Groton — Staring at an early six-run deficit on Sunday night, the Mystic Schooners never panicked.

They just started chipping away.

"We don't care what the score is," shortstop Aaron Hill said. "We don't care what the inning is. We've been coming back all year long. If we all stick together and grind out at-bats, we know we're going to win no matter what."

This is a confident and resilient Mystic team.

Just ask Vermont.

An eight-run seventh completed the rally and put Mystic on the verge of capturing its first New England Collegiate Baseball League championship. Mystic posted a 14-6 victory in the opener of the best-of-three title series at Fitch High School.

The Schooners board a bus to Vermont Monday to play game two at 6:30 p.m. in Montpelier. Game 3, if needed, would be at Fitch on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m.

"We're going to go up there and give everything we've got," said Hill, a former Fitch standout who plays for UConn.

Mystic manager Phil Orbe knows there's still plenty of work to do.

"This is why it's two out of three to make sure the team playing the best at the end of the year will be the champion," Orbe said.

It's hard to bet against Mystic.

The Schooners are playing championship baseball. They're undefeated (5-0) in the postseason. And they're receiving offensive contributions from their entire lineup. Their bullpen continues to put up zeros.

Ten different players combined for 15 hits on Sunday. Hill earned player of the game honors after going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Nick Mascelli had two hits and two RBI while Derek Jenkins (2-4, three runs scored, RBI), Dan Hoy (two hits, two RBI) and Rich Slenker (one hit, three RBI) also fueled the attack.

"Offensively, it was very workman-like," Orbe said. "There was no panic involved."

Relievers Sean Keenan, Ryan Thomas and Matt Horton combined for 7.2 scoreless innings.

Mystic's wounds were self-inflicted during Vermont's six-run second inning. The Mountaineers had just two hits during their big inning, taking advantage of six walks and an error.

Willie Rios, a St. Bernard graduate, struggled with his control. He allowed three hits, six runs, walked five and struck out four before leaving after 1.1 innings.

Mystic gradually clawed back into the game. Slenker's RBI single plated the first run in the third. Then Jenkins and C.J. Moore each drove in a run with a ground ball in the fourth.

The game was tied at 6-6 after a three-run sixth inning. Vermont committed two of its six errors. Hill and Jesse Berardi both singled and scored and Slenker added a sacrifice fly.

In the decisive eight-run seventh, Mystic sent 12 batters to the plate. Hill started the rally by beating out an infield single and then added a two-run double. Pinch-hitter John Brucker, Mascelli and Ben Ruta each had an RBI single while Hoy had a two-run single and Slenker drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk.

"We have a team that feds off each other," Orbe said.

After the inning finally ended with Mystic up 14-6, Orbe clapped his hands and said, "Pretty good inning."

Talk about an understatement.

Orbe made a point to praise the contribution of Rios, calling him one of the most valuable players in the game.

"He came in the dugout and gave himself about 30 seconds of self-pity and then dialed it up," Orbe said. "He was the loudest guy in the dugout, trying to pick everybody up.

"... That's what good teams do, pick each other up."

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe