The Londonderry High School Softball team hasn’t had many one-run games this season, let alone one-run wins, but facing the Portsmouth Clippers on Sunday in the quarterfinals of the Division I State Championship, the Lancers got the one run they needed in the sixth inning to move onto the semi-finals.


The game had plenty of drama leading up to that run, with the Clippers making a late-game surge in the top of the sixth, loading up the bases and threatening to score with two outs. In that inning, the otherwise sure-handed pitcher, Elizabeth Kearney uncharacteristically walked two batters then was able to recover on her way to another no-hitter.
Kearney, who was recently named the N.H. Gatorade Player of the Year, was able to strike out 17 batters, didn’t give up a hit and walked just three for her 16th win of the season.
The game-winning hit went to Mady Normand, with one out in the sixth.
Ginney Flaherty singled to center field to lead off the inning and quick-footed Shannon Crowley outran the third baseman to put two runners on for Normand’s single to right-field.
The only other inning Portsmouth had a base runner was in the fourth inning when the lead batter drew Kearney’s first walk of the game.
That runner was quickly erased while attempting to steal second on an accurate throw by catcher Jen Raza to Allison Chambers.
Another threat came with two outs in the fifth inning when a short dribbler in front of the plate had the Clipper runner reaching, only to be called out for interference after straying off the base path.
Overall Sarah Sokolnicki, the very deliberate PHS pitcher, did a good job keeping her team in the game, giving up six hits, striking out nine and walking two.
Hits went to Chambers, Abby Austen, Flaherty, Crowley, Sadie Moore and Normand.
This was the 31st straight win for the Lancers, staying undefeated since May 3, 2024, and now heading to the DI semifinals as the number one seed against the Concord Crimson Tide (#12 seed) for a chance to repeat as the State Champions.
The semi-final game was scheduled to take place at Chase Field, at Plymouth State University, on Wednesday, June 11 at 7 p.m.
The Championship game will take place at PSU on Saturday, June 14, starting at 4:30 p.m.