Mt. Abram Aaron McGinness tossed six innings against Traip in the preliminary round of the Western C playoffs and sat down 12 batters by-way-of-the-K. (David Hart photo) SALEM -– The number 7 Mt. Abram Roadrunners hosted the Traip Rangers Tuesday, June 8 in the preliminary matchup of the Western C tourney.

Last year Traip ended MTA’s hopes by defeating the Roadrunners 1-0. This year, MTA showed their dominance and outpitched and out-slugged the private academy advancing to the quarter finals in an 8-4 win.

Senior southpaw Aaron McGinness took the hill for the Roadrunners recording 12 strike-outs on the day. After fanning the sides in the first two innings with two walks, he maintained his rhythm delivering his two-seam fastball through the next five-and-one-third innings.

MTA struck hard and struck early in the game with doubles by Tim Smith and Josh Beedy. Parker Kennedy singled as well to take a 3-0 lead. Beedy had four RBI’s in the game.

In the fourth, MTA capitalized on two Traip errors and consecutive singles from Hank Poulin, McGinness and Beedy opened the game to an 8-0 lead.

With one out, Traip singled in the fifth which broke up the no-no and the next two batters were plunked setting up loaded bases.

MTA shortstop Jay Chenard wheeled in a sharp line drive to stop the scare after a run came in the fifth. In the previous inning Poulin was credited with a web gem making a diving catch down the line at first base to eliminate extra bases.

McGinness showed signs of tiring late in the game with a run coming across in the sixth. This gave way to a left-handed relief effort by Tim Smith who allowed a two runs in the seventh.

With the win MTA advanced in the playoff bracket and faced No. 2 St. Dom’s (14-3) in quarterfinal action last Saturday.

The timing of the senior class trip the night before may be one excuse, the rain could be the other, but MTA fell hard to the Saints. Smith struggled to find the strike zone in the first inning allowing a seven-run first. That set the tone for the Roadrunners who lost the game in five innings by the score of 10-0. Smith, Beedy and Dylan Tisor were credited with hits on the day.

Mt. Abram 9-6 record was certainly an improvement from the previous years. The Roadrunners proved to be a strong contender in the Mountain Valley Conference and Western C.