Senior catcher captain Dylan Tisor calls off the infielders to pull-in this popup in a big game where No. 4 Mt. Abram faced No. 1 Livermore Falls last Friday. (David Hart photo) SALEM — Mt. Abram had the 2-1 lead through seven innings before giving it up to extras by allowing a run in the top of seventh. In the end, MTA never gave up and fought their way through a Heal Point rich 5-4 victory over top-ranked Livermore Falls last Friday.

Trailing 4-2 in the ninth, it appeared that the Andies had closed the deal when Brandon Hodges doubled home Willie Brown and Chandler White for Livermore (10-3).

“We didn’t give up and that was the key for us,” said Mt. Abram coach Ryan Palmer.

Aaron McGinness threw a great game fanning 10 batters through 8-2/3 innings. Tim Smith had three hits and McGinness and Hank Poulin combined for two hits a piece.

At the mid point in the ninth inning, Parker Kennedy led off with a walk. Jay Chenard hit a timely single to put the tying run on the bases with one out.

MTA’s Tim Smith and Dylan Tisor belted back-toback RBI singles to tie the game at four runs a piece.

Smart base running by Smith led to the walk-off win after the Andies tried to turn an inning-ending double play but mishandled the ball. This gave the speedy Smith the opportunity to cross the plate for the walk-off win.

Sophomore Josh Beedy came in to close the game once MTA (8-3) was knotted at two runs a piece. Beedy was credited with the win on the day.

After trailing 1-0 in the first inning, Will London started the MTA scoring with a RBI double to send home Kennedy who also doubled in that frame. Smith scored in the third which held the 2-1 lead through seven innings of play before the Andies came back and tied it.

“This was a very big win for us,” said Palmer. “It’s a big confidence booster and big in Heal Points. We closed the gap Heal Point wise,” he added. MTA trails top ranks by just a couple of points, but remains in fourth place in the standings.

On Monday the boys headed to Carrabec and then travel to Mt. Valley on Wednesday May 26. The regular season closure will happen against fifth ranked Telstar this Friday at MTA.

As of Monday, St. Dom’s (10-2) moved to first place, followed by Dirigo (10-2) in second and Livermore Falls in third. All three top teams have tough game schedules this week.

“I’m very happy being 8-3 right now,” Palmer explained. “The kids are playing great baseball and having fun.”