Brewer baseball mercy rules Oxford Hills on new Heddericg Field turf

The Brewer High School baseball team got a massive win in its first game back at Charles Heddericg Field Thursday night, trouncing Oxford Hills 12-2 in six innings.

After being shutout by Brewer senior Grady Vanidestine through five innings, the visiting Vikings scored two on the Witches’ ace in the top of the sixth, but Brewer exploded for 10 runs to end its season opener an inning early.

The heart of Brewer’s order started and ended the party in the bottom of the sixth, with Vanidestine (3-for-3, two RBIs, one walk, batting third) kicking things off with a single, and junior left fielder Jake Perry (2-for-3, two RBIs) winning the game 12 batters later with a two-run single to left field.

It was Brewer’s first home opener at the grounds since 2016.

Due to drainage and erosion-related problems , the Witches had played fewer than 10 games at Heddericg Field over the last decade. The grounds were transformed into a massive multi-sport turf complex this offseason.

“It’s been a long wait, and we were really excited to get out on the turf and play,” Vanidestine said. “After they tied the game up, we were ready to respond. I got it started, and everyone did their job. We were really focused today.”

On the mound, Vanidestine finished with 11 strikeouts, including three in each of the second and fourth innings. The Endicott College (Massachusetts) commit had retired 11 consecutive batters heading into the top of the sixth, but he was replaced by junior second baseman Blake Littlefield after giving up three walks and two base hits.

Littlefield proceeded to give up another base hit to the Vikings before getting a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning with the bases loaded. It ended up being the last time Oxford Hills would step up to the plate.

The Vikings countered Vanidestine with senior Brady Truman, who pitched four innings of four-hit, two-run ball (one unearned) in 74 pitches. Oxford Hills’ bullpen was able to retire all three Brewer batters in the bottom of the fifth, but they couldn’t repeat the effort in the sixth despite three pitching changes.

“We battled at the plate, and the kids kept their composure,” Brewer head coach Dana Corey said. “We scored seven runs with two outs. It was just one of those days, and we’ll take it, that’s for sure.”

Brewer finished with 10 hits, six walks, and no errors, deriving both of their extra base hits from Blake’s twin brother Logan (2-for-3, three RBIs, one walk, batting fourth). Oxford Hills finished with six hits (one triple), four walks and one error.

Next up, Brewer (1-0) will play Lewiston away on Saturday at 11 a.m., and Oxford Hills (1-1) will play Edward Little away on Monday at 3:30 p.m.