CUMBERLAND — Unbeaten Greely found itself trailing for the first time this season, but the Rangers quickly recovered to down Freeport, 4-2, in a Western Maine Conference Class B baseball game here Monday.

The Rangers (6-0), down 1-0 in the first inning, took advantage of two Freeport throwing errors to score three unearned runs in the third.

Greely starter Jonah Normandeau and reliever Mike Leeman were in control after that. They combined for 12 strikeouts.

Sawyer Williams of Freeport had the Rangers off balance at the plate with his assortment of off speed pitches.

“I think we were ready to play, but their pitcher threw us off with his off speed stuff,” said Greely catcher Pete Stauber.

“He was a different type pitcher than we’ve faced. It was good to face a little adversity and get the win,” he said.

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Freeport (5-2) suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday dropping a 5-0 contest to Gray-New Gloucester.

The Falcons came out strong in this one, looking to knock off the Class B favorites.

Leadoff hitter Jared Knighton was hit by a Normandeau pitch. Normandeau then balked him to second. An infield hit by Connor Dietrich put runners at the corners. Josh Weirich then bounced one through the middle for a single, scoring Knighton.

“It was the first time we trailed all year,” said Greely Coach Derek Soule.

“Granted it’s only been six games. It was a different feeling. We’ve been on a roll for the first five games,” he said.

In the second inning, Freeport executed a 6-4-3 double play to erase Greely’s leadoff hitter, BaileyTrain, who had singled.

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In the top half of the inning, Normandeau was back in form as he struck out the side.

In the bottom of the third, the Rangers, the defending regional champion, got singles from Luke Saffian and Sam Porter after one out. The next batter, Leeman bunted in front of the plate. Freeport threw the ball away at first allowing Saffian to score with Porter going to third and Leeman to second.

The Falcons cut it to 3-2 with a run in the fourth. Weirich scored from third on a passed ball.

The Rangers got that run back in the sixth.

Leeman relieved Normandeau at the start of the sixth and struck out the side.

Soule wanted to give Leeman some work because he missed his regular Friday start because of a rainout with Falmouth.

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Williams scattered seven hits

“He did a great job,” said Freeport Coach Hank Ogilby of Williams

“Sawyer has sneaky speed. He throws a couple of different sliders that break late. I think Greely was a little bit surprised by the late breaking pitches. They’re a tremendous hitting club,” he said.

Soule said the game was a little frustrating because his team has been on such a roll.

“At the same time, it’s good for us to experience a game like this. “In the course of a season, you’re going to have games where you have to grind it out like we did today,” he said.

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

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 


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