PORTLAND – Leadoff batter Mitchell Powers of Cheverus ripped the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning to left field.
It was the start of an onslaught that soon spelled the end to Sanford on a cold, wet Tuesday at Cheverus High.
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Cheverus improved to 2-0 with a 10-0 win over the Spartans in an SMAA baseball game that was stopped after the top of the fifth because of the 10-run rule.
Cheverus scored three runs in the first, three in the second and four in the third. The Stags had 11 hits. Left-hander Nate Smith allowed two hits, striking out three.
Powers, Drew Ferrick and Chris Tinsman all had two RBI. Tinsman’s line double to right-center in the first scored Powers and Ferrick, who singled over the third baseman’s head one batter after Powers.
Sanford (0-2) helped the Stags with two errors in the first and then another in the second.
Ryan Casale and Ferrick had RBI singles in the second. Powers drove in two runs in the third with a sharp single to right-center.
“Mitchell got us off to a good start in the first,” said Cheverus Coach Mac McKew. “The offense was aggressive for us. Nate Smith did the job for us. He threw strikes. When he’s on, he’s going to put the ball in play for us and it’s up for the defense to make the plays.
“The big unknown for us is the pitching beyond (Powers). (Smith) is a key for us. We’ll be throwing guys out there all season. We’re a young team, still trying to figure ourselves out.”
Powers is the ace of the pitching staff. He had a strong summer pitching in American Legion.
Of his opening hit, Powers said: “You have to jump on a fastball down the middle.
“This is a good win. We were aggressive at the plate and on the bases. Nate Smith was really sharp. He throws strikes.”
Tinsman is starting where he left off last season in extra-base hits. He got his second double of the season in the first. He had a double in the opening game last week against Bonny Eagle.
Tinsman, the catcher, had seven doubles last year.
“Chris doesn’t get cheated at the plate,” said McKew. “He’s a better hitter this season because he’s learned to go with the pitch to right-center. Chris does a great job handling our pitchers.”
Sanford’s two hits were by Ethan Gouin, who singled sharply to left field in the first and Abbott MacKay, who also singled to left in the second.
Sanford Coach Mark Boissoneault said his team needs to start faster.
“You can’t give a team like Cheverus extra outs,” he said. “We’ve played two of the better teams in the league in Portland and Cheverus. We’re a young team but we need to start building some momentum.”
Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
Twitter: TomChardPPH
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