By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

SOUTH PARIS – Joe Baker provided Bessey Motors with a shot in the arm Tuesday night.

Baker was in complete control, firing a masterful three-hit complete game, as Bessey Motors pulled away for a 5-1 Zone III Legion baseball victory over Locke Mills at Gouin Complex.

The two-time defending Zone champions were led by Russell Estes, who was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Estes knocked in the eventual winning run in the fourth inning with a single after Ben Ryerson stroked a triple.

“I just was out there throwing strikes,” Baker said. “My defense was behind me and that made a big difference.”

Baker (1-0) threw approximately 80 pitches and struck out five, while issuing one walk. The right-hander capitalized by getting ahead of nearly every Locke Mills batter.

Locke Mills (2-7) also received a solid performance from Marcus Palmer, who pitched a six-hitter.

The Mountaineers were plagued by a few miscues and a lack of offense.

The game was delayed more than once because the sprinkler system showered the players and fans with water. The first instance occurred in the fifth inning as Palmer was sprayed from behind. The combination of falling rain and standing water, eventually forced the coaches to repair the field.

“Those rain delays were not fun,” Baker said. “I actually felt my shoulder was tightening up. I worked through it.”

Locke Mills had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning when a run scored on T.J. Savage’s infield out. Palmer had singled and went to third on a hit by Shawn Marr (two hits).

Bessey Motors was held in check until Chris Jennings singled and scored on a triple by Chris Henderson with two outs in the third inning.

“It was a well pitched game by both sides,” Locke Mills coach Chris Olson said. “Marcus had pitched three good games, but we haven’t provided him with much support. We didn’t have many opportunities, but I looked back through the books and we’re not walking much. I like aggressive batters, but things may need to change.”

Baker retired seven batters before Marr led off the fourth with a walk.

Mountaineer catcher Ben French shined defensively by throwing out two base runners.

Estes added a two-run single in the sixth.

“There was no rhythm to the game,” Olson said. “The delays made each (half) inning seem separate. We just couldn’t get any thing going.”