The Londonderry High School softball team’s attempt at a third straight Division I state championship came to an end on Saturday, June 13, after the top-seeded Lancers fell to the seventh-seeded Goffstown Grizzlies, 8-2, in the title game.
In what was an uncharacteristic performance from the Lancers, the team struggled with a few costly defensive miscues and base running mistakes that proved difficult to overcome against a talented Goffstown lineup.
The usually dominant senior pitcher Elisabeth Kearney faced one of her toughest outings of the season, allowing 11 hits – something she had not done all year. The Grizzlies consistently found gaps in the field and managed to push eight runs across the plate.
Despite the loss, Kearney continued to show why she has been one of the best pitchers in program history. She allowed just two earned runs, did not walk a batter, and went the distance in the championship game. She finished her remarkable high school career with a 45-3 record and nearly 710 strikeouts, a mark that will be difficult for future Lancers to match.
The Londonderry offense collected nine hits and struck out only once in the loss. Senior center fielder Riley Campo and left fielder Paige Secor each recorded two hits to lead the way.
The Lancers’ extra-base hits came from shortstop Alison Chambers, who ripped a triple in the fifth inning and drove in a run, and second baseman Shannon Crowley, who delivered a double with two outs in the final inning.
Although the season ended short of another championship, the Lancers enjoyed an incredible three-year run. The team went 20-2 in 2024 to capture the program’s first-ever state title, followed that with an undefeated 22-win season and another championship in 2025, and finished this season with a 19-3 record.
The loss also marked the final high school game for seven outstanding seniors. Chambers, Campo, Kearney, Jaylynn Valentin, Jen Razza, Maddy Normand, and Ginney Flaherty all received their diplomas Friday night before taking the field for one final postseason run.
Londonderry reached the championship game after a thrilling semifinal victory over the Salem Blue Devils, earning a 1-0 shutout win.
The lone run came in the third inning when Crowley delivered a one-out single to center field, scoring Kearney, who had reached base with a single.
Kearney was once again outstanding in the circle, striking out 10 batters, allowing just one hit, and issuing no walks in the shutout victory.
Salem’s pitcher kept the game close, allowing just four hits from four different Lancer hitters. Normand provided the only extra-base hit of the semifinal, a double in the second inning.
While the championship streak came to an end, the Lancers’ three-year reign established one of the most successful stretches in Londonderry softball history.