The Londonderry High School baseball team is headed to the Division I state semifinals after posting a pair of impressive victories during the opening rounds of the NHIAA playoffs.
The sixth-seeded Lancers earned a 5-2 first-round victory over Nashua South before shutting out Spaulding 9-0 in the quarterfinals over the weekend. Both games were played on Londonderry’s home field.
The quarterfinal win carried added significance for the Lancers, who avenged a 5-1 regular-season loss to the Red Raiders earlier this spring.
Senior pitcher Casey Marsh turned in one of his best performances of the season against Spaulding. The right-hander faced just 25 batters, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out four over seven scoreless innings.
Spaulding’s lone hit came on a single in the seventh inning and never developed into a scoring threat.
Meanwhile, Londonderry’s offense provided more than enough support, pounding out 12 hits.
Brody Labbe led the attack by going 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Jaylon Stott and Sully Daron each collected two hits, while Connor Loughlin added a double and drove in two runs.
The Lancers wasted little time taking control of the game. After retiring Spaulding in order in the top of the first inning, Londonderry erupted for four runs in the bottom half. Five singles and a double highlighted the early rally, giving Marsh all the support he would need.
Londonderry added three more runs in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach.
The Lancers opened postseason play with a 5-2 victory over Nashua South, matching the exact score from the teams’ regular-season meeting just one week earlier.
Left-hander Colin Philcrantz earned the win, working all seven innings.
He faced 28 batters, struck out eight and allowed eight hits and two runs. Nashua South scored both of its runs late in the contest.
Stott and Carter Washington paced the offense with two hits apiece.
Stott’s pair of hits were both doubles. Additional hits came from Caden Jordan, Labbe, Daron and Caden Hartley.
With the two victories, Londonderry improved to 16-6 and advanced to the Division I semifinals, where it will face No. 15 Portsmouth on Wednesday, June 10, at Holman Stadium in Nashua. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Portsmouth has been the tournament’s surprise team so far, upsetting No. 2 Pinkerton and No. 7 Exeter on its way to the semifinals.
A win on Wednesday would send the Lancers to the Division I championship game at Delta Dental Stadium on Saturday, June 13. There, they would face either top-seeded Trinity or No. 13 Timberlane for the state title.
With strong pitching, timely hitting and momentum on their side, the Lancers are now just two wins away from bringing home a Division I championship.