WALES – Oak Hill’s baseball program has a tradition called the Senior Run. After the team’s final home game each year, the Raiders’ seniors run a victory lap of sorts around their field.

It was a lonely, leisurely jog this year. Only Mike Daggett and Chris Behne made the trip. The rest of the Raiders, all underclassmen, watched, shared a few laughs and met the four-year veterans at home plate for a collective high five.

Everyone in the white uniforms hopes the next victory lap will be more of a team effort. No. 2 Oak Hill is headed to its first regional final in eight years following a 6-0 Western Class B semifinal victory over Greely on Saturday afternoon.

“The expectations for this group have always been a little bit ahead of where they’re actually at,” said Oak Hill coach Bill Fairchild. “Before this season, everyone was telling these kids they wouldn’t lose a game. Well, baseball’s a funny game. The better team doesn’t always win.”

Oak Hill (15-3) prevailed as it has all season, with timely hitting, aggressiveness on the basepaths and superior pitching.

Pat Duchette and Rick Leavitt combined on a three-hit shutout, backing up Mike Daggett’s 13-strikeout gem against Gray-New Gloucester in Friday’s quarterfinals.

“They make my job a lot easier,” said catcher Kyle Lunn, who returned the favor with an RBI triple that put on the Raiders’ hitting shoes in the second inning.

The Raiders picked up two more runs in that frame. Mike Eaton’s successful suicide squeeze pushed across Lunn. Later in the inning, Kyle Harrington singled, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Adam Shaffstall.

Two more runs trotted home on a throwing error and a passed ball in the fourth. Adam Labbe beat out an infield single in the sixth and scored on Duchette’s double.

Duchette allowed only two first-inning singles before walking Dustin Cidorowicz and allowing a sharp single by Sam Green to open the fifth.

Leavitt walked two and struck out two in a hitless relief performance that offered the No. 3 Rangers (14-4) a nasty change of pace.

“You look at those guys,” said Fairchild, “and Duchette starts out moving the ball all over the place. Then Leavitt comes in with fastballs and says, ‘Here it is, boys. Hit it.'”

Duchette struck out five.

Will Knight took the loss for Greely, working 3 1/3 innings.

The sectional championship will be played at Gorham HIgh School at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

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