2013 Season

#11 Exeter over #3 North 5-1  IMHO Nashua North was the one team that had the best chance to derail the Lancers.  Mike Robert was pitching great into the third but apparently let the condition of the mound get to him.  Several walks and a hit batter gave Exeter a 2-0 lead.  Exeter’s James Mundy handled it much better striking out five and giving up just one run.  It was still a game at 2-1 in the 5^th, but another walk, some shaky defense and a few Exeter hits made it 5-1 and that took Robert out of the game.  North's last two regular season games were losses.  At the time, I didn't think too much about it, but now I'm starting to think that was a trend.  North was a real good team this year, with first team all state players Matt Fortin, Kyle McCarthy, Mike Robert, and others, but in this game Exeter was better in all areas.

#1 Londonderry over #8 Timberlane 4-1 Timberlane was faced with the daunting task of having to beat the #1 seeded Lancers with ace Ryan Moloney taking the hill.  Give the Owls some credit.  They took a quick 1-0 lead in the first, but didn’t hold it long giving up two in the bottom half making it 2-1 Londonderry.  However, after Junior lefty Sam Fay got through that 1^st inning, he settled down and kept his team in the game until the Lancers were able to score two in the 6^th.  This game would not have been as close as it was if not for some fundamental base running blunders by Londonderry.  It’s bad enough to have a runner get thrown out at home by a mile with one out; it’s another thing to have a runner commit the cardinal sin of making the third out at third base. Yet somehow the Lancers were able to do both of these on the SAME play.  This entire tournament has been a clinic on how NOT to coach third base, and this play was no different.  Fortunately for Londonderry, they have the players that cover up fundamental shortcomings.  Many teams have these shortcomings but unlike most teams, Londonderry has the talent to gloss over them.  On this day it was Ryan Moloney who’s 3 hit, 7 strikeout performance in a game that was close throughout, showed why he’s the best pitcher left in this tournament and maybe the best overall. It's not often that teams have the luxury to go with their ace in the final.  If the Lancers get by Pinkerton on Wednesday, they will have that luxury.

#10 Dover over #2 Concord 7-3  Dover didn’t exactly set the world on fire heading into the playoffs.  Losing your last three games is not exactly how you want to head into the post season.  That said, Dover is one of those teams that might just be “built for the tournament.”  Dover has two legitimate starters in Kyle Sewards and Anthony Lupi.   In this one, Sewards did give up seven hits but only one earned run.  His offense made it easier for him by getting out to quick 5-0 lead in the 2^nd.  The big hit came when Aaron Dennis smacked a two run double off Concord starter John Clary making it 3-1.  That was it for Clary but from this point it looked like Concord didn’t have much left in the pitching department.  Aside from taking advantage of walks and errors, Dover also hit the ball well.  Concord, with Josh Partridge emerging like he did, should contend next year as they always do.  They will need a bit more depth at pitching to do it. Dover on the other hand, with Sewards and Lupi, have a legitimate chance this year.

Wednesday will be a lot of fun. Exeter & Dover are a great matchup. Very similar teams when they have their #1's going. Both of these teams have lost to Londonderry & Pinkerton.

As far as LDerry & Pinkerton- This is the game I am looking forward to. Can Pinkerton continue to play like they have been? I think so. This should be a classic rivalry game. I think a close game that will come down to the last inning.

Congrats & good luck to all four teams!!

#13 Pinkerton over #5 Spaulding 4-0  CBMDad saved me some work here.  See his earlier post as he broke down this game pretty darn well.

I’ll just add that when the season started it seemed like Pinkerton and Spaulding had opposite identities.  Pinkerton was the team that just didn’t know how to win.  Losing several close games until they finally figured it out.  Spaulding was the team that didn’t know how to lose, winning most of their earlier games by one run.  Spaulding finished at 11-7 and proved that they were indeed a solid team.  Unfortunately for them, they ran into a team that not only figured out how win, but right now they're playing with as much confidence as anyone.  As CBMDad said, Connor Donaue and Andrew Herlihy have not given up any runs in the post season and between Donahue, Cahill and others, this team has been playing solid defense as well. Remember, a few weeks back with just five games remaining on their schedule, Pinkerton had a total of three wins.  THREE wins!   Now they are one win away from a chance at a Division I state championship. 

