TOPSHAM

Kaileb Hawkes was throwing strikes and Nick Merrill was getting hits.

This combination helped to lead the Mt. Ararat High School baseball team to a 7-2 Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference win over Morse on Monday.

The Eagles gave first-year coach Brett Chase his first victory and evened Mt. Ararat’s mark at 1-1, while Garrett Olson saw his Shipbuilders commit six errors while falling to 0-2.

Hawkes put in a solid start two days after the Eagles fell to Skowhegan, 5-3. He went six innings, allowing just five hits, one unearned run and two walks with five strikeouts.

“We asked Kaileb to come out and throw strikes and that is what he did,” said Chase, whose Eagles visit Oxford Hills on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. “Kaileb goes out and battles all game. That is all that we ask of him.”

On the other side, Morse pitcher Jackson Walker didn’t receive much help behind him. Of the seven runs he allowed, only two were earned as he allowed six hits and one walk while striking out three over 4 1/3 innings.

“Jackson pitched perfect, getting ground balls that weren’t hit hard at all,” said Olson, whose Shipbuilders play their home opener on Wednesday against Medomak Valley at 4 p.m.

Morse also struggled to score early. After being shut out by Lake Region on Friday (4-0), the Shipbuilders stranded four runners on base in the first two innings, while Mt. Ararat tallied two unearned runs in the first and another run in the second for a 3-0 lead.

Merrill started the first-inning spree with a two-out single. The first Morse error kept the inning alive and Austin Damon dropped a single into right field for a 1- 0 Eagles lead.

With runners at the corners, Mt. Ararat completed the first of two double steals, with Hawkes scoring the second run of the opening frame.

“We lost two first-and-third plays that gave them two runs. That is something that we can’t do,” said Olson.

“We talked to the kids about coming out and playing loose. We were able to get into the game and just play,” said Chase.

Morse scored its first run of the season in the third as Tom Warren singled to bring home Asa Hodgdon.

“We missed those opportunities early and we’re still down just 3-1,” said Olson.

Big frame

Things fell apart for Morse in the fifth. Merrill led off the frame with a double to the right-center field gap. After a one-out error, Nate Leslie dropped a double just inside the right-field line to plate two more runs for a 5-1 Eagles lead.

“We were frustrated with Saturday’s loss, but we were excited to get back out on our own field, in front of our fans, and get after it,” said Merrill, who was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. “This year our lineup is strong throughout, and we have innings where the 8- 9 guys are setting it up for the top of the lineup. It is just about everyone doing their job. Nate’s hit from the number-six hole was big.”

Leslie and Dakota Lopez also scored in the inning for a 7-1 Mt. Ararat advantage.

“We’re missing two key players, and when they are not in the lineup it hurts,” said Olson saw his team commit three miscues in the fifth.

Hawkes’ last pitch was a ground ball that resulted in an inning-ending double play in the sixth. He threw 84 pitches. Cam Grant tossed the final frame, allowing an unearned run with one strikeout.

“Kaileb threw really well and he battled through things,” said Merrill of Hawkes.

Caleb Tibbits came on in relief of Walker and threw 1 2/3 scoreless frames with one punch-out.

Garrett Moody singled for Mt. Ararat, while Parker Onorato (RBI), Josh Doughty and Isaak Flaming each singled for Morse.