By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

SOUTH PARIS – Bessey Motors used all of its cylinders Saturday in the opening round of the American Legion Zone III baseball tournament.

Joe Baker drove in three runs, scored twice and pitched four strong innings as Bessey Motors cruised to an 11-1 victory Saturday over Locke Mills. The game was called after six innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

No. 4 Bessey Motors (15-7) will play New Auburn in a zone semifinal game today at 1 p.m. The winner advances to the zone championship game Monday.

“We knew that we needed this game,” Baker said. “In the zone playoffs, it’s single elimination. This team won a state championship in high school and we’d like to win it all in Legion ball.”

Bessey Motors came out swinging and scored seven runs in the first two innings. Chris Henderson and Baker each had RBI ground out, while Corey Tielinin hit a moon shot to deep centerfield to score Matt McDonnell.

Locke Mills starter Marcus Palmer was hit on the arm by a batted ball and switched positions with shortstop Karl Olson. But the onslaught continued as Dan Millett scored on an Andrew Stacey RBI single. Baker added a two-run double and scored on a passed ball.

“The quick start was big,” Bessey Motors coach Shane Slicer said. “Especially after Locke Mills had scored in the first. We hadn’t been hitting the ball that well, so was nice to see the guys come out swinging.”

No. 5 Locke Mills (9-13) had taken a 1-0 lead as Olson scored on a Shawn Marr double. The Mountaineers were the Zone III defending playoff champions last year.

Bessey Motors, who had won two of three games against Locke Mills in the regular season, relied on Baker, who struck out five through the first 2 1/3 innings. The right-hander pitched four innings and was relieved by Ryan Yates.

“Our pitchers are taught to throw strikes,” Baker said. “We have a good defense behind us and rely on them to make the plays. That double play in the (fourth) inning was big.”

Locke Mills didn’t have many scoring chances and couldn’t produce key hits. Nate Walker singled with one out and Corey Devoe reached on an infield error. Gary Holman grounded into a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play. Will Carver doubled with two outs in the sixth.

Bessey Motors scored two runs each in the fourth and sixth. Kyle Keniston had a double and triple and scored two runs.

“We dug our selves a hole early,” Locke Mills coach Chris Olson said. “That’s a good team over there and they come to play. They are definitely not a fourth-seeded team, so we were disappointed to be facing them in the first round. But, we’re a young team and have some players coming back next year.”