Even through the losses, eight straight to start the season, the pieces were taking shape. On Thursday, they finally came together for the Pembroke Academy baseball team.
“The hitting, the defense, the pitching, we couldn’t put it all together, but we were starting to put parts of it together,” PA Coach Joshua Coughlin said. “We could tell a win was coming, and today just worked out to be the day.”
The Spartans got defense early, pitching throughout from birthday boy James Fisher and hitting when it mattered most, in the final inning, to claim its first win of the season, a 5-1 decision over Merrimack Valley (2-7).
“The mood was really good after the game, especially with the way it happened, getting four runs in the seventh,” Coughlin said. “We have a young group and they’ve seen us getting to this point and I think they really expected it today.”
Pembroke (1-8) did make some miscues early, but instead of compounding the problems with more mistakes, the Spartans made plays to get out of the jams.
Pembroke took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Chase Ranfos drew a walk with the bases loaded, playing Quinton Paquin. MV tied things in the bottom of the frame when Chad Eaton scored on a first-and-third delayed steal play.
After that, Fisher took control. He celebrated his 18th birthday by pitching all seven innings, striking out two, walking four, giving up four hits and one run and earning the win.
“(Fisher) was battling from behind in the count early in the game, but after that he settled down and worked on attacking the zone with his fastball, and he had his curveball and changeup working keeping them off balance,” Coughlin said.
MV’s Brian Nylen (10 strikeouts) dueled with Fisher until the Spartans attacked with small ball in the seventh. Jared Murray led off with a single before Cole Hapgood and Paquin followed with bunts that the Pride defense mishandled.
“(Bunting) is one aspect of the game that we’re starting to comprehend the last couple of weeks,” Coughlin said. “Throughout the years at Pembroke we haven’t done much of it and we really started to emphasize it this year and we’re starting to grasp it.”
Nylen induced a pair of harmless outs to nearly defuse the situation, but then A.J Gagnon (2-for-4, two RBI) and Connor Locke connected for a pair of back-to-back two-run singles to give Pembroke the win.
“Those were big hits,” Coughlin said. “Nylen kept us off base most of the day but we were just able to get to him in the seventh, especially with the bunts. It was nice, for the first time it wasn’t us making the mistakes. It felt good.”
From coaches’ reports
Timberlane 10, Concord 0
Key players: Concord – Kurtis Stadnicki (triple), Ethan Dupre (hit), Stepan Moran (hit)
Highlights/key moments: Timberlane’s pitching made quick work of the Concord bats, allowing just three hits all game. Concord has lost five of its last seven, while Timberlane has won seven of its last eight.
Coach’s quote: “We faced a very good pitcher. We have to have a short memort and come back ready to play tomorrow.” – Concord’s Scott Owen
Records: Concord 4-5; Timberlane 7-3
John Stark 17, Hanover 1
Key players: John Stark – Jocelyn Dimond (3 runs), Kali Kolehmainen (3 hits, 3 RBI), Gillian McGirr (3 hits, 3 RBI), Haleu Philibotte (2 hits, 2 runs), Yalor MacDonald (2 hits, 2 runs), Delani Dowst (4 IP, 1 hit, 8 K)
Highlights/key moments: John Stark earned its second-straight win over Hanover after a five-game losing streak. The General will play their fourth game in as many days (with three on the road) today when they face Kingswood.
Coach’s quote: “The team definitely has played its best softball on the road and playing three games in three days seems to have gotten us into a nice groove.” – John Stark’s Gerry Morin
Records: John Stark 3-5; MV 0-7
Pembroke 6, Merrimack Valley 1
Key players: MV – Ann Bascom (5 IP, 0 ER), Cassie Carey (2 hits), Katelyn Hill (2 hits)
Highlights/key moments: Pembroke continued its dominant season, with its seventh win in its last eight games. MV, just one game removed from a 16-3 win, falls to 3-6.
Coach’s quote: “We had plenty of chances to break through and put some runs on the board.” – MV’s Sam York
Records: Pembroke 8-2; MV 3-6
Conant 16, Hillsboro-Deering 4
Key players: H-D – Melissa Veicht (2-run HR), Danielle Perham (RBI), Danielle Armstrong (RBI)
Highlights/key moments: A long day for H-D had a few key moments, with Perham earning an RBI with a sac bunt and Armstrong with a sac fly. Veicht’s home run was the last of H-D’s runs.
Coach’s quote: “We played hard (while) short-handed and that is all I can ask of my girls. Conant played terrific in every facet of the game.” – H-D’s Shawn Atkins
Records: H-D 1-6; Conant 5-2
Concord 9, Bishop Guertin 0
Key players: Concord – Justin Toler (8-5 win at No. 1), Aidan Connor (8-2 win No. 2), Adam Bryant (8-3 win No. 3), Sebastian Hart-Meyer (8-0 win No. 4), Matt Chorlian (8-2 win No. 5), Kevin Neary (8-2 win No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: The Tide won its fourth straight match, and earned its third 9-0 result, in the chill at Memorial Field. After sweeping the singles, which featured the second straight 8-0 win for Hart-Meyer, Concord rolled through the doubles with wins from Toler and Connor (8-6), Hart-Meyer and Chorlian (8-1) and Bryant and Neary (8-1).
