Winnisquam lost the first three games of its baseball season and sat at 2-5 after a month. But the Bears have turned things around in May, and Tuesday’s 9-1 win against Gilford extended their winning streak to four and pushed their record to 6-5, the first time its been above .500 this spring.
“We had a tough schedule early in the season, and for a relatively young team with not a lot of varsity experience, that was tough,” Winnisquam Coach Fred Caruso said. “It was kind of a feeling out process, but I knew that if we could weather the storm we would get better, and our pitching has come around.”
Leading that pitching resurgence has been senior Tim Harmon and he was at it again on Tuesday. Harmon retired the first 13 batters he faced and took a perfect game into the fifth before giving up an infield single. He finished the game with four strikeouts and no walks in five innings of work, threw a first-pitch strikes to the 16 batters he faced and never had a three-ball count.
In his last three games, Harmon is 3-0 with 21 strikeouts, two walks and just five hits allowed in 19 innings of work.
“He’s been fantastic,” Caruso said of Harmon. “He’s developed a nice splitter that acts as a changeup and gets everyone out on their front foot with that and makes his fastball look a little quicker. And our catcher is a sophomore, Bryce Corey, and he’s doing a great job.”
The Bears supported Harmon right away with two runs in the first. Christian Serrano (1-for-1, two walks, three runs) drew a one-out walk and scored on a triple from Jake Snow, who eventually came home on an error. That lead moved to 3-0 in the third when Jack Decormier singled, stole second and scored on a single from Harmon.
Winnisquam broke things open with four two-out runs in the fourth. Josh Shevlin started things with a one-out walk and went to second on a bunt from Hunter Tierney. That bit of small ball, “kind of got things moving for us,” Caruso said.
Shevlin took third and scored on two wild pitches. Serrano came through with a single, Lowrey followed with an RBI triple, Decormier doubled to plate Lowrey and a single from Snow sent Decormier home to make it 7-0.
“The two-out hits were huge and we had a bunch of those today,” Caruso said.
The Bears added two more in the sixth as Snow connected for his second RBI triple of the day and Harmon came through with another run-scoring double.
Lowrey pitched the final two innings, giving up one hit and allowing an unearned run in the seventh.
The Bears did commit an error in that final frame, but they had been flawless up to that point. Decormier had six assists from second base during the first five innings, and Snow came through with an unassisted double play at third base in the sixth.
“Defense and good pitching will win you high school baseball games,” Caruso said. “That’s been our recipe the last couple of weeks and if we can continue to do that, it will be nice.”
(Tim O’Sullivan can be reached at 369-3341 or at tosullivan@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @timosullivan20)
From coaches’ reports
Bishop Brady 18, Farmington 3
Key players: Bishop Brady — Mario Fusco (2 hits, 3-run home run), Tom Blandini (4 runs), Ian MacDonald (triple, 3 runs)
Highlights/key moments: Brady got off to a fast start, scoring two runs in both of the first two innings. The Green Giants busted the game open with a seven-run third, highlighted by Fusco’s three-run home run.
Records: Bishop Brady 7-5; Farmington 0-11
Berlin 5, Franklin 3
Key players: Franklin – Harrison Clark (6 IP, 2 strikeouts), Max Joyce (2-for-3, double, triple, 2 runs scored)
Highlights/key moments: Joyce led off the seventh with a triple off the left field fence, scoring on a ground out by Bryan Sweet. Tyler Arnold then singled, with TJ Laramie taking a walk to get the tying run on. But Berlin was able shut the door and end the Franklin rally.
Records: Berlin 7-6; Franklin 5-6
Epping 7, Pittsfield 3
Highlights/key moments: Pittsfield found itself in a 5-0 hole before closing the gap to 5-3 in the sixth inning. Epping responded with two more runs in the bottom half of the frame to pull away.
Records: Epping 4-7; Pittsfield 5-8
Franklin 8, Berlin 5, 8 inn.
