FARMINGTON — With the playoffs well out of reach and a frustrating season winding down, Mt. Blue coach Stephen Lancaster gave several of his junior varsity players an opportunity to square off against Leavitt’s varsity team (8-5) in a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference baseball game Friday afternoon.
The young Cougars took their lumps, demonstrated some tenacity and had fun before falling to the Hornets, 8-0.
“I had a great time with them,” Lancaster said. “I got to move them around a lot of different places, a lot of guys on the mound, too. It is kind of a showcase for me in terms of looking at the future and next year’s season.
“Coaches don’t want to have to do this, but we are 0-13 after today so it is really a building scenario for us. I got a lot of young guys on the mound today. I got a lot young guys who I wanted to get a taste of the varsity level and that is what we were able to do today.
“Give these young guys a taste of what they need to do and the goals to set in the offseason and give them a time on varsity because thats what they always wanted. That way they can get some perspective and motivate them for the future.”
The Cougars mustered only one hit against winning pitcher Allen Peabody, who went the distance and struck out six batters and walked three. Catcher and relief pitcher Hunter Bolduc was responsible for Mt. Blue’s lone hit.
But the Hornets didn’t take a winless Mt. Blue lightly, either.
“It gives us a little confidence,” Leavitt coach Larry Angello said. “I mean, they are a Class A school, and even though they are 0-13, they are still a Class A school.
“I told my boys not to take anything for granted. You’ve got to play them every pitch and every at-bat — and they did.”
The Hornets had back-to-back three-run innings in the early going.
Mt. Blue starting pitcher Aiden DeCarolis got into a quick jam after walking four batters, which set the stage for outfielder Bryce Hudson’s two-run single. With the bases loaded, he came home on an Oren Shaw walk, giving the Hornets a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The Hornets extended the lead in the second inning.
Peabody got on with a single and Brian Hewitt doubled and Hudson walked to the load the bases. Peabody got home on error and Hewitt scored on passed ball. Catcher Eli Lind’s RBI single brought home Hudson and Leavitt was on top 6-0.
The Hornets added two more runs in the sixth.
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