WALES — The Hall-Dale baseball team wasted no time getting the offense in gear Saturday, plating seven runs over the first two innings and cruising to a 13-1 victory over Oak Hill.

Any fans arriving late missed scoring right out of the gate. Austin Stebbins led off with a single followed by a Jacob Brown hit. The Bulldogs had two runners on with no outs when Akira Warren came to the plate. Warren took a Reid Cote pitch and lined a double plating both runners for a quick 2-0 lead after a half inning.

“We came out swinging the bat really well today. We came out with three straight hits and that helped build our momentum,” Hall-Dale coach Bob Sinclair said.

The Bulldogs’ hitters kept the bats going in the second, putting pressure on the Raiders’ defense. They scored five second-inning runs, aided by sloppy play by the field, to build their lead.

“We struggled at the plate yesterday against Dirigo, so it was important for us to get the bats going today,” Sinclair said. “We did mix things up a little bit dropping Jacob down to the number two spot, leading off with Stebbins.”

“They are a good, aggressive team and any time you can get guys on base, that puts the pressure on the defense, and we struggled a little bit defensively,” Oak Hill coach Chad Stowell said.

Warren continued his day at the plate by doubling in two more runs in the second innings.

“When he comes to the plate, he’s done so well this season you sort of expect it from him,” Sinclair said.

Meanwhile, Hall Dale (6-3) pitcher Cole Lockhart was stellar on the mound holding the Raiders to just one hit over the first three innings. Lockhart left the game after three innings, keeping his pitch count down, with a 9-0 lead. Josh Dupont came in relief in the fourth and was rudely greeted by an Ethan Barnett single. Barnett came around to score after stealing a base. He scored on a ground out.

After starting pitcher Reid Cote was chased, Oak Hill turned to Casey Dionne in the fifth. Dionne walked the first two batters he faced and after a line out to short, Alex Haley came into the game after being DH’d for and ripped a two run single. A walk and a third single from Stebbins landed two more runners on base for the red hot hitting Warren. The freshman lined his fourth hit of the game scoring both Josh Nadeau and Stebbins, giving him six runs batted in for the contest.

“He is so mechanically sound with his swing. He’s been clutch for us this season. It’s good for him as a freshman hitting in the number three spot,” Sinclair said.

“After a tough loss yesterday, I was real happy to see them come out here this morning and put this kind of game together,” he added.

Oak Hill (3-5) managed just three hits, also getting singles from Adam Mooney and Colby Webster in the loss.

“We struggled a little bit at the plate today as a whole but we had some good at bats against some good pitching,” Stowell said. “They didn’t walk many and their defense made the plays,” he added.

Oak Hill High School’s Ethan Barnett can’t handle a throw from the outfield as Hall-Dale runner Chad Smith slides back into second base safely during their game in Wales on Saturday.

Hall-Dale’s Josh Nadeau slides safely into second with a stolen base behind Oak Hill’s Caleb Valliere during their game in Wales on Saturday.Oak Hill High School’s Caleb Valliere fields a throw from the catcher on a stolen base by Hall-Dale’s Tim Cookson during their game in Wales on Saturday.

Hall-Dale’s Logan Dupont delivers a pitch against Oak Hill during their game in Wales on Saturday.

Colby Webster of Oak Hill fires a pitch toward the plate against Hall-Dale during their game in Wales on Saturday.Hall-Dale’s Austin Stubbins connects on a pitch late in a game against Oak Hill in Wales on Saturday.Hall-Dale’s Jacob Brown fouls off a pitch during a game against oak Hill in Wales on Saturday.Oak Hill High School pitcher Casey Dionne delivers a pitch against Hall-Dale in Wales on Saturday.Oak Hill pitcher Ethan Barnett delivers a pitch against hall-Dale during their game in Wales on Saturday.

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