LEWISTON — 20 runs on 12 hits! This is what Pastime Club of Lewiston scored in two games against Highland Green of Topsham on Saturday in an American Legion Zone II twinbill at Lewiston High School.

For Bob Neron’s Highland Green squad, the big early deficits were easily the difference as Pastime Club swept its way to a pair of victories — 16-6 in the opener and 10-5 in the second game.

Several members of Pastime Club (4-2) had solid afternoons. Leadoff hitter Gage Cote was 4-for-6 with four runs scored, four RBIs and three stolen bases, while Brock Belanger and Carter Chabot, the No. 2 and 3 hitters in both games, were both 3-for-4 in limited action. Belanger scored four times, drove in three and stole three bases, while Chabot scored three runs, picked up four RBIs and ripped two long doubles. Mike Wong had five RBIs on the day, including a bases-clearing three-run double in the opening game’s big first frame that set the tone.

“The first innings killed us,” Neron said. “I might have stayed too long with both starting pitchers, but with doubleheaders and all those innings, you have to stay with it sometimes.”

“It was a good rebound for these guys,” Pastime Club coach Andrew Cessario said after his team allowed five first-inning runs in an 11-3 loss to Rogers Post on Thursday. “If we think we are as good as we think we are, a state tournament-bound team out of Zone II, we really need to do some stuff early. They had a wake-up call. They bought in.”

In the first inning of Game 1, Cote ripped the first pitch he saw for a single off of Highland Green starting pitcher Kevin Carter. Belanger dropped a bunt that was misplayed for an error. Cote came home on a passed ball, while Belanger, Chabot and Austin Wing trotted home on the three-run double by Wong for a 4-0 lead. RJ Sargent of Lisbon also doubled, with Cote and Belanger driving in two runs apiece in their second at-bats of the frame. Chabot also doubled in a run to give the hosts a 10-0 lead.

“It was a really good comeback from the last game that we had,” Chabot said. “We really hit well today. It is a nice start to a new season for us.”

Highland Green refused to pack it in. Down 12-1, the visitors made it a game by tallying three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to close to 12-6. Zach Small (double) and Jacob O’Neill (triple) each drove in a pair of runs for Highland Green. Relievers Reilly Kons and Adam Sirois combined to throw 4 2/3 innings on three hits. They each allowed an unearned run.

Pastime Club salted the opener away with a four-run sixth inning to bring about the 10-run Mercy Rule. Nate Osgood, Jean-Luc Dostie and Hunter Landry each drove in a run, with the game ending on a wild pitch.

Wing earned the mound win, going five innings with two walks, four strikeouts and eight hits. Wong pitched a 1-2-3 sixth with one punchout.

Repeat performance

Just like the opener, Pastime Club exploded for 10 runs in the second contest. Down 1-0 after Liam Branningan’s two-out RBI single scored Dylan-Earl Johnson for a 1-0 Highland Green lead, the hosts used a 10-run, six-hit inning to take control. Cote again singled on the first pitch he saw from O’Neill to start things and added a two-run single later in the frame. Chabot also had two hits in the first, including a run-scoring double, as Pastime Club claimed a 10-1 lead.

This time Neron turned to Emmons. The soon-to-be Richmond High School junior tossed four innings of stellar no-hit relief. He walked one and struck out four, including striking out the side in his final inning before Brannigan tossed a scoreless sixth on two strikeouts and one walk.

“The positive for us is the guys that came into the game shut it down and gave us a chance to come back,” Neron said. “Adam Sirois, Brendan Emmons. Those two guys really make the future look bright for us. I am happy with the way that we battled back. A lot of teams might roll over there. We didn’t.”

“It is hard to stay focused when down that much, but you have to just keep grinding away and battle it out,” Brannigan said after a solid game in the field and a combined 4-for-7 performance at the plate. “The results aren’t there right now for us. But, I think we will come together.”

“They are a capable team, scrappy, a team that can come back, and I compliment them for that,” said Cessario of Highland Green, which dropped to 2-3 and hosts Bethel on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Matt Poulin went the distance for Pastime Club. He struck out two, didn’t walk a hitter and permitted 10 hits.

Tri-Town, Jackson Silver Post 68 split

RUMFORD — It was a pitching duel in Game 1 as Brendan Hubbard outdueled Caleb Clarke as Tri Town defeated Jackson Silver Post 68 Saturday in American Legion action.

Hubbard went the distance, allowing three hits, striking out eight while only walking one batter. Clarke struck out eight in five innings of work.

Tri Town took advantage of some errors by Jackson Post as Kaleb Bridgham scored on a dropped fly ball that would have ended the third inning. Shawn Murphy would score on a balk by Clarke in the inning.

In the second game, it was another low scoring affair, with Jackson Post coming out on top 2-1 in walk-off fashion. Lefty Bill Bickford was brought into pitch for Tri-Town with lefty Arsenault at the plate with two outs. Arsenault won the matchup as he singled into centerfield, which scored Mitch Kubesh from third and Reggie Westleigh from second.

Kaleb Bridgham drove in Ben Harris for Tri-Town’s lone run. Kaine Hutchins picked up the win for Jackson Post (2-3) while Shawn Murphy picked up the loss for Tri-Town (3-2).