RUMFORD-When Northern Oxford County team comes together and plays as a unit good things will happen and that was certainly evident Monday evening in an American Legion baseball game.

Connor Blais tripled to jump start a six-run second inning picked up the win on the mound in a 9-2 triumph over Swasey-Torrey The contest was stunning because rosters consisted of the same players that had Dirigo mercy rule Mountain Valley twice during the high school season.

Blais set the tone by hitting the first pitch in the bottom of the first inning for a home run. The towering blast cleared the track behind the left field fence and onto the football field.

“I’ve been seeing the ball well,”Blais said, who also scored and was lacking a double in a quest for the cycle. “I’m just sitting back and trying to hit line drives.”

The second inning actually began quickly as S-T shortstop James “Whitey” Moulton turned a double play. With two outs, Blais tripled to the gap and scored on Alex Gagnon’s single. The Expos (2-5) proceeded to scorch S-T pitcher Ryan Lafleur for eight hits, including a double by Izaak Mills and a single by Ryan Laubauskas (two hits, three runs).

“We came out really focused in this game because of what might happen,”Blais said. The Expos were scrambling to field a team for tonight and Saturday. “We really wanted to prove that (team) is capable of playing good baseball.”

Derek Volkernick (three hits, RBI) singled. Dylan Mawhinney, Ryan Nicols and Adam Volkernick each hit RBI singles.

Sawsey-Torrey (2-5) was simply unable to string any hits together and stranded two runners in both the first and second innings. Tyler Chiasson walked in the third and scored on Lafleur’s double. Dave Guildford hit an RBI ground out.

“Its hard to have nine players show up for a 20-game schedule,” Sawsey-Torrey coach Ryan Palmer said, regarding the team’s slow start. “We have a couple guys coming in to help, but the guys are tired and look at the three-sport players who need a break. They played in the state game on a Saturday and were playing Legion baseball on Monday.”

Derek Volkernick started for NOC before giving way too Blais in the third. After allowing two runs, the righthander was effective on the mound by throwing three shutout innings and had five strike outs and one walk.

Swasey-Torrey’s Aaron Fenstermacher, Cliff Turner and Brodie Thompson each reached base with two outs.

Mawhinney hit an RBI-double in the first and Derek Volkernick added an RBI-single.

“This was an awesome performance,”NOC coach Bob Laubauskas said. “Connor Blais’ confidence is sky high, both at the plate on the mound. Last week the team was loose and played great against Andy Valley, but came out flat in a doubleheader last Saturday. Plus, the team was up for Dixfield.”