Coach’s quote: “The lower doubles showed progress as beat a young but talented BG team that was better than its record indicated.”
Records: Concord 7-1, Bishop Guertin 2-5
Bow 5, Kearsarge 4
Key players: Kearsarge – Tyler Valovic (8-6 win at No. 1 singles), Tucker Valovic (8-3 win at No. 2), Ty. Valovic/Tu. Valovic (9-7 win at No. 1 doubles), Jack Van Etten/Charles O’Connor (8-2 win at No. 2); Bow – Evan Alfano (8-2 win at No. 3 singles), Aditya Shah (8-6 win at No. 4), Jack Olson (8-5 win at No. 5), Owen Molind (8-5 win at No. 6), Olson/Molind (9-7 win at No. 3 doubles)
Highlights/key moments: Kearsarge lost its first match of the season in dramatic fashion. O’Connor held a 5-1 lead at one point in the No. 4 singles match, but ended up losing 9-7. The Cougars also went back and forth in the No. 3 doubles, but lost 9-7 as well.
Coach’s quote: “In a 5-4 match I often say that comes down to coaching, so that one is on me. It was a very nice match, good sportsmanship all around, but we want another shot at them. Hopefully in the playoffs.” – Kearsarge’s Lynn Miller
Records: Kearsarge 6-1; Bow 5-1
Man. Central 5, Concord 4
Key players: Concord Sabrina Hart-Meyer (8-6 win at No. 5 singles), Irene Escobar (8-6 win at No. 6), Hart-Meyer/Colleen Casey (8-4 win at No. 2 doubles), Escobar/Olivia Cattabriga (9-8 win at No. 3)
Highlights/key moments: There were four close matches at the No. 2, 5 and 6 singles and 3 doubles, with Concord capturing three of them.
Coach’s quote: “Tough match for us, great tennis. Lots to work on now for the playoffs.” – Concord’s Rebecca Killinger
Records: Concord 4-3; Central 5-0
Bow 9, Kearsarge 0
Key players: Bow – Laura Zbehlik (8-0 win at No. 1 singles), Nandita Kaseretty (8-3 win at No. 2), Claire Mulvaney (8-6 win at No. 3), Sarah Zecha (8-7 win at No. 4), Julia Currier (8-0 win at No. 5), Izzy Urbing (8-0 win at No. 6), Zbelhik/Mulvaney (8-0 win at No. 1 doubles) Kaseretty/Zecha (8-1 win at No. 2), Currier/Katrina Wells (8-1 win at No. 3)
Highlights/key moments: Bow swept Kearsarge for the team’s sixth straight win.
Coach’s quote: “Bow has a strong, deep team. The match of the day was definitely fourth singles, which was tight through the entire match and Bow took it in a tiebreaker. Well played by Morganne Flinkstrom.” – Kearsarge’s Laura Joslinking
Records: Bow 6-0; Kearsarge 1-7
Pembroke 14, Merrimack Valley 6
Key players: Pembroke – Celia Sartwell (5 goals) Alise Friel (4 goals), Courtney Jacques (2 goals) Shania Clark (2 goals), Emilee Harlow (goal), Molly LaCasse (good defense) Abby McIntosh (7 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Pembroke scored early and often, snapping a four-game losing streak. The Spartans have a chance to win two in a row for the first time this year when they take on 2-6 Keene on Monday.
Coach’s quote: “It was an entire team effort for this win, every girl on the team brought their ‘A’ game.” – Pembroke’s Heather Hill
Records: Pembroke 2-7; MV 1-6
Bow 17, ConVal 3
Key players: Bow – Taylor Darrell (5 goals), Sofia Darrell (3 goals), Maggie Vogt (goal, 5 assists), Olivia Krause (2 goals, 2 assists)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons made quick work of ConVal, scoring early and often to earn their third win of the year after dropping two straight contests.
Records: Bow 3-2; ConVal 1-5
John Stark 3, Bishop Guertin 0
Key players: John Stark – Sawyer Lemay (20 serving points), Griffin Caswell (17 serving points)
Highlights/key moments: Stark dominated from start to finish on Wednesday, winning in three straight sets. Caswell had a record 17-straight serving points in the third game, and the match featured a number of extended rallies where both teams pressed the attack and made great plays to keep the ball alive.
Coach’s quote: “This was a very balanced effort from start to finish. We looked great defensively and consistently turned defense into offense. The setters made smart decisions that helped give our hitters good single block matchups. The other thing that I’m starting to see is that we’re able to react quickly to situations as they arise. They’re really acting like a single, cohesive unit.” – John Stark’s Dave Simeone
Records: John Stark 5-3; Bishop Guertin 1-7