RUMFORD – The Winthrop baseball team had an ace up its sleeve when the Ramblers faced undefeated Mountain Valley on Wednesday.

Forrest Dwyer was never seriously challenged, pitching a two-hit complete game, as the Ramblers scored two unearned runs in the sixth inning in a 3-1 win against previously unbeaten Mountain Valley at Hosmer Field. Dwyer remained in control and kept the Falcon batters popping up and shaking their heads in utter frustration. The southpaw threw approximately 82 pitches and struck out nine, including five in the last three innings.

“My fastball was working well, especially when I threw it low,” Dwyer said. “I was also getting my curve ball over, and I felt great on the mound. I had had just one start during the preseason and wasn’t throwing well until today. My teammates and I feel really good about coming in here and beating them.”

Winthrop (8-0), fourth in Class C, had trouble supplying any offense and was limited to three singles. The score was tied 1-1 when Dwyer reached on an infield error in the sixth, and with one out, Jake Steele singled and stole second base, uncontested. Kory Child smashed a line drive off the glove of Falcon right fielder Garret McPherson, and both runners scored easily.

Class B Mountain Valley (7-1), No. 1 in Heal points, was simply unable to figure out Dwyer, who induced 10 pop-ups and just one ground out. The Falcons have relied on their potent offense that has scored 90 runs in seven games.

The attack was led by Andy Shorey (.500) and Justin Staires (.706) who combined for the lone run in the fourth. Staires singled with one out and stole second, Corey Devoe popped out, and Shorey hit an RBI single past Rambler first baseman Kyle Plessey.

“We hadn’t really faced any ones ace pitcher,” Mountain Valley coach Steve LaPointe said. “It showed today because every one of our batters was popping up. Dwyer owned us, and he also beat last year. We beat ourselves by throwing the ball around.”

Falcon pitcher Matt Laubauskas was the hard luck loser, despite throwing a three-hitter. The righty didn’t allow a hit until Child singled with two outs in the fifth.

The Ramblers’ Tyler Cobb walked in the second, stole a base and scored following a passed ball and wild pitch.

“Matt Laubauskas deserved a better fate,” LaPointe said. “I was actually undecided about my No. 1 pitcher until today. Matt proved that he deserves it.”

Dyer struck out Zack Thibodeau, John McKenzie and Matt Lyons in the fifth. Cody McPherson walked leading off the sixth and was forced out when Staires’ infield pop-up was dropped, and Devoe popped out to end the inning.