BETHEL – Telstar coach Bob Remington admitted that the sights and sounds during the pre-game warm-ups Wednesday had him extremely concerned.

But his mind-set was put to rest when the Rebels took care of business in the bottom of the first inning behind a string of hits.

Sophomore Terry Collins pitched a two-hitter and Telstar took advantage of rare clutch hitting to post a 4-1 triumph over Monmouth Academy in a Mountain Valley Conference baseball game played under sunny skies.

Monmouth (4-2) refused to go down without a fight. The Mustangs loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit, but Collins regrouped and struck out pinch hitter Jason Skidgell on a 2-2 curve ball to end the game

“I guess I was just too calm,” said Collins, regarding the final inning. “Coach (Remington) came out to the mound and reminded me to throw strikes. I had felt really comfortable on the mound and was relying on my fast ball, but when I got ahead in the count, I’d throw a deuce.”

Telstar (3-2) had jumped ahead as Josh Appleby, Travis Brooks and Kinsey Durgin each scored for a 3-0 lead. Appleby drew a walk and then reached second when Mustangs catcher Jon Retelle attempted a pick off throw. Appleby then scored when Brooks singled and the ball rolled under the center fielder’s glove. After racing to second on the play, Brooks stole third and scored on Durgin’s wind-blown single. Casey Fleet plated a run with another wind-aided single.

“We haven’t been doing the things that good teams do to win,” Remington said. “We finally strung together three hits and we haven’t done that since our season-opener against Dirigo. The team kept digging and we had some additional chances to break the game open.”

Collins, a right hander, had thrown 56 pitches through six innings and recorded two quick outs in the seventh. The Mustangs’ then made it intriguing as Sean Holbrook was hit by a pitch and Josh Martin-McNaughton and Mark Wade each drew walks. The drama ended when Collins rang up Skidgell. Collins finished with five strikeouts, two hit batters and four walks.

Monmouth scored its lone run in the second when Retelle raced home from second on Andy Kibler’s two-out single.

Mustangs coach Keith Morang refused comment after the game.

Monmouth remained within striking distance behind the effort of hard luck losing pitcher Brian Gardner. After the first inning, Gardner (seven strikeouts) only allowed Brian Zinchuk to score on Brooks’ sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

“The first inning had been interesting for both teams,” Remington said. “Terry (Collins) threw well until a slip up in the seventh, but Gardner bore down after the first inning. He threw hard and provided our batters with a challenge.”