The defending Division I champions, the Lancers, took two steps closer to another title last week with shutout wins over the Windham Jaguars and the Portsmouth Clippers in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Londonderry, the number three seed in the playoffs, easily got by Windham (#14) 9-0 in the first round, then went on to beat the Clippers (#11) 3-0 at home on Saturday afternoon.
The victories set up a trip to Holman Stadium for a Semifinals contest against the Exeter Blue Hawks (#2) on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
A win there will put the Lancers in a championship game for the third consecutive year. They will most-likely be battling Pinkerton Academy for the third year in a row.
The LHS squad’s quest for a second consecutive title began at home against Windham on Friday, May 31, where Londonderry was able to put up a run in the first inning and eight in the third for their nine-run win.
Senior pitcher, Joey Cafaro, had another strong outing getting the win on the mound with 13 strikeouts and just five hits allowed. Cafaro pitched the entire game and didn’t walk a single batter.
The first inning run was on a catcher’s error, allowing senior Jayden Hamilton to score from third base.
The big third inning featured a number of miscues by the Jaguars starting pitcher. Windham’s Jake Sullo walked six and hit one batter in the third helping Londonderry to their big inning.
The inning also featured a lead off double by Hamilton, and two singles by junior Brett McKinnon.
The following day, at home, for a quarterfinals match-up against Portsmouth, runs were a bit more scarce, but the Lancers were able to come away with another win behind another strong pitching performance.
Junior Brady Gillis was on the mound for LHS, getting the win with six strikeouts, zero walks, and three hits against the Clippers.
Sophomore Liam Killelea crossed the plate on a passed ball as a courtesy runner for Jet Jones.
Londonderry got two insurance runs in the sixth inning thanks to an error in left field on a Jones pop fly, allowing McKinnon to score after his walk.
Speedy junior, Devin Boles, drove in the third run of the game with a triple hit to right field.
A double play and a fly ball to left field finished the game in the seventh for the final game of the season at Lancers Park.
The win over the Clippers gives the Lancers a chance to redeem one of the regular season losses heading into the semifinals. Londonderry lost to Exeter 2-3 back on April 15, at home.