The Londonderry High School baseball team took on four opponents during the school’s vacation week and dominated three of the four teams they faced.
Starting on Monday, April 22, the Lancers headed to Bedford to take on the Bulldogs where they defeated them 11-3 in seven innings, getting 10 hits, and striking out just twice. Brady Gillis was the winning pitcher taking the mound for five and two thirds innings, giving up five hits, striking out seven, and giving up four walks. Jonathan Wilson, the team’s designated hitter, drove in four runs on three hits, singling in the sixth inning to score two runs, and hitting a double in the seventh to score two more. Londonderry took the quick lead in the third inning, but Bedford took the lead away in the fourth, scoring one in the third and two in the fourth. Londonderry took control in the fifth inning adding two more runs, then scored five in the sixth, and two in the seventh, with Bedford never being able to comeback for the dominating win. Owen Carey and Wilson had the teams only extra base hits in the game, both hitting doubles, with Wilson hitting two.
The very next day, Tuesday, April 23, the Keene Blackbirds traveled to Londonderry, only to fall to the strong Lancer squad 11-1. Carey was the team’s big hitter, getting 3 hits with four at bats, with a single in the first inning, double in the second, and had another single in the fourth to drive in two runs. Carey crossed the plate three times during the game. Joey Cafaro was the winning pitcher of the game striking out eight over six innings, giving up three hits and three walks. Londonderry got four runs in the first and fourth inning, and tacked on another three for the win. Brett McKinnon, Jet Jones, and Carey each had doubles in the game.
On Wednesday, April 24, the Lancers traveled to the state capital to face the Concord Crimson Tide and defeated them, 15-9. Jones was three for three in the game, with four RBI’s and three runs. Devin Boles registered the win, pitching six and two thirds innings striking seven, giving up seven hits, and seven runs. Londonderry scored in the first four innings to take control of the game early, getting two runs in the first and second, and three runs in the third and fourth innings. Londonderry also had five in the seventh inning before Concord tried to come back with seven of their own. Jones and Jayden Hamilton had the only extra base hits with both getting doubles.
The final game of the week, on Thursday, April 26, the Lancers winning streak was cut short at home by the Exeter Blue Hawks, 3-2, in extra innings. Both teams had strong pitching performances on the mound, but Exeter wound up on top. Gillis pitched five innings, giving up 3 hits, two runs, walking two and striking out seven. Ryan Williams was saddled with the loss, pitching in relief for three innings, giving up four and a run. Londonderry was only able to muster up seven hits during the course of the game and struck out just five times. McKinnon had a triple in the game, and Care and Ty Miles both hit doubles.
The Lancers are heading into the fourth week of the season at 6-2 and will be facing off against Bishop Guertin on Tuesday, April 30. On Wednesday, May 1, they will be home against Nashua North. Finally, on Saturday, May 4, Londonderry will be up against the team they beat for the Division Title last year, the undefeated Pinkerton Academy.