SCARBOROUGH – With the Telegram League contenders playing each other over the next few days, the top positions in the Heal point standings could change daily.
That’s why sixth-ranked Deering has little time to savor its 4-3 victory Thursday against third-ranked Scarborough.
Additional Photos
The Rams will be right back today with another big game at second-ranked Cheverus.
Right-hander Jamie Ross pitched a two-hitter and Deering (11-2) scored in the top of the seventh to beat the Red Storm.
Because of scheduling, most of Deering’s wins have been against middle- to lower-ranked teams. That changed with the victory against Scarborough (10-3), which dealt Westbrook its first loss Tuesday.
After beating fourth-ranked South Portland in their opener, the Rams didn’t play another top team until Saturday, losing 6-0 to top-ranked Westbrook at Hadlock Field.
Against Scarborough, with Ross getting stronger as the game progressed, the Rams were in control until the sixth, when Ross and catcher John Miranda briefly lost their focus.
A passed ball and then a wild pitch allowed the Red Storm to make it 3-3. Ross then struck out the last two batters of the inning.
Devon Fitzgerald’s single to right in the top of the seventh scored pinch-runner Anthony Balzano to break the tie.
With one out, John Hannigan singled to left, then went to second on a passed ball. Balzano came in to run for him and moved to third when John Hardy dumped a single into right. Fitzgerald did the same to score Balzano.
In the bottom of the seventh, Nick Bagley singled to lead off, but Miranda redeemed himself by catching Bagley too far off first base as the Red Storm looked to bunt.
Miranda chased him down and Bagley was tagged out in a rundown.
Ross then ended the game with two strikeouts.
“This was by far the biggest win of the season,” said Ross, who finished with 10 strikeouts. “I got into a bit of a groove.”
“This win clinches a playoff spot for us,” said Deering Coach Mark Sutton.
“Beating Scarborough will be worth a lot of Heal points. The fact that Scarborough beat Westbrook will help us.”
The game matched coaches who were former teammates and infielders at the University of Maine.
Sutton was a second baseman while Mike Coutts of Scarborough played third. Sutton was Coutts’ assistant at Deering for two seasons. When Coutts left for Scarborough, Sutton took his job at Deering.
“I thought the two keys to the game were Hannigan’s base hit leading off the seventh and the double play we turned with Mason Morgan’s scoop of a low throw at first base to end the fifth with a runner on third,” Sutton said.
Scarborough scored in the bottom of the first on a Deering throwing error.
The Rams tied it in the second, scoring on a groundout. They took a 3-1 lead in the next inning. Fitzgerald’s infield hit drove in one run and the other run scored from third on a short-to-second-to-first double play.
“On Tuesday, we were sky high after beating Westbrook and today we’re feeling the opposite,” said Coutts.
“For two of the better teams in the state, neither of us played very well. Jamie Ross mixed his pitches well and got his breaking ball over.”
Bagley, a sophomore, had both of the Red Storm’s hits.
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
Twitter: TomChardPPH
Copy the Story Link
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.