Key players: Franklin – Kaylee Marshe (4 IP, run, 2 hits, 9 strikeouts), Hailey Haskins and Hanne Nichols (2 hits each)
Coach’s quote: “After an excellent outing on Monday that ended in a loss, Kaylee Marshe came into the game in the fourth in relief today and shut Berlin down until the bottom of the seventh. After we scored three in the top of the eighth, she struck out the side to end the game.” – Franklin’s Skip DuBois
Records: Franklin 10-1; Berlin 8-4
Gilford 2, Winnisquam 0
Key players: Winnisquam – Lauren Bolstridge (2-for-3, triple), Marissa DeBlasie (hit), Ema Atherton (double)
Highlights/key moments: It was very much a pitchers’ duel between the two teams, with both Gilford and Winnisquam picking up four hits a piece. Winnisquam had a few chances to get on the scoreboard, but the Bears stranded five runners in scoring position.
Records: Gilford 8-4; Winnisquam 6-5
Epping 12, Pittsfield 0
Key players: Pittsfield — Alyssa Sullivan and Ari Cyr (hit each), Emily Thompson (hit, stolen base)
Records: Epping 5-6; Pittsfield 0-13
Stevens 6, Kearsarge 4
Key players: Kearsarge – Ashley Thompson (1-for-3, RBI, 2 runs; 5 IP, 4 hits, 3 K, 2 BB), Emily Folcik (RBI double)
Highlights/key moments: On Monday, Thompson hit a home run in the first inning to stake herself and the Cougars to a 1-0 lead. Samantha Dow added an RBI single in the third and Folcik’s double plated Sara Young in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Cardinals.
Records: Kearsarge 4-9; Stevens 5-6
Merrimack Valley 18, John Stark 12
Key players: MV – Noah Newton (4 goals, assist), Warren Campbell and Dillon Arrant (4 goals, 3 assists each), Chase Mercier (2 goals), Evan Martin (2 goals, 3 assists), Matt Jarvis (13 saves, 9 in the second half); John Stark – Jake Blanchette (6 goals, 3 assists), Parker McQuarrie (4 goals)
Highlights/key moments: After heading into the half tied at 9, the Pride, led by Martin, scored six goals in the third quarter to propel the team to victory.
Coach’s quote: “We played much better in the second half. Josh Farmer really helped the defense tighten up at the end.” – MV’s Sean O’Brien
Records: MV 5-5; John Stark 5-6
Kearsarge 12, Con-Val 5
Key players: Kearsarge – Justin Norris (5 goals), Colton Wilhelm (3 goals, 1 assist), Tate Nurme (2 goals), David Benjamin (great defense)
Highlights/key moments: Things were tied after the first quarter and the Cougars took a 6-3 lead into halftime. But the Kearsarge defense clamped down in the second half and led the way to a win that could prove valuable for playoff seeding.
Records: Kearsarge 9-3; Con-Val 7-3
Hopkinton 18, Manchester West 4
Key players: Hopkinton — Sam Schuster (4 goals, 3 assists), Bowman Ridinger (2 goals, 3 assists), Joe Cullinan (2 goals, 2 assists), Owen Kanter (2 goals, assist), Tim Jones (2 goals, assist), Prince Mansah (2 goals), Jake Hemmerlein (assist, great defense), Derek Amoth (6 saves, assist)
Records: Hopkinton 6-4; Manchester West 0-10
Hopkinton 13, Lebanon 12
Key players: Hopkinton – Amelia Bassett (4 goals, 3 assists), Lyndon Flanagan (4 goals, 2 assists), Chloe Wood (2 goals, assist), Hannah Bassett (2 assists), Taylor Signor, Elle Morrall (goal), Anna Hoffman (goal), Ivanna Doval (14 saves)
Highlights/key moments: After starting the season 1-5, Hopkinton has started to turn the season around, winning four of its last five.
