Traip’s Charlie Driscoll slides head first into second with a stolen base before the ball gets to Saint Dominic’s Hunter Hughes during Friday afternoon’s game in Auburn. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)
AUBURN — Traip pounced early and often en route to a 11-2 victory over St. Dom’s in a Western Maine Conference baseball contest Friday.
Charlie Driscoll was the offensive catalyst for the Rangers, reaching base five times with four hits.
“We just got up early and stayed on the gas and made them think about it a lot,” Traip assistant coach Josh Sharp said. “We stayed aggressive. That kind of our game, small ball and we can hit the ball a little bit better this yea..”
Driscoll’s big at-bat came in the top of the second when he sent the ball down down the right-field line for a triple that brought home three runs in a four-run inning.
“It was decent contact,” Driscoll said. “It was a blooper that just fell. A little bit of luck always helps.”
The Saints (4-3) started to chip away at the deficit in the bottom of the inning when Zack Pelletier, who walked and stole second, moved to third on a Riley Volpe single. He came in when Rangers’ catcher David Jutras threw the ball into left field as he tried to pick Pelletier off at third.
The Rangers’ lead was then cut in half in the bottom of the third when Saints starting pitcher Mack Pelletier reached on an error and stole second. With two outs, he came around to score when Derek Wolverton reached on an error.
Traip (7-2) put the game out of the reach, though, in the top of the fourth. Mack Pelletier started the inning strong as he threw two strikes to put the No. 9 batter Teddy Driscoll down 0-2 to start the inning. Driscoll battled back and earned himself a walk. He reached third base by stealing second and third.
“Lead-off walks will hurt you all the time,” St. Dom’s coach Bob Blackman said.
Charlie Driscoll brought home Teddy with a single to right field. Shane MacNeill also scored in the inning on a Hunter Sawtelle single.
Mack Pelletier lasted into the sixth inning for the Saints.
Charlie Driscoll scored once again in the sixth after getting on an infield single. He touched home plate as Hunter Sawtelle grounded into a fielder’s choice. A Jacob Farnham single scored MacNeil.
Traip scored three more times in their last at bat in the seventh inning. It was highlighted by a Charlie Driscoll double that scored Ryan Perkins.
“They put some balls in the right spot,” St. Dom’s Blackman said. “We didn’t put a big rally together. We couldn’t string one or two hits together. That was the difference. We will give them credit, they outplayed us today.”
Traip starter Tyler Apodaca threw five strong innings, striking out tw0 and allowing two hits while walking three.
nfournier@sunjournal.com
Saint Dominic Academy’s Hunter Hughes crosses the plate before Traip Academy catcher David Jutras can field the ball during Friday’s game in Auburn. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)
Traip’s Charlie Driscoll slides back to first before Saint Dominic first baseman Riley Volpe can tag him out during Friday afternoon’s game in Auburn. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)
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