AUGUSTA -- Strong starting pitching has carried the Cony High baseball team into the top tier of Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference teams this season.

When sophomore starter Ryan Minoty struggled Wednesday, the Rams looked to reliever Eric Lee. The sophomore left-hander pitched four shutout innings as Cony rallied for a 6-3 win against Edward Litttle of Auburn.

Minoty has pitched well all season, but labored against the Red Eddies (7-5), giving up three runs and five hits in the first three innings.

"Basically, that's the first game he's struggled all year," Cony coach Ray Vallee said. "Most teams would have to stay with a guy who's struggling a little bit. Eric Lee is a luxury we've had."

Lee (3-1) entered the game trailing 3-2 and retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced. He threw 44 pitches, struck out two and didn't issue a walk.

"My changeup was breaking down and away pretty hard," Lee said. "My fastball I kept on the outside corner and just painted the black."

The Rams (9-3) struck for four runs in the bottom of the fourth with a little help from the Red Eddies defense.

A pair of walks by EL starter Adam Lutz (3-1) put Cony runners at second and third with two outs. Garrett Lucas then delivered a line drive to right field that appeared catchable. But right fielder Shane Ciriello took a bad angle on the ball and it scooted past him for a two-run double.

"He didn't make any excuses when he came in, he just didn't (catch) it," Edward Little coach Scott Anair said. "He's a good outfielder, and nine times out of 10 he makes that play."

Charlie Partridge followed by a run- scoring single and later scored on a groundball error to make it 6-3. Partridge finished with two hits and a pair of RBIs while Jake Lachance singled and doubled. Eric Prue singled and doubled for the Red Eddies and drove in a run while teammate Devin Flynn hit a solo home run in the second inning.

The Rams made several good plays on defense. In the second inning, freshman center fielder Luke Duncklee made a nice over-the- shoulder catch on Cody Goddard's line drive and closed the inning with a diving catch of Ryan Bushway's sinking liner.

In the sixth, second baseman Ray Cotnoir took away a base hit when he speared Goddard one-hopper up the middle and threw him out. "That's the first game we've played error-free," Vallee said. "Eric came in and threw strikes and I think that's the most complete game we've played all year."

Gary Hawkins -- 621- 5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com