About a half-hour before the first pitch against Pembroke Academy, Laconia’s Jake Nelson wasn’t even in the starting lineup. By the end of the game, Nelson was the hero.
The senior shrugged off an ankle injury and lifted the Sachems to their first win of the season on Tuesday, delivering the walk-off, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to knock off the Spartans, 6-5, in a Division II contest at Robbie Mills Field.
“I want to say around 3:30 or so he wasn’t even in the lineup,” Laconia Coach Jon Myers said. “He said he was fine, we put him in the game luckily and obviously he played the whole game and then ended up coming up with a huge hit with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.”
Trailing 5-4 in the seventh, Nelson finally got the Sachems (1-4) into the win column, slapping his lone hit of the game for a double into the outfield to plate Steven Poloquin and Bradley Weeks for the dramatic victory over the Spartans (2-4).
“It’s a lot of pressure but he’s been around and played a lot of baseball,” Myers said. “He’s certainly a kid you can rely on to come up with a clutch hit.”
The win was setup by a solid pitching performance from freshman Ryan Dee, who gave Laconia 5 ⅔ innings in his second career start. Dee allowed just two earned runs on five hits while piling up eight strikeouts before giving way to reliever Thomas Turpin, who earned the win.
“He pitched great,” Myers said. “I mean you can’t ask for any more from a freshman. The kids throws very hard, got a great curveball and has a very good presence on the mound. I really couldn’t be happier with his pitching performance so far.”
While Nelson finished with the big hit, Weeks had the hot bat, going 2-for-4 with a RBI double and scoring three times. Junior Jack Maher and freshmen Tyler Richter and Ryan Chandler all picked up one RBI apiece.
Following the loss of nine seniors from last year’s team, Myers is hoping this young group can use Tuesday’s performance as springboard for more success going forward.
“Today was our first win but these last few games we’ve certainly hung tough with some quality teams,” Myers said. “It’s a young team but we’re gaining confidence and certainly today, to come up with a win, helps that even more.”
(Jay McAree can be reached at 369-3371, jmcaree@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @JayMcAree.)
Bishop Brady 8, Berlin 1
Key players: Brady – Jamie Cookingham (2 RBI), Lily Rivera (RBI), Aniecia Vargas (RBI), Maddy Rines (3 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: The Green Giants got things started with three quick runs and held a 4-1 lead after four innings. Brady added four more runs in the seventh thanks to a two-run double from Rines.
Coach’s quote: The pitching and catching combo of Rivera and Cookingham kept Berlin hitters off-balance.” – Brady’s Freddy Rivera
Records: Brady 6-0; Berlin 1-5
Merrimack Valley 18, Memorial 1
Key players: MV – Max Lacey (3 goals, assist), Dillon Arrant (2 goals, assist), Colby Mercier (3 goals), Chase Mercier (2 goals), Evan Martin (2 goals), Ryan Neylon (2 goals)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride stayed in control for almost the entire game winning 19 of 23 faceoffs.
Coach’s quote: “We played better in the middle of the field – our transitions were better.” – MV’s Sean O’Brien
Records: MV 2-2; Memorial 0-5
Kingswood 16, Pembroke 8
Key players: Pembroke – Jake McDonald (3 goals), Glenn Dion (3 goals), Jayden Anderson (goal, 2 assists)
Highlights/key moments: The Spartans pulled within two goals in the third quarter, but Kingswood netted another 18 seconds later and scored three more in the quarter to grab the win.
Coach’s quote: “Our faceoff guys worked really hard, but the extra possessions they had really hurt us. This is a quality opponent that played a strong game.” – Pembroke’s Timothy Vasconcellos
Records: Pembroke 3-2; Kingswood 2-3
John Stark 15, Merrimack Valley 5
Key players: Stark – Piper MacLean (3 goals), Rylee Ledoux (3 goals), Mackenzie Nase (goal, 3 assists, 6 draw controls), Cady Loos (2 goals), Abbey Brandt (2 goals)
Highlights/key moments: The Generals opened the contest by scoring six goals in the first 10 minutes for a 13-3 halftime lead. Ten different players scored, including Autumn Nelson, who netted her first varsity goal.
Coach’s quote: “The girls continued to improve, especially on the draw and groundballs and controlled the ball throughout.” – Stark’s John Warner
Records: Stark 4-2; MV 3-3
Coe-Brown 8, St. Thomas 1
Key players: Coe-Brown – Gareth Owen, Nate Griffiths, Nick Sanderson, Todd Holman, Don Maccallum
Highlights/key moments: The Bears swept all three doubles matches to win their fourth straight contest.
Coach’s quote: ‘Solid win by the boys today. Everyone played well.” – Coe-Brown’s Sam Struthers
Records: Coe-Brown 5-2; St. Thomas 2-2
Coe-Brown 7, Trinity 1
Key players: Coe-Brown – Cameryn Chick (8-4 singles win), Megan Wimsatt (8-0 win), Jillian Gordon (8-2 win), Emory Travers (9-7 win), Sarah Turmel (8-2 win)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears finished off their fifth straight win by snagging a pair of victories in doubles on Monday. Chick and Wimsatt paired up to win 8-3, and Meski Wallace and Mary Thoms claimed an 8-2 win at No. 3.
