LIVERMORE FALLS — Dirigo’s scouting report on Spruce Mountain ace Payton Kennison told the Cougars that finding ways to get on base and creating commotion while there was a better bet than catching up with the right-hander’s fastball.

The Cougars did just enough of both in Wednesday’s sixth inning to swipe a 2-1 victory in a brisk and beautifully pitched MVC baseball season-opener.

Pinch hitter Justin Chartier and Brett Whittemore sandwiched walks around Mitch Kubesh’s sacrifice bunt, setting the table for RBI singles by Tyler Frost and Spencer Trenoweth.

Those represented half Dirigo’s hits the entire afternoon against Kennison, who struck out 14 and walked four.

“It was a fastball. Kennison was throwing great all day. I finally got around on one,” said Frost, who struck out and grounded out in his first two plate appearances.

Both hits were of the seeing-eye variety. Frost’s slow roller hugged the third-base line, scoring pinch runner Nick Young.

Trenoweth’s eluded Scottie Hall’s diving stab between third and short, plating Whittemore.

“It was pretty much just swinging the bats,” Trenoweth said. “(Kennison) was right over the plate all day today. I think we were over-patient on him a little bit.”

Kennison, wielding a heater that was clocked in the mid-80s early in the game, carried a no-hitter into the fifth.

He struck out the side in the first, third and seventh frames, the last time escaping unscathed after Kaine Hutchins’ leadoff triple.

“I thought Kennison pitched a gem. If we get that every time out from him I’ll be very happy,” Spruce Mountain coach Brian Dube said. “I told the boys it’d be a 2-1, 1-0 game and the team that made the fewest mistakes would win. It’s one of those games and you hate to see it slip through your fingers.”

The Phoenix threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings on their South Campus diamond.

Trenoweth’s first unintentional walk of the game put Brandon Hodges aboard to begin the sixth before Frost entered in relief — two or three innings later than originally planned.

“The way (Trenoweth) was dealing, we had to stick with him for as long as we did. His pitch count was way low,” Dirigo coach Ryan Palmer said. “Going into his last inning, before he walked that last guy, he threw five balls the entire time. He was around the plate. Everything was strikes, and that was great.”

“Coach told me bad or good I was getting three (innings) today,” Trenoweth added. “I wanted to pitch the whole thing, so I had to show him myself.”

Frost quickly coaxed two fly balls, the second ending with an over-the-shoulder grab by Robbie Babb at the right field fence.

He then walked Brandon Stearns and Billy Houston on 3-2 offerings before striking out Lucas Preble on a foul tip into catcher Brian Volkernick’s mitt.

The seventh began with equal promise for Spruce Mountain. Pat Ryan singled and advanced to second when the ball was booted in the outfield, setting the table for the top of the order.

Frost made a nice play to knock down a comebacker by Matt Vigue, although it was not enough to prevent Ryan from going to third.

Scottie Hall’s sacrifice fly to center broke up the shutout. After another walk to Hodges, Frost turned it over to Hutchins, who bounced back from a passed ball on his first delivery to strike out Kyle Souther and slam the door.

“We got outs when we needed to, but it’s never easy,” Palmer said. “I think they get a kick out of how much gray hair I get every year from them.”

The defending Class C state champions won without three starters — T.J. Frost, Hunter Ross and Chad Snowman — who are in Italy on a senior class trip.

Trenoweth struck out six and scattered four hits. Souther (2-for-4 with a double) was the lone repeat hitter in the 1-hour, 40-minute game.

“We had opportunities every inning to get something done, had our key hitters up,” Dube said. “Both teams played well. They got the hit.”

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