, and don’t take any games off.”

UP NEXT: Sanford hosts the Valley Blue Sox (20-18) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night at Goodall Park.