The fourth-ranked Londonderry High School softball squad was the favorite heading into its Division I opening-round tournament game against number 13 Keene at LHS Wednesday, June 1. But when the final out of that contest was recorded, the Lady Lancers were left lamenting the fact that their uniforms would be having to go into mothballs until next spring.
The visiting Keene High Lady Blackbirds – who lost their first eight games of the 2016 season and were an awful 1-12 after 13 contests – managed a 3-2 edging of the host Lady Lancers to move on in the tourney.
Keene plated its first run in the top of the first inning, but Londonderry knotted the score at 1-1 in the latter half of the second. The visitors then drove to a 3-1 advantage by scoring twice in the top of the third, and the Lady Lancers ended the scoring by tallying once more in the bottom of the sixth as they attempted to come back from their modest deficit.
The locals – who finished the regular season with a strong 14-5 record and five consecutive victories – ended the day with 11 hits, but were not able to drive in runs when it counted. Sarah Fawcett laced three hits and Elizabeth DeVoss and Lauren Misiaszek each claimed two.
The LHS softball team wore the Keene crew out in a 13-1 blowout when the squads met up at Londonderry High on May 20. But the Lady Blackbirds – who finished the 2016 regular season by winning six of their last seven contests – had what it took in the rematch.
LHS infielder Val Shay makes a beautiful defensive play in her team’s tourney loss to Keene.
Lady Lancer pitcher Andi Nelson covers home plate on a passed ball during her team’s stunning tournament loss to Keene. Photos by Chris Paul