There’s a level of confidence that oozes from the Concord High baseball team’s dugout. It doesn’t stem from over-inflated egos or a belief that the Tide can’t be beat, but rather a sense of self-assurance that with the number of both talented and experienced arms on the pitching staff, each game truly offers a chance for a win.
“I think it gives us that feeling that we’re going to be in every single game we come into,” Concord Coach Scott Owen said after yet another stingy performance on the mound during Friday’s 5-1 win over Manchester Central at Memorial Field. “Even if we haven’t scored in the first three or four innings, we’re not too, too worried, which can be a good and bad thing. But it certainly gives us confidence that we’re going to be in every game.”
That pitching, along with a slew of sure-handed fielders on defense, has been a staple for the Tide. But it’s been an awakening of the bats that have helped Concord emerge from an early-season lull into a contender in Division I.
After a 3-4 start to the season where all four losses came by two runs or less, the Tide (9-5) has now won six of its last seven games, outscoring its opponents, 50-16, and holding them to 2.3 runs per contest over that span.
“Our hitting has come around and that’s been the difference,” Owen said. “The pitching and defense has been there all year. … The bottom line is that we’re hitting the ball now and if you can pitch, play good defense and hit a little bit, that’s pretty dangerous.”
The Tide did all three to pick up the victory on Friday.
Backed by a pair of runs early and three more late, senior southpaw Noah Wachter coasted through seven innings against the Little Green (6-5), quickly carving his way through the lineup en route to a complete-game victory.
“He’s pitched great all year,” Owen said. “He’s commanded the strike zone. He attacks hitters and I thought he did a great job today of that. I thought he did a great job of making them put the ball in play.”
At times, Wachter did work to contact for quick innings when he needed them. Other times, he just made sure there would be no contact at all. He allowed one run on six hits and three walks, piling up nine strikeouts – six coming with batters looking.
“I think everything was working at a point,” Wachter said. “Sometimes a couple things missed, but other than that, I felt really good.”
The trio of Wachter, catcher Kurtis Stadnicki and pitching Coach Josh Jarnot worked the game plan to near perfection against a solid Central squad. The Little Green didn’t scratch across its lone run until the sixth inning on an infield single, but Wachter promptly struck out Nate Goonan to end the threat.
Wachter said sometimes he’ll discuss an approach on the mound with Jarnot, but mostly he just throws whatever his coach puts down.
“It really depends on the team,” Wachter said. “Sometimes we’ll have a pregame talk with some of the kids on the team if we know what they can do, but most of the time (Jarnot) is just back there calling the shots, calling the pitches and he does a good job at it.”
The Tide made sure Wachter’s outing wouldn’t go unrewarded with a three-run fifth frame. Zach Miles and Stadnicki knocked in runs with back-to-back RBI singles that put Concord on top 4-0, and Wachter did himself a favor on the mound with his bat, adding a sacrifice fly.
Concord has four games left on its schedule with a critical meeting on the road against Dover (11-2) on tap for Monday. Wachter knows there’s still a long way to go, but he’s certainly enjoying the Tide’s winning ways.
“The last few years we’ve been 5-13 I think it is, and this year we just came in and didn’t want to lose anymore,” Wachter said. “We got a lot of heart this year and that’s what I think is driving us. Everyone on the team does their job and that’s what gets us the wins.”
(Jay McAree can be reached at 369-3371, jmcaree@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @JayMcAree.)
Merrimack Valley 3, Pembroke Academy 1
Key players: MV – Brian Nylen (7 IP, 3 H), Caleb Chevarie (2-for-3, 2 RBI); Pembroke – Quinton Paquin (2-for-3, double), James Bonenfant (1-for-3, double), AJ Gagnon (5 ⅔ IP, 5 K, 2 BB, 6 H)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride took a 1-0 lead when Mark Barton led off the second with a double and came home on a single from Chevarie. MV added two runs in the sixth on its way to the win. Pembroke scoerd on back-to-back doubles from Paquin and Bonenfant in the seventh.
Coach’s quote: “When we throw strikes and catch the ball we are a pretty good team.” – MV’s Sean Wheeler
Records: MV 4-7; Pembroke 2-10
Lebanon 7, John Stark 3
Key players: John Stark – Nathan Isabelle (3 ⅓ IP, 0 ER, 3 K) Noah Greene (2-for-3, RBI, run)
Highlights/key moments: The Generals committed three errors in the third inning and Lebanon capitalized by scoring five runs.
Coach’s quote: “It’s pretty simple. In five of our six wins we played error-free baseball. In all four of our loses we have made multiple errors.” – John Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: John Stark 6-4; Lebanon 5-7
Kearsarge 6, Inter-Lakes 1
Key players: Kearsarge – Gabe Benedict (7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 K), Tyler Crawford (3 doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Brendan Akpan (2 hits)
Highlights/key moments: Benedict proved troublesome for the Lakers, retiring 17 straight batters during the middle innings to lead the Cougars.
