BUCKSPORT – The undefeated Bucksport High School baseball team was coming off a four-day hiatus as the seniors went on their senior trip to Florida.

Unfortunately for the Hermon Hawks, they just happened to be the first opponent for the rested Bucks following the trip.

Dave Gonyar’s club erupted for a season-high 13 runs in the second inning Monday en route to a 14-3 triumph which was called after 4 1/2 innings due to the 10-run rule.

“They’re the best-hitting team in Eastern Maine,” said Hermon starter Alan Hall, who was touched up for 10 hits and 13 runs in 1 2/3 innings. “They’re strong all the way through the lineup. They’ve got good coaching and great fundamentals at the plate.”

It wasn’t a hitter’s day, weather-wise, as a cold, blustery breeze blew straight in from right field. But that didn’t deter the Bucks, whose 9-0 start is the best in Gonyar’s 12 years at the helm.

“We always find a way [to score runs],” said senior center fielder Peter Saunders, who rifled a three-run homer through the wind and over the right field fence in the second inning.

In addition to Saunders’ homer, there were four doubles, five singles, and five walks during the 58-pitch inning.

Winning pitcher Craig Harvey, who singled twice in the second, said the Bucks focused on hitting low line drives to neutralize the effect of the wind.

Buzz Simpson opened the second by ripping an 0-2 pitch deep down the left field line for a one-hop double off the fence.

One out later, Ken White sliced an RBI double to right that tailed away from right fielder Andy Stark.

Jason Gifford’s bunt single and a walk to Jason Harvey loaded the bases before Nick Raymond walked to force in another run.

Harvey pulled a sharp two-run single between first and second, Chad Gilley singled in another run, and Saunders launched a high inside fastball for his second homer of the season.

Simpson walked but was caught stealing.

Two more walks, Gifford’s RBI single, Jason Harvey’s RBI double, and Raymond’s two-run double chased Hall in favor of Ryan Tweedie.

The Harvey brothers, Gilley, and Gifford had two hits each to pace Bucksport’s 13-hit attack.

Craig Harvey and Brandon Gilman combined on a one-hitter.

Harvey went three-plus innings, walking five and striking out three. He surrendered two runs and the only hit, Hall’s crisp line drive single to right in the fourth.

Gilman pitched two innings of one-run ball. He struck out two and walked one and the only run off him was unearned.

Hermon fell to 3-7.

“This is a good way to start off the second half of the season,” said a pleased Gonyar.

Golden Bucks 14, Hawks 3

Hermon (3-7) Bucksport (9-0)

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

Calligan, cf 2 1 0 0 Raymond, 2b 2 2 1 1

Cox, 3b 2 0 0 0 Contreras, 2b 1 0 1 1

Tweedie, dh-p 2 0 0 1 C. Harvey, p-dh 3 1 2 2

Dube, 2b 0 0 0 0 Gilman, p-dh 0 0 0 0

Caldwell, 1b 2 0 0 0 Gilley, c 3 1 2 2

b-Whitehouse 0 1 0 0 Robicheau, 3b 1 0 0 0

Davis, c 1 0 0 0 Saunders, cf 3 1 1 3

c-Phair 1 0 0 0 Simpson, rf 1 1 1 0

d-Miller 0 0 0 0 Kneeland, rf 0 0 0 0

Garland, ss 3 1 0 0 R. McHale, 3b-c 1 1 0 0

Hall, p-2b 2 0 1 0 a-Giroux 0 0 0 0

Stark, rf 1 0 0 0 White, 1b 2 2 1 1

Swoboda, lf 2 0 0 0 Gifford, lf 3 2 2 1

J. Harvey, ss 2 3 2 1

Totals 17 3 1 1 Totals 22 14 13 12

a – walked for R. McHale in third

b – ran for Caldwell in the fifth

c – reached on an error for Davis in the fifth

d – ran for Phair in the fifth

Hermon 001 11 – 3

Bucksport 0(13)0 1x – 14

E – Raymond, Robicheau, Gilman 2B – Gilley, Raymond, White, J. Harvey, Simpson HR – Saunders (2) LOB – Hermon 6, Bucksport 5 SB – Calligan, Garland, Gifford

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Hermon

Hall (L, 0-2) 1 2/3 10 13 13 5 1

Tweedie 2 1/3 3 1 0 3 2

Bucksport

C. Harvey (W, 4-0) 3 1 2 1 5 3

Gilman 2 0 1 0 1 2

WP – C. Harvey 2 PB – McHale, Davis TIME – 1:48 ATTENDANCE – 54