Nashua's Matt Paradise had 11 strikeouts in the Mavericks' win over Salem. For more photos, go to the Photo Album.
NASHUA – Matt Paradise had the Salem Cardinals doing one of two things to his pitches Saturday night.
Swinging and missing, or swinging and hitting.
The Nashua Mavericks starter got all six outs in the first two innings by way of strikeout, but Paradise also gave up five runs – three earned – on six hits, a walk and an error over that same span.
But the Nashua offense was keeping pace, and Paradise settled in to cruise through the final five innings, giving up one run on four hits, three walks and a hit batter in the Mavericks’ 15-6 win over Salem in Senior Babe Ruth action at Holman Stadium.
Paradise finished with 11 strikeouts in a complete-game performance, while Addison Hanscom and Jim Buckley scored four runs apiece and Dee Maffe had two hits, three RBIs and three runs scored.
Trevor Bouvier had two hits and drove in three runs for Salem and Joe Lemenager added two hits and scored two runs.
Those two, along with Paul Trabucco got the scoring started for the Cardinals in the first, getting three straight singles for a 1-0 lead.
But Paradise rebounded by striking out the next three batters to end the inning, and the Mavericks responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame for a 5-1 lead.
Salem again got the first three batters on in the second inning, and the Cardinals tied the game with one out before Paradise ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
Nashua put two more runs on the board in the second to take a 7-5 lead.
Nashua's Frankie Guarino fields the throw at second base as Salem's Trevor Bouvier tries to slide around him. Bouvier was out on the play.
“Trying to get settled in and was leaving pitches up that they got hits off,” Paradise said. “Certain batters, I was hitting the spots I wanted to hit. It takes me a long time to settle in and get that arm feeling good. I felt confident with my catcher (Maffe). He was calling the right ones.”
As the Mavericks scored more runs, getting four in both the fourth and the fifth, Paradise was able to take more chances on the mound. Although Salem had at least one runner on in each inning, only one made it beyond first base over the final four innings.
“I was definitely tired,” Paradise said. “I wanted to finish it out. I felt strong enough to go seven innings.”
The Mavericks are back on the field on Sunday at 4 p.m., as they take on the Nashua Chiefs at Holman Stadium.