Records: Hopkinton 13, Lebanon 12
Kearsarge 15, ConVal 4
Key players: Kearsarge – Kaileigh Davis (5 goals) Eleanor Angus (5 assists), Leslie Angus (3 goals, 3 assists), Maicy Hansen (2 goals, 3 assists), Anna Stowell (2 goals, 2 assists), Brie Von Beren (goal), Emilie Webster (goal), Vica Henskens (goal)
Records: Kearsarge 10-2; ConVal 4-6
Pelham 7, Bishop Brady 6
Key players: Bishop Brady – Isabel Leeming (2 goals), Sam Will (goal), Abbey Tremblay (goal), Shannon Druin (goal), Dana Beauregard (goal), Emma Windsor (great game in goal), Mary Anne Wiley (great all-around game)
Highlights/key moments: Bishop Brady failed to complete the comeback after entering the second half down, 5-2. But the Green Giants kept fighting until the end and scored their last goal with eight seconds remaining.
Records: Pelham 8-3; Bishop Brady 2-9
Derryfield 16, Bow 13
Key players: Bow – Taylor Darrell (6 goals), Amanda Murray (3 goals, 2 assists), Julia Landcastle (2 goals, assist)
Highlights/key moments: Pinky Fleury played well in net for Bow, making 11 saves.
Records: Derryfield 10-1; Bow 7-3
Concord 7, Pinkerton 2
Key players: Concord – Justin Toler (8-1 win at No. 1 singles), Adam Bryant (8-6 win at No. 3), Sebastian Hart-Meyer (8-5 win at No. 4), Matt Chorlian (8-5 win at at No. 5), Kevin Neary 8-6
Highlights/key moments: The Crimson Tide faced a steady, talented team in Pinkerton, but Concord still found a way to take care of business in singles play. Toler and Aidan Conner won 8-3 at first doubles while Bryant and Neary teamed for an 8-6 win at third doubles.
Coach’s quote: “Give credit to Justin Toler, who led from wire to wire against one of the state’s top players, and the three through six singles, who won four, hard-fought matches.” – Concord’s Dave Page
Records: Concord 11-1; Pinkerton 8-4
Bishop Brady 5, Coe-Brown 4
Key players: Brady – Sydney Herrington (8-0 win at No. 1 singles), Ravalika Damerla (8-5 win at No. 2), Iantha Beane (8-6 win at No. 3), Ellen Owsowitz (8-3 win at No. 5)
Highlights/key moments: Brady captains Beane and Damerla both beat players they had lost to during Brady’s 6-3 loss at Coe-Brown on April 11. Damerla came back from a 5-2 deficit while Beane had to endure several marathon games and points. Herrington and Damerla came through with an 8-2 win at first doubles to seal the team victory.
Coach’s quote: “Coe-Brown’s 8-4 record made them the clear favorite today, but captains Beane and Damerla, and senior Ellen Owsowitz, led the way to the upset win.” – Brady’s Lee Herrington
Records: Bishop Brady 4-8; Coe-Brown 8-5
Concord first
Key players: Concord – Dalton Mutz (1st 100), Angel Feliz (1st 200), Matt Adams (1st 400), Alex Saveliev (1st 800), Jamie Wilkes (1st 1,600), Jacob Nichol (1st 300 hurdles), Nate Hillyer (1st high jump), Sam Orzechowski (1st triple jump), Jackson Wilkes (1st pole vault), Kevin Suarez (1st shot put)
Highlights/key moments: The Crimson Tide celebrated Senior Day with a dual-meet win against Alvirne.
Coach’s quote: “The boys had an outstanding day and finished their season 4-1. They are ready for the postseason.” – Concord’s Hayden Daly
GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD
Concord 90, Alvirne 55
Key players: Concord – Grace Devanny (1st 100), Michaella Connery (1st 800, 1st in 1,600), Cassie Shea (1st in 3,200), Rebecca Bosa (1st 300 hurdles), Kat Jepson (1st high jump), Marissa Neal (1st pole vault), Ennosen Yen (1st long jump), Abby Hemeon and Julia Miville (tied-1st shot put), Yelena Beausoleil (1st discus)
Coach’s quote: “I can’t tell you how many girls had personal bests, but it was a ton. They finished 4-1 and that is the best we have done in quite some time.” – Concord’s Hayden Daly