BUCKSPORT – They may be playing in the Class C ranks, but the unbeaten George Stevens Academy Eagles of Blue Hill served notice that they’re still playing grade A ball here on a clear, sunny Wednesday afternoon.

Despite losing seven starters and 10 seniors from a 15-member Eastern Maine finalist squad last year, the Eagles showed they’re in a class by themselves as they jumped on Bucksport’s ace pitcher for five runs in the first en route to a convincing 13-3, mercy rule-shortened victory over the Golden Bucks.

The 11-0 Eagles are the only team to have beaten Bucksport this season, and now they’ve done it twice as Bucksport is 7-2.

“This is huge for our team. Bucksport’s always a good team and I look at it as if we can split with them, we’re doing good,” said GSA coach Dan Kane. “This is the first time we’ve swept them in a lot of years.

“They’re gonna win a lot more games before it’s over, and for them to play the ‘A’ teams as tough as they do and for us being a ‘C’ team, it says a lot for our program.”

Junior pitcher Dusty Bates took care of the Bucks by limiting them to three hits. Second baseman Simeon Allen handled the offense, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, and seven RBIs.

Bates (4-0) threw 78 pitches, but only 38 for strikes as he walked six batters and struck out one.

“He just really mixed it up well and kept our batters from getting into any kind of groove up there,” said Bucks coach David Gonyar.

Bates settled down after yielding two runs on one hit, three walks, and an error in the first inning.

“I was able to keep my fastball down. My curve wasn’t totally there today, but I got guys to jump out at the changeup,” Bates said. “Changing speeds and location were the big things for me.”

And a five-run lead before you’ve even taken the mound doesn’t hurt either.

“After the first, there was no doubt in my mind we were gonna win that game,” Bates added. “We really set the tone early.”

Allen was the chief tone-setter as he drilled a 1-1 fastball from Chris McHale 30 feet over the left center field fence for a three-run shot in the first. After flying out in the second, the senior ripped a 3-1 fastball from Colin Grady to dead center for a two-run homer, his fifth of the season. A two-run double in the fifth capped a great day for a 5-foot-6 batter who doesn’t look like a typical power hitter.

“That’s what they all say. It’s quickness, and I think it’s more that I have a pitch [location] I can really rip on,” said Allen, who has gone from a backup infielder last year to No. 3 batter and senior leader this year. “I was just sitting on my pitch today. They threw it two times, and they paid for it.”

Jake Lowell also had a solid day at the plate with three singles and an RBI in four at-bats. Sophomore Chris Sargent belted a solo home run to left-center and hit an RBI single in the fifth to help support GSA’s 10-hit attack.

Gonyar said the Eagles beat his team in every phase of the game.

“They jumped on us early and kept up the pressure,” he said. “Them coming back with more runs after we got a couple in the first was huge. The temptation would be to relax with a big lead, but they kept coming after us.”

Eagles 13, Golden Bucks 3

George Stevens (11-0) Bucksport (7-2)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Bannister, c 2 3 1 0 Chase, cf 2 1 0

Clapp, ss 2 2 0 0 Sheehan, 3b 3 0 1

Allen, 2b 4 3 3 7 Harvey, ss 2 1 0

Sargent, 3b 3 2 2 2 Barnes, dh 2 0 0

Lowell, lf 4 1 3 1 Nason, rf 0 0 0

Candage, dh 3 0 0 0 Sullivan, 1b 3 0 1

Hutchinson, 1b 3 0 0 1 McHale, p-lf 0 0

Reuter, rf 2 1 0 0 Allard, 2b 2 0 0

Henry, cf 3 1 1 1 Boober, c 1 0 0

Mercer, lf 0 0 0 0

Grady, p 2 0 0 0

Totals 26 13 10 12 Totals 17 3 3 2

George Stevens 513 04 ? 13

Bucksport 200 10 ? 3

E? Bannister, Sargent; McHale, Boober; LOB? George Stevens 5, Bucksport 5; 2B? Allen; HR? Allen 2 (5), Sargent; DP? Clapp-Allen-Hutchinson; Sheehan-Sullivan; SB? Lowell, Harvey

George Stevens IP H R ER BB SO

Bates (W,4-0) 5 3 3 1 6 1

Bucksport IP H R ER BB SO

McHale (L,4-1) ? 2 5 5 5 0

Grady 4? 8 8 5 2 5

BK? Bates; PB? Boober; T? 1:43; ATT? 149