MIDDLEBURY — The Addison County American Legion baseball team opened its 2014 campaign with a pair of losses in a Sunday doubleheader, 7-3 in 14 innings and 11-0 to the visiting Colchester Cannons.
In the opener, the Cannons took a 2-0 lead in the fifth off AC starter Devin Hayes on a walk, a stolen base, an RBI single, another steal and another RBI single. Those were the only hits Hayes allowed in eight innings of work.
AC knotted the score in the bottom of the fifth when Hayes followed a walk to Aaron Smith with a two-run homer.
The score remained tied until the ninth, when Colchester pushed a run across against reliever Sawyer Kamman. AC again tied the game in the bottom of the inning, when Smith singled and eventually scored on an infield error on a ball hit by Wade Steele.
But Colchester broke the game open with four runs in the 14th off Kamman to take the 7-3 win. Kamman and Josh Stearns chipped in two hits apiece in the setback.
In the nightcap, the Cannons broke through for five runs in the fifth off losing pitcher Josiah Benoit on the way to the shutout win. Smith and Hunter O’Connor pitched in relief for AC.
Cannon hurler Derek Sanderson tossed a complete game, allowing just three hits, two Dylan Raymond singles and a Hayes double.
AC was set to host Rutland in a non-league game on Wednesday, and will entertain South Burlington at the Middlebury College field for a Saturday doubleheader that is set to begin at 11 a.m. After Burlington visits on Sunday for a nine-inning contest, AC will hit the road for a Monday night game at Essex.