KENNEBUNK — Kennebunk won its fourth straight baseball game Monday with a 7-5 victory over Falmouth to continue its midseason push to qualify for the Western Class A tournament.

Kennebunk (4-3) used strong hitting and pitching to down Falmouth (4-2), which is in Class A for the first time while playing a mainly Class B schedule.

Kennebunk and Falmouth will meet again Saturday.

Trailing 2-1, Kennebunk scored four runs in the fifth. The Rams had three hits in the inning but also benefited from two errors.

Kennebunk starter Eric Aiken went five innings before sidearm reliever Robbie Burns took over.

Burns got the Yachtsmen in order in the sixth before Falmouth made it interesting in the seventh, scoring two runs and sending the go-ahead run to the plate.

But Burns got the final out on a looper just beyond the infield dirt with first baseman Ben Wilson making a nice catch.

Kennebunk entered the game ranked eighth in the Heal point standings while Falmouth was 10th. Twelve teams make the playoffs.

Like Falmouth, Kennebunk plays a Class B schedule except when it meets the Yachtsmen. Kennebunk moved to the Western Maine Conference this season after being a member of the SMAA for several years.

They’re both having good seasons and should make the Class A tournament with the possibility of meeting a third time.

Kennebunk got its offense going midway through the game to wipe out a good Falmouth start.

Nate Gilbert and Aiken had run-scoring singles in the fourth and two Falmouth throwing errors brought in two more.

Kip Richard led off the fifth with a home run to right field, which Reece Armitage had in the webbing of his glove for a second before the ball fell out and over the fence.

The Rams also were getting the bounces.

Kennebunk threw two runners out at the plate to further frustrate the Yachtsmen (4-2).

“This win means a lot,” said Richard. “We’re trying to make the playoffs. This is another step in the right direction.”

Falmouth jumped on Aiken for two runs in the top of the first inning.

After one out, Connor Aube ripped a line single to left. He stole second and was brought home on a home run to left-center by Will D’Agostino.

Kennebunk got a run back in its half of the inning by taking advantage of early wildness by Falmouth starter Addison Foltmer.

Foltmer, a left-hander, hit Burns, the leadoff batter, in the helmet with a pitch and one batter later, did the same to Richard.

In between, Wilson got an infield single, and the bases were loaded.

Nick Emmons then grounded into a double play, but a run scored.

Aube was thrown out at the plate to end the top of the third. Left fielder Caleb Burpee fielded Luke Velas’ single and threw to third baseman Ben Lary, who fired home to Richard, who made the tag.

The Yachtsmen then loaded the bases with no outs in the next inning, but a double play followed by a groundout yielded no runs.

In the top of the seventh, Falmouth had the top of the order up and got the first two runners on when Connor MacDowell singled and Aube walked. Burns struck out Will D’Agostino and Velas before Foltmer doubled home two runs. Noah Nelson walked to keep the rally alive, but that’s as far as Falmouth got.

“We made it interesting in the seventh,” said Falmouth Coach Kevin Winship. “We started off well. We did some things we normally don’t do like throwing the ball around. Kennebunk is a very good team that swings the bats. We gave them too many outs and it came back to haunt us.”

Burns offered a contrast with his delivery and sinker.

“He’s a submarine-style pitcher,” said Winship. “He keeps the ball down by your knees. We’ve never seen that before.”

Said Kennebunk Coach Brian Dill: “(Burns) has some good movement on his pitches. When he’s throwing strikes, he’s tough. (Aiken) really battled. He would throw every day if we let him.

“We got it going a little bit with the bats. There’s still room for improvement.”

Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 

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