AUBURN – St. Dom’s fans were doing double-takes when the defending Class C state champions took the field for Friday’s home opener wearing brand-new white caps instead of the traditional black hats. But it wasn’t long before the Saints started looking like their old selves in a 13-5 pounding of North Yarmouth Academy Friday.

Three was the magic number for Greg LaBonte, who had three hits, scored three times, drove in three runs and pitched three scoreless innings to lead the Saints. St. Dom’s improved to 2-1 after opening the season with a 10-0 loss to Old Orchard Beach on Wednesday and having to come from behind to beat Sacopee Valley, 6-4, on Thursday.

“We had a slow start with all of the snow and (senior missions to Missisippi), so we just need to get into our rhythm and today we counted on the bats a little bit,” LaBonte said.

“During practice, I’ve seen times where we’re just as good, if not better than last year,” he added.

Friday’s game started out looking like it would be little more than a glorified practice as the Saints ripped off 10 runs in the first two innings. LaBonte and Willie Emerson had RBI singles and a third run scored on a passed ball in the first inning. They stacked on seven more runs in the second as LaBonte added another RBI single, Richard Paradis and Joey Gwozdz (two hits) clubbed two-run singles and Aaron Allen added a run-scoring double.

LaBonte cruised through the first two innings on the bump, then worked out of a jam after giving up two singles to start the third.

“He’s put two good outings in a row,” St. Dom’s coach Bob Blackman said. “He threw a scrimmage and went three scoreless and then went three scoreless today, so Greg’s been very consistent.”

The key for the Saints this season will be finding consistency from the rest of an unproven pitching staff. Blackman lifted LaBonte before the fourth inning to get a look at some of his other arms and NYA (1-2) took advantage, sending four runs across against reliever Matt Kohler. NYA centerfielder Brian Billett was particularly pesky, collecting three hits, including an RBI triple.

Joe Keaney and Chris Bryant worked the final three innings for St. Dom’s and kept the game from getting close. St. Dom’s showed its trademark aggressiveness on the base paths, swiping 13 bases on the day, led by LaBonte’s five thefts.

“We’re getting there,” said Blackman. “We’re still trying to get a feel for what we’ve got. The bats were a little better. I liked that. Pitching-wise, we’re still trying to find that mix.”