VERGENNES — Sometimes it’s what you don’t do that matters.

On Tuesday, Vergennes Union High School baseball players chose not to swing at pitches out of the strike zone. OK, to be fair, it’s hard to swing a bat when ducking or jumping out of the way of a wayward offering.

In all, the No. 7 seed Commodores patiently drew 13 walks, after which 10 of them scored in their five-inning, 13-3 victory over visiting No. 10 seed Paine Mountain.

It wasn’t exactly a walk-off win. But fittingly Commodore Aiden Fuller scored the game-ending run after trotting home from third base on a wild pitch.

COMMODORE REESE PAQUETTE takes a rip at a Paine Mountain pitcher’s offering during the VUHS baseball team’s home playoff win on Tuesday.
Photo by Mark Bouvier Photography

Regardless, style points don’t count, and the Commodores are happy to advance and take another shot at No. 2 Thetford (12-2) this Thursday. They left the bases loaded three times in a 5-2 quarterfinal loss at Thetford a year ago, and Thetford edged them, 8-7, at VUHS this season.

“We’re looking forward to going back there,” VUHS Coach Andy O’Brien said.

O’Brien believes the Commodores’ patience at the plate and aggressive baserunning can be a winning blend.

“We’re an aggressive team on the basepaths. We put the ball in play. Why not us?” he said. “And the kids are starting to believe.”

Paine Mountain pitcher Charlie Fitzpatrick had a rough start, allowing six runs on two hits, a Gabe Scribner RBI double and a Liam Paquette RBI single, six walks and a hit batter. He struck out the first batter he faced in the second, but walked the next two.

His coach then waved reliever Jack Keys to the mound, and he walked a comparatively fewer five in the game’s remaining three-plus innings. But that number also included the first batter Keys faced, and he allowed a two-run double to the next hitter, Liam McGuire. Another run soon came home, and VUHS led, 10-2.

Back in the first inning, Paine Mountain had nicked Scribner for two runs, one earned. Scribner walked Fitzgerald, the leadoff hitter, and Chase Wilkin singled. An error and a groundout scored the runs.

VUHS SENIOR REESE Paquette slides safely into second base during the VUHS baseball team’s home playoff win on Tuesday.
Photo by Mark Bouvier Photography

Paine Mountain threatened to get back into the game in the third inning, when Scribner momentarily lost his command. He hit the leadoff hitter, walked the next, and an Issac Sweet infield hit loaded the bases. But Scribner got his curveball working to mix in with his fastball and struck out the next three hitters to leave the bases loaded. The visitors did not threaten seriously again.

Scribner finished by allowing four hits, two walks and two earned runs while striking out five.

“Gabe did a heck of a job, bases loaded in the top of the third, getting out of that without a run,” O’Brien said.

The Commodores scored three times off Keys in the fifth to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule. Ryan Wright and Scribner walked and ended up on second and third after stolen bases and a wild pitch. Fuller singled in Wright and stole second, and two more wild pitches scored both runners.

VUHS JUNIOR RYAN Wright is safe at the plate during the VUHS baseball team’s home playoff win on Tuesday.
Photo by Mark Bouvier Photography

O’Brien was happy with what he called a team win.

“Everybody contributed today. The whole team got into the game,” he said. “The guys sitting on the bench who got into the game did their jobs. I can’t ask for any more than that.”