By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

RUMFORD – When opportunity knocks, the Monmouth Academy baseball team usually answers swiftly. That’s exactly what the Mustangs did in an MVC game at Hosmer Field on Monday.

Rick Pelletier smashed a three run homer in the sixth inning and Ben Seefeldt threw a complete game as Monmouth rallied for a 5-2 win against previously unbeaten Mountain Valley.

The game featured the top two teams in the conference, so some thing had to give. It was a pitchers’ duel between Seefeldt and Falcon Marcus Palmer who each directed the action through five innings. The Stangs, however, proved to have plenty in reserve.

“We’ve been hitting well all season,” Monmouth coach Eric Palleschi said. “Someone is getting the hit in critical situations. A key today was Rick Pelletier stepping up and hitting that home run, plus Ben Seefeldt was able to keep the Mountain Valley batters off balance.”

Class C Monmouth (11-1) entered the sixth trailing 2-1, but quickly tied the score. Kyle Pelletier led off with a single, and Shane Kibler laid down a sacrifice bunt and Cameron Saucier hit an RBI double. Matt Gatcomb pinch ran, Andy Bellmore was intentionally walked and Josh Parsons reached safely to set up Pelletier’s heroics.

The centerfielder didn’t waste any time as he crushed Palmer’s first offering way beyond the left-field fence. It was Palmer’s first regular-season loss in two years.

Class B Mountain Valley (8-1) took a 2-0 lead on a Shawn Marr solo home run in the first, and Jeremy Sterling (two hits) scored on Ben Madigan’ bloop single.

“We’ve won seven games by three runs or less and that lead was tremulous,” Mountain Valley coach Steve LaPointe said. “Monmouth is fundamentally sound and they do whatever needs to be done.

“They are well coached and the defense is strong. I don’t feel Marcus pitched a bad game, but the kid’s can learn from this.”

Palmer struck four, but Monmouth executed a little small ball in the fourth. Saucier drew a one-out walk and Bellmore singled. Saucier scored when Parsons executed a suicide squeeze bunt. Devin Robbins had two singles.

Mountain Valley had a chance to extend its lead in the fifth, but Seefeldt (3-0) struck out Korey Stairs with the bases loaded.

Pinch hitter Andy Shorey hit a ball off the base of the fence, but was thrown out by Pelletier at third base. Sterling and Pat Knapp each singled. Madigan flew out and Marr was intentionally walked.

“I was thinking about just throwing strikes,” Seefeldt said.

“I wanted them to hit the ball in play and I knew my defense would make the plays. When they had runners on base, it made me bear down harder and I knew the defense was behind me.”