When the season started DHS Coach Barney Earle knew that Brett Bartlett would be the ace of his staff. Little did he know the right-hander would be a major contributor with his bat too.

When the season started DHS Coach Barney Earle knew that Brett Bartlett would be the ace of his staff. Little did he know the right-hander would be a major contributor with his bat too.

Striking out five and scattering eight hits, the senior hurler also came through at the plate by going 3 for 4 during a gutsy seven-inning complete game effort in last Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Hingham.

It seems like Bartlett is on the mound every other game for the Dragons, and he didn’t mind being there on Wednesday, as he appeared to help his own cause by doubling in the bottom of the first inning.

A walk to Shane Dibona put runners at first and second, leaving it up to senior captain Rich Sciretta, who singled, only to see Bartlett get thrown out at the plate.

Having squandered a chance to grab an early lead, Duxbury wasted little time in making amends, as Colin Woods and Phil Sciretta followed with singles to drive home a pair of runs for a 2-0 lead.{sidebar id=4}

Bartlett continued to cruise along until the top of the fourth inning when the Harbormen narrowed the gap to 2-1. A walk, a single, and an RBI single by shortstop Jake McGuiggan put Hingham back in the game.

The Dragons got that run back for Bartlett in the bottom of the inning, as Tyler Genereux reached on an error and stole second. Bartlett moved Genereux over to third with his third hit of the afternoon, allowing Jack Garrity to bring home the winning run with a sacrifice fly to right.

Hingham continued to have problems scoring on Bartlett, as the Duxbury ace cruised through a one-two-three fifth inning. But in the top of the sixth the Harbormen broke through again, as a lead-off double and an RBI single by Chris Constantine cut the lead to 3-2.{sidebar id=1}

Following Constantine’s single, Bartlett appeared to be tiring, prompting Earle to visit the mound after Bartlett ran the count to 2-0. The pep talk worked, as Bartlett struck out the batter to end the inning.

After the Dragons went down in order against left reliever Sam Butterfield in the bottom of the sixth, it was debatable if Earle would run out Bartlett for the bottom of the seventh.

Having made the final out of the inning at first base, Bartlett ambled toward the mound, determined to finish off the Harbormen.

A fly ball to right and a base on balls had a runner at first with one out, followed by a ground out to short that put the tying run at second. Bartlett bore down and induced a ground ball to shortstop, where Matt Savard calmly fielded the ball and fired to first to wrap up the win.

Unfortunately the Dragons were on the losing end of a close game on Friday afternoon in Scituate, where they dropped a 2-1 last-inning decision to the Sailors.

Scituate’s Harry Rose had the Duxbury bats under control, as he fanned 10 batters and walked just one after surrendering a first-inning run on a Rich Sciretta sacrifice fly.

The Sailors countered with a run of their own thanks to some skilled base-running by Nick Lomabardo, who walked, stole second, and eventually came home on an attempted steal attempt at second base.

Duxbury sophomore pitcher Jeff Blout was equally effective, as he held the Sailors scoreless until the bottom of the seventh when Tim Demers led off the inning with a walk. Pat Falaro went in to pinch-run, and came all the way around from first to score the winning run when #8-hitter Rob Vogel hit a shot down the leftfield line.

Now sporting a 2-3 record (1-1 Patriot League), the Dragons will travel to Hanover on Wednesday afternoon, followed by another road game with Weymouth on Thursday.{sidebar id=6}