BETHEL — The closest spectator parking area to the Telstar Regional High School baseball diamond is located about 30 feet beyond the fence in left field.

As long as Dan Whitney and Ben Field are in the Rebels’ lineup, leaving a vehicle there is equivalent to wagering your insurance deductible.

Whitney’s three-run home run in the second inning and Field’s grand slam in the sixth launched Telstar past previously undefeated Mountain Valley, 10-2, in MVC baseball Monday afternoon.

Telstar (3-1) took advantage of multiple walks in each of those innings. Mountain Valley pitchers issued a total of eight free passes.

“It was definitely big for us to get ahead early,” Whitney said.

Huge for Whitney, in particular. He went the distance to pick up his second victory in as many starts, striking out nine.

Staked to a five-run lead by Tyler Brown’s two-run single in the first and his own blast, Whitney settled into a brisk pace that hinted he might have been worried about dinner getting cold.

Whitney retired the Falcons in order on nine pitches in the second inning and struck out the side on 11 in the fifth.

Kyle Gauvin’s two-run homer in the fourth was the sole offensive highlight for the Falcons (3-1).

“His first outing was not impressive at all,” Telstar coach Bob Remington said. “He just wasn’t sharp. His curve wasn’t working. He couldn’t locate his fastball. Today it looked like he wanted to redeem himself.”

Izaak Mills’ leadoff single in the sixth represented the only Mountain Valley baserunner after Gauvin’s home run.

Whitney scored to make it 6-2 after reaching on an error in the fifth. Corey Howard pushed him home with a sacrifice fly.

In the sixth, Devin Vail, Casey Thornton and Whitney drew walks to set the table for Field’s two-out clout off Mountain Valley reliever Ryan Nicols.

It was Field’s fourth home run of the season, one in every game.

“The pitches are just coming to me, I guess,” Field said. “It was a fastball. They’ve all been fastballs.”

Remington can’t recall Field having any hits other than round-trippers thus far. He also noted that Whitney hasn’t found midseason form at the plate, either.

“He’s been slumping a little bit,” Remington said. “Of course, for him, slumping is hitting .400.”

The top third of Telstar’s order — T.J. O’Connor, Kyle Peterson and Whitney — scored eight runs on the strength of only one hit.

Telstar chased Mountain Valley’s sophomore starter, Will Cunningham, after two innings.

“He’s young and he was a little but nervous,” Mountain Valley coach Steve LaPointe said. “But between the walks, I actually thought he pitched well.”

Brandon Jacques held Telstar to two hits and one unearned run in three innings of relief.

Cam Kaubris was the only repeat hitter for the Falcons, who matched the Rebels with five hits.

“We have 10 sophomores and start five of them,” LaPointe said. “That’s a good team, and Danny’s a very good pitcher. I like where we’re at right now.”

koakes@sunjournal.com

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