Baseball returned to Wiscasset Middle High School Friday afternoon with the Wolverines rallying from behind to defeat the Brunswick High School Dragons 4-3 in their final at bat.

With one out and down 3-2 in the seventh inning, Wiscasset got the tying run aboard after Conlon Ranta reached base on a towering fly ball that dropped between right and center fielders. Logan Orr then drew a base-on-balls putting Ranta in scoring position. Both runners advanced on a passed ball with Haiden Dunning batting. Dunning then worked the count full and walked, loading the bases.

That set the stage for Andrew Hendrickson who already had two hits in the game. On an 0-2 count, Hendrickson beat out a slow roller back to the mound, scoring Ranta and tying the game 3-3. With the bases still loaded, Stephen Roderick, the number seven batter, then drew a walk, forcing Orr home and ending the game.

Brunswick nicked Wiscasset starter Ron Drake for a run in the first inning. Jacob Robertson delivered the big blow, an RBI double with two out. The Dragons added two more runs in the third. Working with one out, Drake walked the next batter and Robertson drove him home with his second double of the game and later scored on a base hit. Wolverine Coach Gregg Wood brought in Ranta to relieve. After the next batter struck out, the inning finally ended with a play at the plate. Catcher Grant Hefler applied the tag on the runner attempting to score from third base on a pass ball.

Wiscasset got on the scoreboard in the home half of the third after Ranta hammered a solo home run. Dunning then reached on an error and scored on a RBI single by Hendrickson.

Ranta held the Dragons scoreless for an inning and two-thirds. Hefler, who got credit for the win, was called on to work the sixth inning with Brunswick up 3-2.

Coach Wood said afterwards it felt good to start the season with a win. “We only had nine kids playing this afternoon but it only takes nine to win.”

Friday’s game was the season opener for WMHS, which dropped out of  Mountain Valley Conference competition for lack of players. The Wolverines have seven more games scheduled. Their next two ballgames are away at Oak Hill, May 1 and Brunswick, May 3. They’ll return home Friday, May 5 to host Medomak Valley. The opening pitch is set for 4 p.m.