DIXFIELD – The Mt. Abram baseball team believes it has the ability to reach the next level, and its performance Monday certainly showed there’s some truth behind those thoughts.

Aaron McGuiness pitched a complete-game three-hitter and Greg Dexter scored three runs to spearhead the Roadrunners, who ran wild in a 9-2 triumph over Dirigo at Harlow Park on Monday.

Mt. Abram (4-3) made the most of its opportunities, and Dylan Tisor hit two RBI singles to help seal the deal. The Roadrunners have earned credibility after beating previously-unbeaten Livermore Falls earlier this season.

“This team is playing with a huge amount of confidence,” Mt. Abram coach Ryan Palmer said. “I was a little concerned entering the game because we had a bye last Friday and I was afraid it would hurt, but the kids responded.”

McGuiness, a southpaw, established command from the beginning. He finished with seven strikeouts and two walks in a 100-pitch outing. The Cougars’ Tyler Gates singled in the first inning, but McGuiness retired nine of 10 before James Moulton singled with two outs in the fourth.

“It’s easy to pitch with a good defense behind you,” McGuiness said. “I was in control and my best pitch was a fastball, because it was hitting the outside corner and also my curve was breaking.”

Spencer Ross walked in the third and attempted to steal, but was thrown out by Tisor, who fired a bullet to second baseman Mike Bonney. The Roadrunners caught the Cougars in a double play when Tisor threw to first baseman Hank Poulin, who tagged out Tyler Chiasson and threw across the diamond to Sam Simpson who tagged Ross out at third base.

Dirigo (5-3) started Ryan Lafleur. He struck out the side in the second inning, but was victimized by a lack of defensive support in the third. Mark Wahl reached on an infield error, Bonney and Dexter each walked and all scored on overthrows by catcher Eric Bolduc.

“I tip my hat to McGuiness because he threw a heck of a game,” Dirigo coach Dave Lafleur said. “Mt. Abram played a fundamentally sound game and Ryan Palmer did a good job coaching. We just made too many mistakes and collectively they hurt us. We didn’t have many chances but you need hits to score runs and we are not getting them.”

The Roadrunners scored three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth against reliever Aaron Fenstermacher. The key hits were RBI-singles by Dexter and Tisor. The latter on a perfectly executed hit and run.

Dirigo averted a shutout by scoring two runs in the seventh. Moulton singled and stole three bases, including home. Lafleur walked and eventually scored on an overthrow.

“Aaron McGuiness is the heart and soul of the team,” Palmer said. “Even in preseason this team knew it could be good and doing all the little things is working. In the past the late innings hurt us, but now we are able to put the hammer down and finish the game off.”