RUMFORD – Kevin Capponi smashed a two-run homer in the third inning as Mountain Valley remained unbeaten with a 5-3 comeback win over Mt. Abram at Hosmer Field on Monday.
Winning pitcher Korey Stairs settled down following a rocky start and allowed one run in the final six innings. The southpaw was on the ropes, throwing 29 pitches in the first inning, but he found his groove and struck out five, while walking just one.
“It was a struggle early on,” Stairs said. “The batters were taking more pitches and getting ahead. Once I started getting ahead in the count, I was able to mix up my pitches more, especially my fastball.”
Mt. Abram (3-4) had a grand opportunity to take a commanding lead in the first inning, but managed just two runs. A trio of singles by Jordan Norton (two hits), Sam Witherspoon and Rob Thorndike loaded the bases. A bases loaded walk to Travis O’Neill and a Seath Ryan fielders’ choice plated two runs. But the Roadrunners would leave the bases loaded and it would come back to haunt them.
Mountain Valley (7-0) battled back in the third, as Shawn Marr homered leading off. Stairs promptly singled, before Thorndike got the next two batters out. On the first pitch, Capponi deposited the ball over the chain link fence in left-centerfield. It was the shortstop’s first-ever home run. “We’re happy to be where we are at this point,” Mountain Valley coach Steve LaPointe said. “We’re hitting the ball well and the kids are making contact.” Mountain Valley scored its first run on a suicide-squeeze play in the second inning. Corey Devoe drew a walk and Capponi and Tristan LaPointe each singled. On the next pitch, Devoe broke for home and Jeremy Sterling laid down a perfect bunt. Pat Knapp scored an unearned run in the fourth.
“We would have liked to get more runs across in the first,” Mount Abram coach Mark Keller said. “Leaving the bases loaded was a key, we got runners on after and created (situations). We moved kids around in the late innings, but it came down to (Stairs) pitching a fine game.”
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