Last week, Londonderry High senior baseball star Rob Del Signore became the second Lancer athlete to win a prestigious Gatorade Division I Player of the Year award in this brief calendar year.
University of New Hampshire-bound senior basketball star Aliza Simpson garnered the honor while helping to push her Lady Lancers to the 2013-14 Division I hoop championship in March, and the Southern New Hampshire University-bound senior pitcher/ first baseman Del Signore has just won the New Hampshire D-I hardball honor for his superb play for the LHS Lancers this spring as his team rolls toward the state tournament.
Del Signore has been a power both on the pitchers’ mound and at the plate for his 13-7 LHS squad, compiling a 4-2 pitching record with a 0.56 earned run average, 97 strikeouts against 16 walks, all while allowing just seven total runs (four earned) in eight pitching performances.
At the dish, Del Signore has batted at a .318 clip with one home run, 22 runs batted in (tops on the team), a .470 slugging percentage, a .390 on-base percentage, and 31 total bases.
“Robby is humble, he’s focused, he has a great attitude, and he always puts team first,” said LHS coach Brent Demas. “I know he’s proud of winning the award, but his main goal all season has been for the team to win the state title after coming so close last year.”
Del Signore and his teammates were bested by the Exeter High Blue Hawks in the D-I championship game last spring.
Demas also makes a point of the fact that southpaw Del Signore has achieved his hardball success without having played Amateur Athletic Union as many other top players have.
“He’s a great kid, and I think he’s the best pitcher in the state and one of the best hitters as well, and that’s a pretty rare thing today, with so many kids specializing in certain things,” added Demas.