And for not being on the diamond yet this spring — not even for a practice –both squads came up with some pretty big hits and dazzling defensive plays when they met up on the Red Storm’s newly renovated diamond. In the end, fewer mistakes in the field and the pitching and hitting performance by senior Elaina Smith were decisive factors that turned the tide the Blue Bombers’ way.

Both teams rapped out seven hits, including some monster extra-base shots, but Lake Placid got a complete-game pitching effort and a home run from Smith on the way to a 12-7 victory over Saranac Lake.

The Red Storm jumped out to an early 2-0 edge with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, and the Blue Bombers took over from there, scoring 11 runs in their next three at bats to grab control of the game. Trailing 2-0, Lake Placid responded with four runs in the bottom of the third to lead 4-2 and repeated the effort in the fourth to push its edge to 8-2. The Blue Bombers were never threatened the rest of the way, although Saranac Lake plated another five runs in the middle innings to stay close. Smith then sealed the deal for Lake Placid when she rocketed a deep solo home run over the centerfield fence that landed in the middle of the Rotary Field parking lot.

In the pitcher’s circle, Smith fanned 11 Red Storm batters and walked just four on the way to the win.

Elaina Smith takes aim at the plate during Monday’s game against Saranac Lake. The senior earned a complete-game pitching victory and blasted a solo home run to lead the Blue Bombers. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

“I was nervous because of break and all the snow,” Smith said. “We haven’t been out in the field, and I haven’t done much pitching. I’m going to improve over the season but it’s a good start, a good base. It’s actually surprising that I made it through the whole game without having to sub.”

Saranac Lake head coach Deb Yando pointed to the five errors her players made compared to the two that the Blue Bombers committed in the field.

“I thought we had a good start, but some silly errors cost us a couple runs here and there,” Yando said. “We held our own for the most part. We got some big hits, and Lindsay made a spectacular diving catch in the outfield. I thought Lake Placid had very consistent pitching today.”

In addition to Smith’s round-tripper, Faith Fell chipped in an RBI double in the fifth for Lake Placid’s other extra-base hit. Saranac Lake got a booming triple each from Morgan Farmer, Lindsay Reeve and Andrea Boon, and Kayleigh Merrill added a double in the loss. Merrill and Reeve finished with two hits each to pace the Red Storm.

“1-0, it’s a good way to start,” Lake Placid coach Donna Moody said. “I thought offensively we did a really nice job, especially considering we haven’t done a lot of hitting off live pitching. We were aggressive on the base paths, and even defensively, again, for the first time on the field, I thought we played pretty well.

Saranac Lake head coach Deb Yando, left, sends Iris Glinski home from third base during the second inning of Monday’s season-opening game against Lake Placid. Glinski scored three runs for the Red Storm but it wasn’t enough as the Blue Bombers pulled away for a 12-7 victory. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

“Obviously, we have some things to work on but that’s part of the deal,” Moody added. “The biggest surprise for me was Elaina lasted the whole game. She hasn’t pitched very much in the preseason, and she battled.”

Farmer was Saranac Lake’s starting pitcher and worked four innings before being replaced by Jayda Buckley.

Fell, MacKenzie Kondrat, Shelby Jewtraw, Hanna Whitney and Paige Megliore scored two runs apiece in the win.

Despite starting off with a loss, Reeve said she feels optimistic about the Red Storm’s season.

“We had a little optional thing on Sunday, so if we wanted to get on the field we could, but today was really the first time everyone was together outside for the first time,” Reeve said. “Lake Placid had a couple big bats toward the the second half of the game, and that got them ahead of us, but overall, I thought we had a pretty good start. I think things will come together.”

Both teams will play Ticonderoga in their next start. The Blue Bombers will travel to face the Sentinels today, and the Red Storm will host them on Wednesday while opening up their Champlain Valley Athletic Conference season with four home matchups in a row.

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Lake Placid 12, Saranac Lake 7

Bombers 004 431 0 — 12 7 2

Red Storm 020 212 0 — 7 7 5

LP — Smith and Whitney. SL Farmer, Buckley 5 and Glinski. WP — Smith. LP — Farmer.

2B — LP, Fell, SL Merrill. 3B — SL Farmer, Reeve, Boon. HR — LP Smith.