The Londonderry High School baseball team opened the week with a tough loss but responded with three strong victories, improving to 13-5 and holding a spot in the top five of the Division I standings heading into the final week of the regular season.
The Lancers are realistically projected to earn the No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the state championship tournament.
On Monday, May 18, Londonderry suffered an 8-3 home loss to Alvirne, a team that finished the week at 4-12 and is not expected to qualify for the tournament.
The Broncos broke the game open with a six-run fourth inning, collecting six singles and a double while also capitalizing on an outfield error.
The surge proved too much for the Lancers to overcome.
Three Londonderry pitchers combined to allow 12 hits and five earned runs in the team’s fifth loss of the season. Offensively, the Lancers recorded seven hits, including a double by third baseman Jace Ruggiero.
Two days later, in the state capital, Londonderry bounced back with a 5-2 win over Concord, handing the Crimson Tide its ninth loss of the season. Ruggiero led the way, going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
First baseman Caden Jordan added two doubles and delivered a strong defensive performance. Colin Philcrantz pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six and walking two.
The Lancers totaled seven hits and struck out just four times.
On Friday, May 22, Londonderry earned another win, defeating Central Catholic of Lawrence, Massachusetts, 4-2 at home.
Casey Marsh picked up the win, facing 29 batters while allowing three hits, striking out seven, and walking four. The Lancers finished with eight hits-two from center fielder Carter Washington-while drawing two walks and striking out eight times.
A decisive three-run sixth inning sealed the victory, highlighted by a double from Sam Iorio and a triple by Brody Labbe.
Londonderry closed out the week in Nashua against North, delivering a dominant 9-0 shutout.
The Lancers recorded 10 hits and struck out just once en route to their 13th win. Cam O’Donnell earned the victory, pitching six innings while striking out eight, walking two, and allowing just three hits.
Washington led the offense with three hits, while Iorio and Jaylon Stott each added two.
The Lancers wrap up the regular season this week with a home game against Nashua South (8-8) on Tuesday, followed by a road matchup at Windham (8-8) on Wednesday.