PORTLAND – Left-hander Jayme Lappin allowed only three hits through six innings, and Ben Greenberg continued his torrid hitting as Scarborough improved to 10-0 with a 9-2 win over Portland in a Southern Maine Activities Association baseball game Thursday at Hadlock Field.

The Red Storm put the game away with a six-run fifth inning, sending 12 men to the plate to go up 9-0. It started with a double by Greenberg and then a triple by Sam Wessel, both to right-center.

Losing pitcher Nate Smart hit three batters in the inning and had five for the game.

Greenberg was 4 for 4 with two doubles. Each of his hits was stung.

“I’ve been keeping my weight back at the plate,” said Greenberg, the only underclassman listed on the roster.

Greenberg’s leadoff double in the fifth looked like it might be a triple, but he hit second base awkwardly and stopped.

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“I had trouble touching the bases today,” said Greenberg, who also did the same rounding first on his second double. “I’m going to have to work on it in practice.”

That’s a nice problem to have.

“We played well and hit the ball against a good pitcher who I don’t think had his best stuff. Jayme pitched a great game,” said Greenberg, who upped his average into the high 400s.

The Red Storm took a 2-0 lead in the second when Trevor Sparda singled, driving in Greenberg, who led off with a single, and Sam Terry who was hit by a pitch.

Scarborough made it 3-0 in the third. Brendan Hall was hit by a pitch and took third on Greenberg’s single. After a walk loaded the bases, Terry singled home Hall.

In the fifth, after Wessel’s triple scored Greenberg, Terry, Aaron Ravin and Hall had RBI singles. Nick Bagley’s fielder’s choice drove in another run.

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Lappin gave up a leadoff double to left-center by Caleb Fraser in the second, then retired the next 11 batters until issuing his first and only walk.

Matt Hartl relieved Lappin at the start of the seventh. Coach Ryan Jones said Lappin had done his job and wanted to rest him as the Red Storm have four games next week.

“I took him out to save his arm a little bit,” said Jones. “Jayme did great. The defense played great and our offense showed up. Our pitchers throw it over the plate and let the defense make the plays. I was very pleased with the way we came to play offensively.”

And Greenberg’s hitting?

“Ben worked hard in the offseason improving his hitting,” said Jones. “He comes up for every bat focused, no matter the situation.”

Portland put up three pinch hitters in the bottom of the seventh and the offense clicked, scoring two runs. Chip Weber led off with a double against Hartl. Pinch-hitter Adam Berg advanced him to third on a grounder and Ted Hamilton sent him home on another infield out. Evan Gallant then tripled and scored on pinch-hitter Dan Kane’s single.

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“Scarborough made all the plays,” said Portland Coach Tony DiBiase.

“They’re a very solid team and can hit the ball one through nine. A positive for us was our guys coming off the bench and swinging the bat well. Travis Godbout pitched well the last part of the game. We’re at .500 with six games to go. We’ll see what happens.”

Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 


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