BETHEL – A combination of good pitching and hitting gave the Telstar softball team the winning edge in a Mountain Valley Conference game Wednesday.

Kayla Merrill was in total command as she threw a three-hitter, and the Rebels played flawless defense in a 10-1 win against Mountain Valley.

Telstar’s (2-0) offense was productive with 12 hits, including 10 hits, seven runs, six RBIs by the three-through-six batters – Nicena Walker (three hits, two runs), Hannah Morin (three hits, two runs), three-run triple by T.J.Cowin (2-for-4, four RBIs) and Merrill (two singles, two runs).

“We hit the ball really well today,” Telstar coach Jim Lunney said. “The fast start helped, but the way we did it was nice to see with a double, a single and a triple.”

Each team entered the contest with different agendas following mixed results in its respective season openers. Telstar crushed Boothbay 29-0, with Cadence Hall throwing a no hitter. Mountain Valley sought a spark after having been shutout by Georges Valley. The Falcons have been outscored 25-1 in two games.

“Exceptional pitching,” Mountain Valley coach Brian Mills said, regarding the Falcons’ slow start. “It happened in our first game and (Merrill) was solid today. But, except for Jay coming up, every (team) is beatable, so we’ll get some wins.”

Telstar ripped the ball aggressively and scored six runs in the first inning off Falcon right hander Lindsey Gallant. Whitney Mills and Hall each walked, Merrill singled and Cowin smashed the ball in the gap that cleared the bases. Morin singled in a run and Walker tripled and scored on Sam Largess ground out.

It was all the support Merrill needed as she retired nine of the first 10 Falcon batters. Kristen Ridge singled with two outs in the second. Merrill utilized pin-point location in striking out nine and didn’t walk a batter. The Rebels will continue using Hall and Merrill in the rotation.

“I used two pitches,” Merrill said. “I’d throw the ball on the outside corner and then jam the batters inside. The fast start really helped. Most of us girls have been together for a while and we work on (hitting).”

Mountain Valley broke through in the fourth after Mckenzie Paterson popped out. Meagan Maifeld and Shelby Moore hit back-to-back singles, and Venessa Cayer hit a grounder to the box. Merrill threw Cayer out, but Maifeld alertly scored.

“There was no quit in the girls,”Mills said. “They kept battling to comeback.”

Sarah Averill had a two-RBI double and Lindsay James belted an RBI-single in the third. Gallant found her groove and the Rebels only scored an unearned run in the final three innings.