By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

RUMFORD – It certainly wasn’t textbook baseball, but the Mountain Valley baseball squad still got the job done at Hosmer Field on Monday.

Andy Shorey scored the eventual winning run in the fourth inning and Chris Cayer pitched two innings of scoreless relief to earn a save as the Falcons rallied 5-3 past Hall-Dale in a season opener.

Class B Mountain Valley (1-0) had been plagued by a lack of offensive production in recent campaigns.

“We didn’t hit the ball well,” Mountain Valley coach Steve LaPointe said. “But we made things happen on the base paths. Jeremy Sterling was able to get that bunt down and it made things happen.”

Shorey led off the fourth with a solid single, and with one out, Sterling laid down a drag bunt. Both runners moved up on an errant throw and Pat Knapp walked to load the bases. Ben Madigan hit a ball to a drawn-in infield, but the catcher dropped the ball and Shorey crossed home plate. Moments later, Sterling trotted home when Bulldog reliever Matt Richwalder was called for a balk.

In the second inning, Sterling reached on a fielder’s choice, stole two bases and raced home on a throwing error.

Class C Hall-Dale (0-1) took a 3-2 lead in the third inning. A bobbled ball set up two runners in scoring position, and Sam Shaw hit a two-run single. Jack Leet added an RBI single.

“We certainly had our chances,” Hall-Dale coach Brian Perkins said, referring to 11 base runners stranded. “Then in the fourth, we set things up by drawing the infield in and we got the ground ball. Unfortunately, the catcher dropped the ball.”

Winning pitcher Korey Stairs allowed five hits, struck out four and walked three in five innings. Cayer started the sixth and provided a change of pace, with a breaking ball and sidearm curve ball.

Mountain Valley scored in the first on doubles by Knapp and Staires. Corey Devoe added an RBI-groundout in the third.

“I think the (MVC) is fairly balanced this year,” LaPointe said. “There’s no team that’s overpowering, and Hall Dale did a good job today. Teams like Dirigo and Mt. Abram each have players who are capable of hurting you. I don’t believe any team can go in relaxed.”