Eyeing the team’s third consecutive Division I state tilte, the Londonderry High School softball squad remained in second place in the standings with a 15-2 record, trailing Pinkerton Academy (14-1) and ahead of Salem (13-2), with two games left in the regular season before the state tournament.
Barring any unforeseen issues, the Lancers are expected to enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed and will be looking to capture their third consecutive championship.
Last week, Londonderry added four wins, outscoring opponents 45-7, with two games on the road and two at home.
The week began Monday with a trip to Alvirne, where the Lancers scored in every inning. They opened with 10 runs in the first and added 10 more over the next four innings to secure a 20-0 victory.
Londonderry pitchers allowed just one hit. Paige Secor earned the win, pitching three innings with nine strikeouts, one walk, and one hit allowed.
Five batters recorded doubles, and Delanie Febbo added a triple. Addison Martinez and Quinn Campo each went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Shannon Crowley, Febbo, Elisabeth Kearney, and Allie DiNovo each had two hits in the win.
The following day at home against Wachusett, the Lancers edged their visitors 2-1 in a game played between rain showers.
Kearney, who recorded her 600th career strikeout the previous week, earned the win with a dominant performance, striking out 19, walking one, and allowing just two hits and one run. Wachusett’s lone run came on a passed ball in the fourth inning.
Riley Campo accounted for both Londonderry runs. She hit a solo home run to center field in the second inning and later delivered the game-winning RBI with a single in the sixth after Kearney led off with a double.
In their second home game of the week on Thursday, the Lancers’ offense surged again in an 11-1 win over Concord.
Kearney picked up another victory, striking out 14 of 26 batters while allowing three hits and two walks.
Ginney Flaherty went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles.
Kearney, Riley Campo, and Martinez each added three hits. Martinez also hit a solo home run in the sixth and finished with five RBIs.
Londonderry closed out the week Friday at Nashua South with a 12-5 win.
Kearney pitched three innings to earn the win, striking out seven of 11 batters and allowing one hit. Secor came on in relief, allowing five runs on five hits while striking out five.
Flaherty and Riley Campo each collected four hits, with Campo adding two doubles. Kearney had three hits, while Allison Chambers contributed two, including a double.
The Lancers will wrap up the regular season this week with a home game against Windham (12-4), followed by a road matchup at Dover (5-9).