POLAND — Starting pitchers Alex Biron and Cody Cousins had similar starts to their outings for Poland (2-8) and Wells (6-2), respectively, Monday as they both put the first two batters on. It was how the pitchers dealt with that early adversity that was different, and Cousins and the Warriors did better, winning 4-1 in a WMC baseball game at Poland Regional High School.

Biron gave up a lead-off double to Wells’ Dan Quint, who then stole third against the left-hander and scored when the throw from catcher Jake Wiseman was off-target. Charlie Bell then drew a walk and scored two batters later on a double by Michael Wrigley.

Cousins stepped to the mound with some margin for error ”“ something Biron didn’t have. But Cousins also allowed the first two batters to reach, on a lead-off single by Biron and a double over the head of left fielder Tim Barnard off the bat of Wiseman.

Cousins only allowed Biron to score, but got an out in the process, as he finished off the bottom of the first with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts to Quint at shortstop.

 “It’s so much better defensively when you’re out there playing when you got a lead because you can throw your pitches, play relaxed a little bit, and not worry about giving up one run,” said Wells head coach Todd Day. “It’s nice getting those two runs early and staking (Cousins) to a lead, and he can go out there and pitch with confidence.”

“The pressure’s taken off of you, and it feels nice when you can do what you want,” said Cousins.

Cousins was efficiently dominant the rest of the game, as he scattered three hits across the final six innings while retiring 21 of the final 24 batters he faced. He struck out four and didn’t issue a walk.

“He was just throwing it so they could hit it, hit it to our players so they could make plays,” said Wrigley, Wells’ freshman catcher.

Like Cousins, Biron also pitched a complete game, but he ran into more trouble in the top of the third. And again, it was Quint who started the rally. The Wells senior led off with a single, then stole both second and third.

“He really distracts people on the bases, which is great,” Day said of Quint, who he called a “tremendous” leadoff hitter. “If he gets on, you know he’s probably going to score.”

After Bell walked again, Cousins grounded out to bring home Quint. An infield single by Wrigley then drove in Bell.

Barnard joined Quint and Wrigley in collecting hits, and Nick Cousins also recorded a hit against Biron, who struck out eight batters.

It wasn’t enough, however, to out-duel Cousins, who has become the Warriors’ ace this season.

“I think I got in a groove during the second and third innings,” said Cousins. “I just felt great ”¦ and had confidence in myself that I could do it.”

Day said that Cousins has picked up his pace on the mound, which has kept the fielders behind him on their toes and at the top of their games. It’s also helped Cousins get into the kind of grooves that he was in from almost the get-go Monday.

“He always looks calm and relaxed when he’s pitching. That’s one thing he’s really good at it,” said Wrigley.

Like Cousins, the Warriors as a team have also gotten into a groove, as they sit at 6-2 halfway through the season. Wells has just two seniors, but the core of the team was around for last year’s postseason berth and a successful Junior Legion season last summer.

“You try not to look at the schedule in the beginning of the season and project things out because things change rapidly. But at the halfway point, I’d say we’re very pleased with six wins,” said Day. “I’m not really surprised, based on the work we did this summer and the group that came back.”

— Sports Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.