The Londonderry High baseball team’s 2018 season has been a true peaks-and-valleys affair, with the Lancers working to gain consistency and finish strong in tough Division I with the tournament on its way.
The Lancers had a impressive pitching performance in a nipping of Timberlane last week before being bested by undefeated Bedford a few days later.
The LHS squad got their second consecutive win with a 1-0 nipping of the visiting Timberlane Owls Wednesday, May 9, with one player taking advantage of a chance to pitch.
“Reece Manor was given an opportunity to take the last starting rotation spot, and he seized on it today,” said Coach Brent Demas. “He threw a complete game two-hitter, striking out seven and not giving up a run. It was impressive as he had all his pitches dancing in the zone while his defense made play after play.”
“The biggest play on the day happened on a misplayed ball in the outfield,” he said. “Rick Perry was backing it up and started a perfect relay to Nate Sullivan to Jack Dingman to gun down a sure run at the plate.”
Offensively, Perry and Manor worked together to help their side to its lone run in the win.
“Rick laced a triple to left field and was driven in by Manor to score the only run of the game,” said Demas.
The Lancers received another strong mound performance in their Friday road game at Bedford. Alas, Dakota Robinson’s excellent relief effort came with his squad trailing by a handful of runs.
“Dakota came in with the bases loaded in the second inning with us down 6-1. He not only stopped the bleeding, but went on to pitch no-run baseball the rest of the game. It was an impressive showing out of the bullpen and one we hope he can continue to do,” stated Demas.
At the plate, Manor and Anthony Ferraro both contributed two hits.
The 5-8 Londonderry bunch then strode into this week starting with a brief road trip over to Hudson to face an Alvirne contingent which has done its share of scuffling this spring.
And the Lancers’ bullpen continued to be a true strength as it upped its scoreless streak to 13 innings in a 5-4, eight-inning nipping of Alvirne.
The locals’ relievers got down to work with their squad trailing 4-1.
“Travis Peabody was first up and he held Alvirne to one hit and one walk while striking out four batters to keep us in striking distance,” said Demas. “Anthony Ferraro came in to finish it out with two innings of one-strikeout, one-hit ball with two walks. It was looking like a bad day at the ballpark, but the bullpen saved the team.”
After looking flat through the first six frames, the LHS offense got to work late and had Jake Bolduc drive in the tying run and Perry drive in the winning run soon after.
Bolduc finished with two hits and two runs batted in, and Zack Luongo and Brandon Fish each laced two hits in the late win as well.