The Wildcats struck early against starter Brett Bartlett, who gave up a couple of hits, but also watched as his teammates misplayed several balls behind him that allowed the Wildcats to score four runs in the second inning.

Weymouth junior Brett Julian limited Duxbury to three hits and struck-out five in a 5-1 opening day win over the Dragons at Chandler Field last Wednesday afternoon.

The Wildcats struck early against starter Brett Bartlett, who gave up a couple of hits, but also watched as his teammates misplayed several balls behind him that allowed the Wildcats to score four runs in the second inning.{sidebar id=4}

Sophomore catcher Colin Woods cut into the Weymouth lead in the bottom of the second inning when he launched a 325-ft home run just inside the left-field foul pole to cut the deficit to 4-1, but it would be the Dragons’ last scoring threat the rest of the day.

Colin Woods

Duxbury returned to action on Thursday afternoon in Marshfield with highly-touted sophomore Jeff Blout on the mound. The rookie hurler went 4 2/3 innings and allowed just four hits while striking out four, but also experienced some nervousness by walking seven batters.{sidebar id=1}

Blout experienced the difference between pitching freshman ball and hurling for the varsity when Marshfield’s Tom Donovan greeted the sophomore with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Blout’s teammates came to his rescue in the top of the second inning when they put together an assortment of at-bats that produced three runs on just one hit.

Woods (error), John Fasciani (BB), and Matt Savard (E6) loaded the bases for Bartlett, who came through with an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. Sean Cross followed with a fielder’s choice to score Fasciani for the go-ahead run, and a passed ball with Shane Dibona at the plate brought home Savard.

Marshfield chipped away at the Duxbury lead in the second inning, as Donovan stroked a two-out double to drive home one of Blount’s walks, and another two-out double drove home another free base-runner in the bottom of the third.

The Dragons broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning when they plated a pair of runs to take a 5-3 lead. Fasciani walked to lead off the inning and went to second on a passed ball. Tyler Genereux  was sent in as a pinch-runner and came around to score when a grounder to short went under the shortstop and into the outfield with Savard moving onto second base. Bartlett then came through with his second RBI of the game.

Connor Anderson was now on the mound for Duxbury after coming on in relief of Blout in the bottom of the fifth with two outs and the bases loaded and promptly inducing a pop-up out to get out of the inning.

Brett Bartlett

Coach Barney Earle went to his ace to try to squash the rally, as he brought in Bartlett in relief with one out and the bases loaded. His strategy appeared to work, as Bartlett fanned the first batter, but hit the second to bring in a run. The senior closed the door on the Ram’s rally by getting the final out on strikes.

Anderson got the win with 1 1/3 innings of relief, while Bartlett chalked up the save.

“This team is very young and has some inexperience, so we’ll be feeling our way through things for the first few games.” said Earle. “We’re hitting the ball well and right at people, so I am sure that will start to change too once the warmer weather comes and we’ve had more playing time.

Next up for Duxbury is its first Patriot League game against Hingham on Wednesday at 4 in Duxbury.{sidebar id=6}