Kevin Capponi scores the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
RUMFORD – There’s no denying the importance of utilizing the fundamentals and the Mountain Valley High School baseball team continued to execute at the right time in a game Wednesday afternoon at Hosmer Field.
Korey Stairs hit a slow roller down the first base line to drive home pinch-runner Kevin Capponi with the game-wining run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Falcons rallied for a 3-2 win over Jay in an MVC contest.
Tim Turner pitched 4 2/3 of effective relief to earn the win for the second time in one week. Turner had rescued starter Richie Ross, who had walked five and thrown 72 pitches in two-plus innings.
The Falcons are also continuing to receive production from their entire lineup.
“I had told the team that we really needed a quality win,” Mountain Valley coach Steve LaPointe said. “Our ranking of ninth puts us on (the bubble) in terms of getting us in the playoffs. Jay is a good team and the points that we earned today will help us out. We end our regular season with four tough games and Jay represented the first step.”
Mountain Valley (8-3) controls its own destiny with its three final regular season games against Class C playoff teams.
Mountain Valley got things going quickly as No. 9 batter Aaron McPhee doubled to the gap leading off the seventh inning. Capponi came in to run and was advanced to third base on a bunt single by Jason McPherson (3-for-4). The Tigers played the percentages and intentionally walked diminutive Ian Venskus to load the bases. The move almost paid off as Mike Gionet flied out, but Stairs followed with a batted ball. Jay first baseman A.J. Nelson fielded the ball cleanly, but a slight hesitation in throwing the ball allowed Capponi to race home.
“It wouldn’t be fair to say the game hinged on that play,” LaPointe said. “Both teams had plenty of chances to score in the game. The pitching was good on both sides and Turner really spotted the ball well. This was a real well-played high school game.”
Class C Jay (8-5) ranked fourth in Heal Points, had tied the game up in the top of the seventh when Jake Turner (two runs) scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Zack Charles. The Tigers had thought the game had been tied previously on a single by Josh Armandi single, but he was called out for interfering and injuring Falcon first baseman Marcus Palmer.
Jay also received a fine pitching performance by Turner, who allowed nine hits, struck out and walked one batter. The Tigers, defending state champions, played flawless defense, but left the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings.
“It was a tight game,” Jay coach Chris Bessey said. “It usually is when two good teams get together.
“We left nine runners on base and haven’t been hitting the ball well for the past two weeks. We certainly didn’t get any timely hits today.”
Mountain Valley had taken a 3-2 lead in the sixth as pinch hitter Shawn Marr scored on a Gionet RBI double and Venskus (two hits) scored on a Stairs suicide squeeze. McPherson scored on a Stairs ground out in the third.
“We’ve had some excellent bunts this season,” LaPointe said. “The squeeze play has worked several times. Aaron McPhee’s hit was big, as was McPherson’s bunt in the seventh.”
“We’re playing good fundamental baseball and going 90 feet at a time.”
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