WESTBROOK – Matchup or no matchup, it was all the same for Scott Heath, who pitched another gem Thursday for Westbrook High.

The left-handed Heath went about his business as usual, tossing a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Blue Blazes remained unbeaten with a 7-0 victory against Marshwood on a warm and sunny day at Olmsted Field.

Heath was scheduled to pitch against Luke Fernandes in a matchup between two of the best in the Telegram League. But Fernandes, who pitched a no-hitter against Portland in his last start, is out indefinitely with a strained muscle around his rotator cuff.

It was a tough day all around for Marshwood. The team bus got a flat tire on the Maine Turnpike in Scarborough and Westbrook sent one of its buses to pick up the Hawks. The game started 20 minutes late.

And when it did, the Hawks (6-2) were late trying to catch up with Heath’s fastball. Marshwood’s only hit was by pinch-hitter Matt Robida, who dumped a single to right leading off the top of the sixth. Heath then struck out the side.

Despite his dominance, Heath, a senior, said he labored for five innings.

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“I was off in the beginning,” said Heath, who walked his first two batters. “I was high and not hitting my spots. I had to battle. I was better in the sixth and seventh innings.”

Heath and Fernandes both said they wished they could have faced each other on the mound.

“He’s a great pitcher,” said Heath of Fernandes. “It would have been a good showdown.”

Fernandes played shortstop and went 0 for 2 against Heath.

“I faced him when I was a freshman and it was the same thing,” said Fernandes. “He was absolutely dominant. He had excellent control and really spotted his pitches. I was upset I couldn’t help my team. Westbrook is the best team in the state and I wanted to test myself against them on the mound.”

Three key hits provided five of the seven runs for the Blazes (8-0). Heath lined a pitch over the fence in right-center for a home run in the first for a 1-0 lead. In the second, Sam Stauble got his first hit of the season when he doubled off the left-field fence, driving in twins Zach and Jake Gardiner to make it 3-0. Stauble scored on an infield error.

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In the fifth, Stauble drove in a run with a groundout with the bases loaded.

In the sixth, Zach Collett lined a two-run homer over the left- field fence.

Heath improved to 4-0, all shutouts, and didn’t allow a runner to reach second. Heath picked a runner off first and his brother, Kyle, a freshman catcher, threw out two runners trying to steal second.

The Blazes have seven shutouts in eight games and have shut out teams in 51 of the 52 innings they’ve played.

Westbrook will play Kennebunk today, then face Biddeford, South Portland and Deering next week.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

 


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