RUMFORD – Mountain Valley remained aggressive on the base paths, even while trailing late in the game.

Justin Staires scored on the front end of a double steal with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning as the No.2 Falcons rallied back for a dramatic 8-7 triumph against Yarmouth in the Western Class B baseball quarterfinals.

Mountain Valley (15-1) built a 6-2 lead behind some key hits and Clipper mistakes, but the Falcons squandered the lead and trailed 7-6 entering the sixth.

Garrett McPherson reached when a third strike was missed, but he was then gunned down trying to steal. Cam Kaubris raced to second after a fly ball was dropped and Staires was intentionally walked for the second time. Alex Gagnon (two hits) singled to score Kaubris to tie the game.

Then, on the second pitch to designated hitter Ryan Laubauskas, Gagnon broke for second. The throw went through the diamond and Staires broke for home. The relay throw to the plate went behind Staires. There was controversy because Staires bumped Yarmouth catcher William Strabley, who was 10-feet up the third base line. The four umpires met and eventually the run was allowed.

“I had hadn’t had any chances my first couple times up,” Staires said. “I figured this time I needed to make something happen. Coach (Steve) LaPointe let Ryan try to make contract and then put on a delayed steal. When the throw went through I broke for home. I’m sorry I hit him, but it couldn’t be avoided.”

“It was nerve-racking,” Mountain Valley coach Steve LaPointe said. “In the past, we had lost a few one-run games, and I didn’t want to this time. Some former players had reminded me about losing their last games. This is a great senior class, and I didn’t want it to end.”

Matt Laubauskas held the Yarmouth batters in check, except for two unearned runs in the fourth, and no hits through five. In the sixth with the Falcons’ ace tiring, Chan Amdt tripled in a run and pinch hitter Nick Whittaker hit a two-run home run. Staires relieved and pinch hitter Matt Waldroup hit an RBI single. The Clippers scored five runs to take the lead.

“Those two pinch hitters made me look good at the time,” Yarmouth coach Marc Halsted said. “It was a tough way to lose, and I love coming up here. Mountain Valley is a quality program and will battle you.”

Mountain Valley scored three runs in the first, including Ryan Laubauskas’ walk with the bases loaded.

Laubauskas doubled in the third and scored on Jon MacKenzie’s single. Tom Puiia scored on a Matt Laubauskas sacrifice fly. Gagnon tripled and Brady Fergola singled.

With the Falcons back in front, Staires struck out the leadoff batter in the seventh, but walked Andrew Totta. When a pitch bounced away from catcher Gino Salgalo, Totta broke for second, but Salgalo threw a strike to Kaubris, who tagged the runner out. Sagalo then caught a pop up for the final out.

“I needed to keep my composure,” Salgalo said. “When the ball bounced away I pounced on it like coach taught me and gunned the throw.”

It was sweet revenge for the Falcons who was upset by Yarmouth in the quarterfinals, last year.