I'm looking forward to today's doubleheader.  My prediction: Exeter behind a strong outing from Joyce and lots of senior leadership will prevail over Dover 3-1, and Londonderry will squeak by Pinkerton 5-3.  both games will feature pitching, pretty clean defense, and a timely hit or two that will make the difference.  Great to see 2 seacoast teams make it this far, and we are certain to get one into the final.  Nice job!  

Last night's game between Londonderry and Pinkerton was an amazing game from both teams. Tommy Corey and Connor Donahue battled for 5+ innings before Corey was relieved by Del Signore in the 6th who pitched out of a potential game tying jam. All three pitchers had their stuff working, especially the offspeed, and kept the hitters off balance. For Londonderry, Geoff Kayo provided the offense with two 2b's and Londonderry played solid defense to get the win. Londonderry is a fundamentally sound team that does not give you extra outs and has players that know how to win.

As for Pinkerton, Coach Campo has those guys believing and while it stings to lose a close game like that it certainly helps build confidence in what is a young team. He took a program that has been underachieving for years, given their enrollment, and has them on the right track to becoming an annual top tier program. Auburn starts going there full time next year too so that should only add to what is a deep program and with almost the entire starting nine back, including Donahue and Gerossie on the hill, they are shaping up to be a very strong team next year with some solid veteran leadership in Rossi, Donahue, Diskin and crew.

The state championship game could get very intersting should the rain push the game back to Sunday, I believe that would make Ethan Joyce eligible to pitch again. Either way Exeter has been playing great during these playoffs, upsetting Alvirne and North, and it should be a good game  but I think Londonderry has been the team to beat all year and will prevail on Sat/Sun in a close game.     

A great game that unfortunately someone had to lose.  It came down to an 0-2 pitch to Kayo with runners at 1st and 2nd and 2-outs in the bottom of the 4th.  The ball was up, but didn't seem to be a fastball. That's the one you ask for a do-over. 

I thought it was destiny when Gerossie reached on an error leading-off the top of the 7th. The sac bunt that followed was well executed down the 1st base line, but the athleticism of Delsignore (he covered a lot of ground) and his flip to first, prevented a dangerous 1st and 2nd, no one out situation

Great season, great turn around by Steve Campo's Pinkerton ball club.  

Good luck to Londonderry on Saturday.

Exeter's Joyce was dominant in what I saw of the early game.  

I wonder if Lupi had 6 more pitches in his arm, when he exited with 2 on and two outs after walking a batter (I thought he struck the kid out twice in the AB) and Joyce coming to bat.....I wanted  to see the lefty on lefty match-up that would have followed if Lupi intentionally walked the POY.  It may have been a difference maker. 

Congrats to Exeter for their championship run this year!  Strong senior leadership (8 seniors) and some solid pitching, quality D and timely hitting carried them to the title.  Second team all-state Tyler Grant just keeps winning championships after his football career winds down.  With Portsmouth winning D2 and Somersworth chasing D3 it is a good day for "greater seacoast" teams.  Great season by Londonderry, they were the team to beat all year, nothing to hang their heads about.

Just now getting back on the site.  What did I miss? 

I want congratulate Exeter on their unbelievable run to win the Div 1 state championship.  An amazing accomplishment ending with an improbable win against a Londonderry team, that in my opinion, had the best overall talent, both hitting and pitching.  All the more reason to admire what this Exeter team did.  You have to commend the Exeter coaches.  They were able to instill a confidence in their players that they could go out and beat a team that handed them a 16-0 defeat just a few weeks prior.  While they were able to win this game against Londonderry ace Ryan Moloney, it's hard to blame a kid who only gives up just one earned run.  If the Lancers had scored more runs, I think we'd be talking about how well this kid pitched in this game.  Unfortunately for them, they weren't able to, due to right hander James Mundy (the starter in the 16-0  game). He was able to hold the Lancer hitters to just two runs.  After Exeter tied this game in the third, each inning that passed, you had the feeling that they were loosening and Londonderry was tightening.  In the previous two playoff games Londonderry got away with a few base running mistakes but were able to overcome them.  You had to wonder if this problem would eventually catch up with them.  I'm not sure if there's a record for making the final out at third base, but Londonderry has to be up there. This time the would-be tying run was gunned down at third to end the 5th inning.  It was a fine play by Exeter, but personally, I would be okay with that guy safe and sound on 2nd base which is also scoring position.

Anyway, the Londonderry players should be congratulated for the terrific season they had.  They were best team in Division 1 for the entire season except the one day that counted most.  On that day, Exeter was the better team. Congratulations Exeter!