Daren Wood held Madison to just three hits, striking out nine batters over six innings, but the Wolverines came up empty, losing 5-0 in Mountain Valley Conference baseball action.

One bad inning, the first in fact, was all it took. Blame the weather, it started pouring just as Wood took the mound. Or maybe it was bad luck, being Friday, May 13. The right-hander walked three of the first four batters he faced. Things went downhill from there, an error and then a base hit. Before the inning ended the undefeated Bulldogs had batted around the order and put four runs on the scoreboard.

It can’t be said the Wolverines didn’t have their opportunities. In the first inning Conlon Ranta and Tyler Bailey drew back-to-back walks but were left stranded on the base pads — a recurring problem this season for the Wolverines. Wiscasset left eight runners on base during the game. Madison stranded eight base runners as well.

After the first, Wood settled in and cruised through the next four innings. After setting Madison’s battery down in order in the second, Wood struck out the side in the third and set down the Bulldogs down in order again in the fourth.

The Wolverines put two more runners aboard the bases in the second inning. Jake Trayler walked and Logan Orr then lined a single down the left field line. A balk by the pitcher advanced Trayler and Orr to second and third but Grant Hefler flied out to left, ending the inning.

With one away in the third, Ranta singled sharply to left then quickly advanced to second on a passed ball. The inning then ended with a high pop out in foul ground followed by a strikeout and another scoring opportunity gone.

Wiscasset had another chance to put runs on the scoreboard in the fifth. With one out, Wood beat out a ground ball on the infield and moved to second base on a passed ball. Ranta then flied out to deep left, center field, which moved Wood along to third. The next batter then popped out in foul territory, ending the inning.

Madison added an insurance run in the sixth after the lead-off runner doubled and later scored on an error.

Traylor singled to left with one out in the sixth, and stole second but the inning ended quietly with a strikeout and ground out.

Bailey pitched the final inning for Wiscasset, allowing one hit. Madison finished with four hits; Wiscasset had three.

Coach Gregg Wood said his Wolverines are getting the bat on the ball but not often enough with runners in scoring position.

Wolverines blank Mt. Valley

Tyler Bailey was the winning pitcher in a 9-0 victory over Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, May 11.

Ranta and Hefler also pitched for Wiscasset. The trio allowed two hits, walked six and struck out seven.

Wood doubled with bases loaded in the second inning, driving in three runs. Ranta had the only other extra base hit, a double in the fifth inning driving in two more runs. Bailey, Hefler and Orr all singled for the Wolverines.

Mt. Valley used four pitchers. Together they gave up nine runs on seven hits, struck out seven, walked five and hit two batters.

Wiscasset Middle High was set to play its next two games on the road at Mt. Abram and Monmouth Academy. They return home to face Winthrop on Friday, May 20.