Baird backs Bangor> Speedy senior tames Trojans

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BANGOR – Willie Baird has been mired in a significant batting slump lately. On Saturday, the Bangor High School leadoff hitter didn’t get the ball out of the infield.

For most players, that would be problematic, but the Rams’ speedy senior legged out three hits and scored three runs to help Bangor roll to an 11-0 baseball victory over Mount Desert Island at Mansfield Stadium.

Baird, the leadoff batter for the Rams (10-1), beat out a single in the first inning on a diving stab by Trojans first baseman Josh Schafer. In the second, he reached when his sharp come-backer went off the bare hand of MDI pitcher Jared Archilles.

Then in the third, Baird laid down a nifty bunt along the third base line and the Trojans (3-8) had no chance to get him.

“He had three hits without getting the ball out of the infield. That shows the pressure he can put on a defense,” said Bangor coach Bob Kelley. “He’s a fun kid to watch play and we’re a better ballclub with Willie batting for himslef.”

Baird’s slump had led Kelley to replace the center fielder in the batting order with a designated hitter. Baird said it’s a matter of believing in himself at the plate.

“All year I’ve been struggling. Hopefully, I’m coming out of it,” Baird said. “Coach has been stressing confidence. [Teammate] Shawn Bouchard had a good philosophy last weekend: just think the game’s up on the line and have that run through your mind.”

Bangor senior righthander Barrett Dionne allowed only one hit, a leadoff single by Bodie Abbott in the first inning. He bounced back, retiring 12 of the last 13 batters he faced before Joe Vanidestine pitched the fifth.

“[Dionne] hadn’t pitched for a week, so it took a little while to get in the groove, but I thought he pitched well,” Kelley said.

Baird wasn’t the only Bangor batter to give MDI problems. Josh Johnson rapped a double and two singles, while Jim Shea contributed an RBI double and a sacrifice fly. Jeremy Karam stroked an RBI single.

Justin Libbey and Andy Sullivan added sacrifice flys for Bangor, which scored all the runs it would need during a four-run first inning. While the Rams managed 11 hits, the Trojans complicated matters by committing five errors.

Shea provided some sparkling defensive plays at second base for Bangor. While falling backward, he made a nice grab of a Brian Greenleaf popup to shallow right-center field.

One out later, Shea ranged all the way over behind first base to snare a Brian Greenleaf grounder and threw to first for the out. He later made a barehanded play while charging Archilles’ slow roller in the fourth.

“Those are three exceptional plays he made,” Kelley said.

Rams 11, Trojans 0

Mount Desert Island (3-8) Bangor (10-1)

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

Abbott, lf 2 0 1 0 Baird, cf 3 3 3 0

Strout, 3b 0 0 0 0 Hackney, cf 0 0 0 0

Zabala, dh 2 0 0 0 Johnson, 1b-ss 3 2 3 1

Colbeth, ss-p 2 0 0 0 Hockman, 3b 0 0 0 0

Archilles, p-rf 2 0 0 0 Shea, 2b 1 1 1 2

Copadis, rf 0 0 0 0 Anderson, 2b 1 0 0 0

Dalton, cf 2 0 0 0 Karam, lf 1 2 1 2

B.J. Greenleaf,c 2 0 0 0 Worcester, rf 1 0 0 0

Bri. Greenleaf, rf 1 0 0 0 Libbey, 3b 2 1 1 1

Leathers, p 0 0 0 0 Brooker, 3b-ss 0 0 0 0

Tripp, ss 0 0 0 0 Sullivan, dh 1 0 0 1

Reed, 2b 2 0 0 0 Curran, lf 0 0 0 0

Wesphal, 3b-lf 1 0 0 0 Bouchard, c 3 0 1 0

Proctor, c 0 0 0 0

Vanidestine, rf-p 1 0 0 0

Ferguson, rf 2 1 1 0

Bombardier, ss 1 1 0 0

Campbell, 1b 1 0 0 0

Totals 16 0 1 0 Totals 21 11 11 8

MDI 000 00 – 0

Bangor 425 0x – 11

E – Abbott, Reed, Colbeth 2, Dalton 2B – Johnson, Shea LOB – MDI 3; Bangor 8 SB – Abbott; Sullivan, Libbey S – Shea SF – Johnson, Shea, Libbey, Sullivan

PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO

Mount Desert Island

Archilles (L,1-4) 1 5 6 2 2 0

Leathers 2 5 5 3 1 0

Colbeth 1 1 0 0 1 1

Bangor

Dionne (W,4-0) 4 1 0 0 1 3

Vanidestine 1 0 0 0 1 0

PB – B.J. Greenleaf TIME – 1:22 ATTENDANCE – 60 (est.)