DIXFIELD – Coach Brian Dube was concerned over Livermore Falls’ lack of offense this spring.

But Dube was relieved when the Andies pounded out 15 hits in a Mountain Valley Conference baseball game Wednesday afternoon. Brad Bryant, Dane Hanson and Tom Durrell combined for seven hits to help lead the offense, as the Andies cruised to a 12-4 victory over Dirigo at overcast Harlow Park.

Bryant, a junior righty, proved to be equally effective by pitching a complete game

Dirigo provided a balanced attack with eight hits, but hurt its own cause by committing eight errors in a season-opening contest. The Cougars received two hits each from Troy Holton, Gary Holman and Craig Langevin.

Livermore Falls (1-2) took full advantage of the Cougars’ miscues to break open a close game, including a five-run fourth inning to take a 10-3 lead.

“We certainly hit the ball,” Dube said. “Dane Hanson (four hits, three runs) and Tom Durrell (three hits) really came through, but early in the game we weren’t getting any clutch hits with two outs because Dirigo made some good plays. When Dirigo extended the game, we were able to take full advantage of (errors) on the base paths).”

Dirigo (0-1) looked like it was on a roll when it took a 2-0 and 3-2 leads after two innings. Holman and Jon Robbins each hit RBI singles and it appeared to have Bryant on the ropes.

Bryant (1-1) immediately settled down and threw three scoreless innings, until Chris Richards scored on a Holton single in the bottom of the sixth. Bryant finished with four strikeouts and two walks, but was aided by two inning-ending double plays.

“I felt alright on the mound,” Bryant said. “I wasn’t spotting the ball as well as I would have liked. I was able to keep the ball on the outside of the plate against right-handed batters and I threw the same way to left-handed batters.”

Livermore Falls had taken a 3-2 lead in the second as Hanson scored on a Garrett Young single. Josh Marceau scored on a Bryant (three hits, two RBI). The Andies grabbed a 5-3 lead on Durrell’s two-run double, then opened the flood gates with five runs in the fourth off Dirigo starter Brian Knowles. Chuck Drake hit a leadoff single and scored on a Tyler Cote groundout. “Those two double plays did hurt,” Dirigo coach Joe Knowlton said. “But I thought that we hit well and that’s been hard for this school to do in the past. Our trouble today was defensively.”

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