CUMBERLAND – After throwing a five-inning perfect game in the opener last week, what would right-hander Jonah Normandeau of Greely do for an encore?

How about a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts?

Normandeau, a junior, was in command from the start and his teammates provided some early offense as Greely blanked Cape Elizabeth 8-0 in a Western Maine Conference Class B baseball game Monday.

Greely, the league favorite, improved to 4-0 while Cape Elizabeth fell to 2-3.

“The stuff you saw today is what Jonah has brought in his two games and in preseason,” said Greely Coach Derek Soule.

“He’s around the plate and pounds the strike zone. Jonah had good movement on his fastball and command of his curve. It was typical Jonah Normandeau.”

Normandeau gave up a first-inning single to Max Gore and a sixth-inning single to pinch-hitter Zach Culver. He retired the side in order in the fourth inning and struck out the side in the fifth. He had at least one strikeout in every inning, except the fourth when he got three straight grounders. Only two Cape runners reached second.

“I felt good out of the gate,” said Normandeau.

“I was throwing the ball well in warm-ups. I was snapping the curveball off in the game. I felt the curve was my go to pitch.”

The Rangers, the defending Western Maine champion, scored three runs in the bottom of the first. With runners on second and third, Pete Stauber dumped a single into short right to make it 2-0. It scored Mike Leeman, who led off with a single, and Liam Maker, who walked. Stauber stole second and went to third when the catcher’s throw sailed into center. He scored on an outfield error.

“Pete had two strikes on him and was just trying to make contact,” said Soule.

“The ball was off the plate and he did a great job to go across and down to get to the pitch. It plated two runs. It’s always important to get off to a good start.”

Normandeau had some runs to work with, not that he needed many.

Greely added a run in the second, two in the fourth and a run in the fifth and sixth. Even though the Rangers had chances to blow it wide open and couldn’t, Soule cited other things his team did well.

“I liked how we ran the bases,” he said.

“We were a little more aggressive than in previous games. I thought we did some good situational hitting. We had three sacrifice fly balls. We did some of the little things which was nice to see.”

The Rangers took advantage of four Cape errors and three balks.

“Cape has some young, first-year players,” said Soule. “We have a lot of experienced players that can make the difference early in the season.”

Liam Maker, Bailey Train and Sam Porter drove in runs with sacrifice flies.

The Rangers are stocked with pitching. Besides Normandeau, Mike Leeman and Bailey Train are the other starters.

“We have three No. 1s,” said Soule. “We have a Monday starter, a Wednesday starter and a Friday starter.”

While the Rangers have a veteran team, the Capers are rebuilding after losing seven starters.

“We have five players back who saw some playing time last season,” said Cape Coach Chris Hayward. “We’re going to work hard to get better every game.”

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at: tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH