Close games have been kind to the Skowhegan Area High School baseball team in recent years. In 2006, the Indians won 14 games, nine by one run. That season Skowhegan reached the Eastern Maine Class A final.

Monday's 2-1 win over Bangor pushed Skowhegan's win streak to eight games and, just like two years ago, the Indians are winning the nailbiters. Five of Skowhegan's wins have been by one or two runs, and an 8-5 win over Brewer came after nine innings.

"I knew we had talent. I knew we had guts. I just hoped that over the years, the kids had learned how to win those close games," Skowhegan coach Rick York said.

The Indians have played total team baseball, York said, and that has made the difference in the tight games.

"I've had my three and four (hitters) sacrifice bunt. That's what you have to do, you have to be totally committed to the team, and these guys understand that," York said.

York welcomes any comparisons to the 2006 Indians. Three starters, catcher Les Marcue, center fielder Andy Calder, and second baseman Jonathan Wheaton, still remain from that team.

"That team was gutsy. This team is gutsy. Hopefully we can keep it up," York said.

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Last Friday's crossover games between the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A North and South teams went decidedly the North's way. The North won six of the eight games, with only Lewiston (9-5 winners over Messalonskee) and Morse (9-8 over Mt. Blue) winning for the South.

Does this mean the North is the tougher division? Not necessarily. While the top three teams in the Eastern A Heal point standings released Tuesday come from the North division -- Bangor, Brewer and Skowhegan -- six of the 11 playoff spots were held by South division clubs. Five of the eight crossover games were decided by two runs or less.

Teams will play in their division until the regular season finale, when each team will play a crossover game against a different opponent.

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After a 1-3 start, Winslow won three in a row to get back above .500. Head coach Robin Weed and assistant Ty Kerr have had fun teaching the game to the young Black Raiders.

"It's been an awful lot of hard work," said Weed, who has all but two starters from last season's Eastern Maine championship team. "What makes it enjoyable is these kids, to a man, are great kids. They want to get better."

Weed said he's seen most improvement at the plate, although there have been some hiccups. Winslow left the bases loaded without a run three times in a win at Rockland.

"We've still got some bat speed issues," Weed said.

The Black Raiders have played without senior first baseman James Wood the last few games. Wood has a sprained ankle, but Weed was hoping Wood would be available for Wednesday's game at Lincoln.

This season's team reminds Weed of the 2004 team, although it's too early to say if this club will have the same success. The 2004 Black Raiders reached the Eastern Maine final with a blue collar team.

"They were just a no-nonsense gang. No superstars, but they played together as a team," Weed said.

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Improvements were made at Manson Park in Pittsfield, home of the Maine Central Institute baseball team. This season, the field has new dugouts. Previously, the teams sat on old benches during the game. The new wood and concrete dugouts are below ground level.

"We don't have those benches here anymore," MCI coach John Dean said. "It's a little more respectable."

According to MCI assistant coach Paul West, J & D Builders of Pittsfield donated the time and equipment to build the dugouts. The dugouts still need a paint job, and fencing still has to be installed to protect those in the dugout from foul balls, West said.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com