KENNEBUNK – In a clash of youth versus experience, it was the veteran Bulldogs who took the young Rams to school.
Portland used a balanced offensive attack and rode a shutout performance on the mound to beat Kennebunk 10-0 (five innings) Monday afternoon.
“We have some talented kids, but we’re inexperienced and we weren’t ready to match (Portland),” said Kennebunk coach Brian Dill. “Going forward, we’ll get better.”
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Donato Tocci RBI that drove in Ben Stasium.
That was the only run Portland’s Brian Riley needed, as the starting pitcher allowed just one hit in five innings.
In the second, Stasium added to the Bulldogs lead with a base knock that scored Jackson Villani. An RBI by William Barnard scored Stasium later in the inning.
Tocci hit a two-run triple to right field, scoring Stasium and Barnard, in the fourth to extend the Bulldogs’ advantage to 5-0.
“Kennebunk’s very young,” said Portland coach Mike Rutherford. “We knew that going in, and you’ve got to do that to a young team – jump on them early and cruise. You don’t want to see a young team 1-0 in the fifth inning and then they think they can beat you.”
During the fifth, the Bulldogs exploded for five more runs to put the game away.
Stasium, Barnard, Tocci and Ben Sawyer all drove in runs during the inning to create.
Kennebunk had a chance to score in the fourth when Derek Smith hit a single. With two outs, Smith stole second and third base. Riley responded by striking out one batter to end the threat.
“We’re one of the favorites,” said Rutherford. “We’re starting seven seniors … When Brian Riley’s on the mound, he’s one of our three aces.”
Tocci led the way for Portland with four RBIs on 3-of-4 at the plate. Dominic DeFeo took the loss for Kennebunk. He went two innings, allowing three runs on four hits.
“I think (Portland) is very good and we can play better,” said Dill. “Obviously, we need to play quite a bit better to be as good as they are … I think a lot of our youth showed today.”
Portland starts the season at 1-0, while Kennebunk drops to 1-1.
Kennebunk hosts Massabesic on Thursday, while Portland hosts Falmouth on Saturday.
“Baseball is one of those games where every day is a little different so we’ll be better next time for sure,” said Dill. “We didn’t get a hit today. We didn’t pitch as well as we had been in the pre-season. We just keep working at it and keep chugging away.”
— Sports Writer Sienna Barstow can be reached at sbarstow@journaltribune.com or at 780-9018. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports
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