KENNEBUNK — With the No.1 seeding in the upcoming Zone 5 playoffs still up grabs, it’s incumbent for top spot hopeful Kennebunk to post as many wins as possible in the waning days of the regular season.

Thursday, the team was able to chalk up one more win, a hefty 8-1 triumph over Alfredo’s of Wells, in American Legion action at Kennebunk High.

“It was pretty important to get this win,” said Kennebunk starting pitcher Taylor Landry, who allowed just one run over six innings. “Because Biddeford (Advance Tech) is right behind us. We’ve probably got to win all of them, now.”

Although Kennebunk’s playoff spot is assured, a regular season crown would assure it of no worse than a play-in game for the upcoming state tournament in Augusta.

“We’d love to get back there,” said Kennebunk manager Bob Nutter, whose team lost last year’s state championship game in extra innings. “We have the same group, and the kids are a year older.”

Kennebunk led from the second inning on, thanks in large part to a strong, six-inning performance by Landry.

The right hander was able to keep Wells hitters off-balance, using his off-speed selection to set up his out-pitch of choice, his fastball.

“He threw strikes,” said Nutter. “He got ahead of the hitters. And when he did get in trouble, he battled out of it.”

Not that he saw much trouble.

Landry’s toughest spot came in the top of the second, when Alfredo’s had runners at the corners and one out.

He slipped away without damage by striking out both Matt Stutes and Doug McClean to end the threat.

“I was just trying to get guys out,” Landry said.

Kennebunk scored twice in the bottom of the inning, with Landry helping his own cause by singling, then scoring on Evan Drigotas’ two run single off Alfredo’s starter David Nieves.

Single runs in the fourth and fifth innings put Kennebunk up 4-0.

Alfredo’s (7-8) finally touched Landry for a run, after Josh Mayo stroked a lead-off double, then scored on an error.

“We make a conscious effort,” said Alfredo’s manager (and Wells High head coach) Chuck Chadbourne, whose team fell to 7-8, “to use Legion baseball as a development program. That said, we want to go out and try to win every ball game.”

Their hopes of pulling out this win were crushed in the bottom of the sixth, when Kennebunk blew the game open with four more runs.

“It was a well played game,” said Nutter. “It’s a nice win. We didn’t always win these games last year.”

Both teams will wind up the regular season, with Saturday morning (9:30 a.m.) twin-bills.

Alfredo’s will host Massabesic at Wells High, while Kennebunk and Fayette-Staples of Saco will play at Thornton Academy.

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.