Records: Coe-Brown 5-2; Trinity 0-4
Coe-Brown 9, St. Thomas 0
Key players: Coe-Brown – Chick (8-6 win at No. 1), Wimsatt (8-4 win at No. 2), Gordon (8-2 win at No. 3), Sandra Black (8-2 win at No. 4), Travers (9-7 win at No. 5), Turmel (8-2 win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: Coe-Brown won the match in singles, but swept all three doubles as well for its sixth straight win.
Coach’s quote: “Strong win. A confidence booster for all the players.” – Coe-Brown’s Mark Struthers
Records: Coe-Brown 6-2; St. Thomas 3-2
Bow 8, Lebanon 1
Key players: Bow – Nandita Kasiereddy (8-2 win at No. 1), Claire Mulvaney (8-0 win at No. 2 ), Izzy Urbina (8-1 win at No. 3), Emma Conley (8-0 win at No. 5), Isabelle Dolcino (8-1 win at No. 5), Lara Chern (8-0 at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: Alyssa Harping and Lauren Gallier picked up a win at No. 3 doubles, 9-8 (7-5), in their first varsity match and Bow ran its winning streak to six matches.
Records: Bow 6-0; Lebanon 0-4
Exeter 7, Bishop Brady 2
Key players: Brady – Sydney Herrington (8-1 win at No. 1 singles)
Highlights/key moments: The Green Giants lost a number of close matches, but were able to pick up their second win at No. 1 doubles thanks to the pairing of Herrington and Ravalika Damerla.
Coach’s quote: “A step forward for our young team as Exeter will be in the final four at season’s end.” – Brady’s Lee Herrington
Records: Brady 0-4; Exeter 6-0
Inter-Lakes 5, White Mountains 2
Key players: Inter-Lakes – Gabrielle Nedeau (8-2 win at No. 1), Alissa Floyd (8-0 win at No. 2), Ella St. Cyr (8-1 win at No. 4), Molly Kernan (8-6 win at No. 5)
Highlights/key moments: The Lakers picked up their first win of the season, turning their success at the top of the ladder in singles to a No. 1 doubles win with great matches from Floyd and Nedeau.
Records: Inter-Lakes 1-4; White Mountains 0-7
Concord 102, Salem 25
Key players: Concord – Dalton Mutz (won 100-meter dash), Sam Orzechowski (won 200), Pat Hall (won 400), Colin Conery (won 800, 1600), Jacob Nichol (won 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Nate Hillyer (won high jump, triple jump), Manny Feliz (won long jump), Kevin Suarez (won shot put)
Highlights/key moments: Concord won 13 events, including both the 4×100 and 4×400 relays to pick up a dual meet win on Tuesday.
Coach’s quote: “We had a few pleasant surprises this meet. Pat Hall is having a great season and has had some solid races as of late. The distance crew looks about as solid as any team in the state.” – Concord’s Hayden Daly
Coe-Brown 83 (first),
Merrimack Valley 61 (second)
Key players: Coe-Brown – Gabe Deely (won 800-meter run), Kyshaun Rowell (won 300 IM hurdles), Orion Clachar (won long jump), Shawn Spenard (won triple jump), Isaiah Allen (won shot put); MV – Joey Baylus (won 200, 110 hurdles), Matthew Reynolds (won 3200),
Highlights/key moments: After winning the Black Bear Invitational over the weekend, the Bears were back it at on Tuesday with a victory in a four-school meet hosted by Souhegan.
Concord 112, Salem 22
Key players: Sarah Waite (won 100-meter dash), Grace Devanny (won 200, 400), Allison Silverstein (won 800), Jennika Mannesto (won 1600), Molly Brag (won 3200), Rebecca Bosa (won 100 hurdles), Hannah Barton (won pole vault), Ennosen Yen (won long jump, triple jump), Julia Miville (won shot put), Stephanie Oberg (won javelin)
Highlights/key moments: The Tide enjoyed a handful of breakout performances to easily beat Salem in a mid-week dual meet on Tuesday.
Coach’s quote: “This was a good confidence booster for the girls’ team.” – Concord’s Hayden Daly
Merrimack Valley 88 (first),
Coe-Brown 59.5 (third)
Key players: MV – Kaitlyn Covell (won 200-meter dash, 100 hurdles), Kristie Schoffield (won 400, 1600, triple jump), Emma York (won 3200), Asia Grace-Hanson (won javelin); Coe-Brown – Mabel Mackey (won 100), Rebekah Hinrichsen (won 300 IM hurdles), Kathleen Collins (won shot put, discus)
Highlights/key moments: In a four-school meet hosted by Souhegan, Schoffield and Covell carried the Pride to a first-place finish.