Members of the 2023 New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Division I Championship team had their rings presented to them on Thursday night, Nov. 9, at Londonderry High School. The Lancers team tallied the best record ever for a varsity team headed into the playoffs, finishing at 19-1 and moving on to win all of their playoff games.
The final game was a sensational extra-inning comeback, winning 4-3 with a walk-off, extra innings victory against Pinkerton Academy on June 10, at Delta Dental Stadium. The win gave the Lancers their seventh state title and their fifth Division I crown since 2004.
The game went two extra innings after a 1-1 to finish the seventh.
The Astros took a 3-1 in the top of the eighth, but in the bottom of the eighth, Brett McKinnon walked to lead off the inning, Jayden Hamilton then singled to right and put runners on second and third. A walk to Owen Carey loaded the bases for a single by Johan Pena to drive in one of the three runs needed for the win. Hamilton was thrown out in a close play at the plate for the first out of the inning.
Another walk, this time to Kevin Rourke, loaded the bases again and Carey was then driven in on a single by Liam Stot to tie the game at 3-3.
The winning run was batted in by sophomore Jet Jones, a line drive single to centerfield.
Although the graduating seniors from last year’s squad we’re at the ceremony, head coach, Brent Demas, had nothing, but praise for his DI champions. Presenting championship rings to each of the players.
The rings were purchased through the dugout club, families, and a generous donation from an anonymous source.
Photos by Chris Paul