DIXFIELD – The Saint Dominic baseball team definitely played like they meant it Saturday in a Class C semi-final game. The Saints dominated before a sun-drenched crowd at Harlow Park.

Junior Ben Randall hit a bases-clearing triple in the first inning and senior pitcher Will Emerson pitched a two-hitter in a 7-1 triumph against Dirigo.

A six-run opening inning provided the different as the Saint Dom batters jumped every opportunity to make things happen. The big lead was all that Emerson would need in using pin-point control to strike out six in throwing approximately 89 pitches.

“It helped having been in this position before,” Emerson said. “The lead was great and I had no problems throwing off the mound. I was able to get ahead in the count, locate my pitches and a slider was my out pitch.”

Saint Dom’s will play Livermore Falls in the regional final on Tuesday at Saint Josephs College. The Saints will be playing in their fifth-straight regional final.

Table setters Casie Parker and Shane Curtis each drew walks as Cougar starter Jon Smith was ineffective and Greg LaBonte hit a RBI-double. Emerson walked and following a strike out, Pat Bryant managed a suicide-squeeze bunt on a high pitch to score Curtis. On the first pitch, Randall lined a shot that went over Dirigo center fielder Derek Daley’s head and rolled on the checker board-designed outfield.

“I knew I hit it well, but I was running,” Randall said. “I saw him turn around and his hat came off, but two games ago the same thing happened and the ball was caught. Our team was ready for this type of atmosphere, plus Dirigo was seeded higher and we were not taking any thing for granted.”

The teams had each won easily in quarterfinal games on Thursday. The Cougars’ bottom half of the batting order led the way in a 7-1 win against Traip and Saint Dom’s shut out Old Orchard Beach 9-0.

“It is hard to dig out of a hole like that,” Dirigo coach Dave Lafleur said. “Jon Smith simply didn’t have any thing today and we did have some chances, but you have to credit (Emerson) for maintaining his composure. He kept the ball down and our batters couldn’t catch up to it.”

Dirigo loaded the base with two outs in the second inning when Levi Hutchins and Tyler Gates each walked and Ryan Lafleur singled. Emerson responded by striking out Eric Bolduc. Daley singled and stole second, but Curtis backed handed a ground in the hole and threw Alex Parker at third base to nail Daley.

Both teams excelled defensively.

“Except for the first inning, it was a 1-1 ball game,”coach Lafleur said. “Aaron on Fenstermacher came in and held them by allowing four hits in 6 2/3. Plus, we was able to make three double plays on defense.”

Dirigo broke through in the sixth when pinch-runner Spencer Ross scored on Hutchins sacrifice. Saints scored an unearned run in the seventh.

“Our winning tradition definitely helps,” Saint Dom’s coach Bob Blackman said. “We have come to expect to play strong in big games. This is the playoffs and we pride ourselves on it.”