WISCASSET — One key hit for the Wiscasset High School baseball team against Telstar was a long, arching drive that cleared the center-field fence for a home run. Two other hits traveled a combined distance of around 50 feet.

However, Jason Weatherbee’s solo home run, Cory Hodgdon’s excuse-me swing, and an RBI infield single by Devin Grover each proved to be pivotal in a 2-1 Mountain Valley Conference victory on Wednesday in the team’s home opener after two road losses to begin the season.

Down 1-0 in the fourth inning, Weatherbee drove a hanging curveball from Rebels (0-1) pitcher Kyle Peterson inches over the fence to tie the game.

Peterson had Hodgdon fooled to begin the fifth, but the Wiscasset second baseman managed to drop the spinning baseball to the left of the mound and in between Telstar third baseman Devin Vail and shortstop Dan Whitney for a single.

A sacrifice bunt by Jacob Cavaso and a groundball by pinch-hitter Chandler Longfellow moved Hodgdon to third base before a wellplaced infield single by Devin Grover plated the winning run.

“That’s why it’s baseball because you can hit it three feet and it’s important,” said Wiscasset coach Todd Souza, whose team is 1-2 and slated to visit Mt. Abram on Friday (4:30 p.m.). “Situational stuff, moving the ball and the runners around, turned out to be big today. Cavaso had a great bunt. These guys like playing for each other and giving it up for each other. That is what makes it fun.”

“My offense is not my game, and I wasn’t sure that I wanted to go on that, but it worked out well in the end,” said Hodgdon of his infield hit.

Pitchers duel

Weatherbee and Peterson both pitched solidly throughout. The Telstar righty allowed just four hits, two to his mound counterpart. Peterson struck out five and permitted just one walk, throwing 74 pitches in his complete-game effort. Meanwhile, Weatherbee retired the final 11 batters. Telstar finished with just two hits — a single by Kurt Morgan and an RBI single by Whitney that plated Drew Wilson, who had walked and stole second. A nice running catch by Wiscasset right fielder Zach Ellison ended the third inning and kept Telstar from doubling its lead.

“Jason was outstanding, and today we played routine in the field,” said Souza after watching his ace strike out six and walk three on 106 pitches. “Jason has really grown over his four years here. He’s a power pitcher and is not going to spot things on a dime. He might miss by a foot one pitch, then the next three are right down the gut.”

“Just throwing strikes and taking a little off the fastball made it work for me,” said Weatherbee. “Today was a must-have after losing two games to start things off this year. It’s a good win.”

Weatherbee started off shaky, walking lead-off hitter Nick Mills on four pitches. Mill stole second and moved to third on a ground out. Whitney hit a comebacker to the mound, and Mills was retired in a rundown, with shortstop Eddie Stewart making the tag.

Weatherbee threw 45 pitches over the third and fourth innings, but closed the game by tossing just 32 over the final three innings. His home run, to the deepest part of the field, and into a stiff wind, tied the game in the fourth.

“He hung a curve, and I took advantage of it, then I was able to watch a pretty good sequence of baseball to take the lead the next inning,” said Weatherbee, who finished 2-for-3 at the plate. “We are confident that we can play with anyone. Now, we just have to show it.”

Wiscasset 2, Telstar 1
At Wiscasset High School

Telstar — 001 000 0 — 0-2-1
Wiscasset — 000 110 X — 2-4-1

Kyle Peterson and Kurt Morgan; Jason Weatherbee and Devin Grover.

Repeat hitters — (W) Jason Weatherbee.

Home run — (W) Jason Weatherbee.

Records — Wiscasset 1-2, Telstar 0-1.

Next for the Wolverines — Friday at Mt. Abram, 4:30 p.m.

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