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Sports

Majors Sputter in Loss to Wolverines

Early lead disappears, then West Potomac pulls away

West Potomac used a five-run fourth inning and came back from an early deficit to beat Mount Vernon 15-6 in both teams’ regular-season opener on Tuesday. Josh Belanger had three hits, two RBI and a run, and pitched well to get the final nine outs for the Wolverines.

After the Wolverines opened the scoring in the top of the first with a run, the Majors answered with three in the bottom half. Mount Vernon loaded the bases with a two-out rally before Tre Cooke cleared them with a double to center.

West Potomac got one back in the second inning when Belanger scored after getting on with an infield single. That would be the last time Mount Vernon would lead, as Collin Bowyer struggled after replacing Pat Reamy on the mound in the third inning.

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Reamy gave up a single to Sean Trenchard and walked Jack King before giving way. Nick Cordone moved them both over with a sacrifice bunt, and Cormac McPherson laid down a perfect bunt that rolled just inside the first base line, and a throwing error allowed both runners to score, with McPherson taking second.

West Potomac made easy work of Bowyer after that. He hit two batters in the fourth and gave up three hits, two of them doubles, as the Wolverines were able to extend their lead to six runs. Belanger capped the scoring in that inning with a two-RBI single.

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The Majors were given a run in the bottom half of the fourth when Kyle Quigley walked, and scored after three consecutive wild pitches. West Potomac added three more in a fifth inning that included a two-RBI single by Jack King.

The Majors put a decent rally together in the bottom of the fifth and appeared to have shaken some rust off by that point, but it was too late. After Cordone loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter, Belanger came in and made his only real mistakes of the night. He walked Cooke to bring in one run, a wild pitch brought in another, and another walk with the bases loaded brought the Majors to within 13-6. Belanger then found his rhythm just in time, striking out Justin Johnson to end the inning and allowing only one baserunner the rest of the way.

Mount Vernon found a bright spot in the arm of David Lehner, who used an impressive curve to strike out five in the final three innings. Lehner didn't allow an earned run, as the final two Wolverine runs came on errors.

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