Coach’s quote: “Benedict was in complete control of the game from early on and our defense made some great plays.” – Kearsarge’s Travis Pelletier
Records: Kearsarge 3-9; Inter-Lakes 3-5
Newfound 13, Hillsboro-Deering 0
Key players: H-D – Dustin Van Cleave (hit), Thomas Ferguson (double)
Highlights/key moments: The Hillcats put together only three hits in the game and were shutout for the second straight game.
Coach’s quote: “It was a tough game but hopefully a great experience for these young men.” – H-D’s Erik Hagstrom
Records: Newfound 6-3; H-D 1-9
Hopkinton 8, Newmarket 7, 8 inn.
Key players: Dustin Rose (3-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 doubles), Larsen Burack (3 IP, 3 K, 1 H, 0 R), Mike Baer (3-for-4, RBI, run), Tucker Windhurst (2-for-4, 3 SB, 2 RBI), Caleb Yianakopolos (2-for-4, RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Rose started the game-tying rally in the seventh and finished the game-closing rally in the eighth as the Hawks overcame an early 7-1 deficit and Coach Dave Chase earned his 250th win at Hopkinton.
With one out and his team down, 7-4, in the bottom of the seventh, Rose hit his second straight double. Windhurst followed with an RBI single and eventually scored on an RBI single from Yianakopolos. Kayl Murdough, who reached on a dropped third strike that could have been the final out, eventually came home on a wild pitch to knot things at 7-7.
After Sam Crawford hurled a six-pitch top of the eighth, Baer singled in the bottom half of the extra frame, went to third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on a walkoff hit from Rose.
Coach’s quote: “It was a win for the ages.” – Hopkinton’s Dave Chase
Records: Hopkinton 9-3; Newmarket 8-3
Merrimack Valley 16, Spaulding 2
Key players: MV – Dillon Arrant (2 goals, 4 assists), Coby Mercier (4 goals, 1 assist), Evan Martin (3 goals, 1 assist), Zach LaRoche (2 goals)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride ran its winning streak to six straight with the victory at home.
Records: MV 6-2; Spaulding 3-6
St. Thomas 8, Bow 7, OT
Key players: Bow – Jared Reynolds (2 goals), Brendan Ulrich (3 goals, assist), Chase Chamberlin (12 saves)
Highlights/key moments: St. Thomas scored with three seconds left to force overtime and then won it with a goal in the second overtime.
Coach’s quote: “The kids played their hearts out today and St. Thomas just made one more play than us. I’m really proud of the fight in these kids. Nothing to hang our heads about after today.” Bow’s Chris Gaudreau
Records: Bow 4-4; St. Thomas 6-3
Hopkinton 8, Kearsarge 7, OT
Key players: Hopkinton – Colby Quiet (3 goals, 2 assists), Liam Flanagan (2 goals, 2 assists), Joe Cullinan (goal, 2 assists) Henry Yianakopolos (goal, assist, 15 groundballs, 12 faceoff wins), Gerry Donahue (defense, 5 forced turnovers, 5 groundballs), Sage Dubois (defense, 4 forced turnovers, 3 groundballs), Derek Amoth (12 saves); Kearsarge – Jakob Arnold (17 saves), Tate Nurme (3 goals), Leland Heckel (2 goals), Justin Norris (goal), Zander hauck (goal)
Highlights/key moments: Kearsarge took a 7-4 lead into the fourth quarter in this showdown between Division III powers, but the Cougars took three penalties and lost all four faceoffs in the fourth as the Hawks came storming back to force overtime.
Coach’s quote: “We found the spark we needed in the fourth and were able to tie things up. Kearsarge did a stellar job shutting down our key players, but our defense and some younger guys stepped up and pulled out the win.” – Hopkinton’s Deacon Blue
Records: Hopkinton 10-0; Kearsarge 8-2
Exeter 5, Concord 4
Key players: Concord – Sebastian Hart-Meyer (8-4 win at No. 3 singles), Kevin Neary (8-6 win at No. 5)
Highlights/key moments: The Crimson Tide trailed 4-2 after singles, and nearly pulled off the doubles sweep for the comeback, but the Exeter’s top team of Cam Maher and Tucker Guen came back from a 7-6 deficit to win, 9-7. Hart-Meyer and Matt Chorlian teamed for an 8-4 win at second doubles and Neary and Anders Norton won, 8-4, at third doubles for the Tide.
Coach’s quote: “Our singles play was lousy today and that cost us against a very good Exeter team. The kids came back in doubles, though, and played with a lot of heart.” – Concord’s Dave Page
Records: Concord 7-4; Exeter 11-2
Bow 8, Wilton-Lyndeborough 1
Key players: Bow – Brayden Binder (8-5 win at No. 1 singles), Evan Alfano (8-0 win at No. 2), Caleb Olson (8-0 win at No. 3), Michael Mullen (8-0 win at No. 4), Dillon D’Allesandro (forfeit win at No. 5), Zach Mullen (forfeit win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: Daniel Silva and Dustin Wells teamed up for an 8-0 win at second doubles for Bow, while Seamus O’Reilly and Jon Cook had a forfeit win at third doubles.
Records: Bow 10-2; Wilton 1-11
Inter-Lakes 6, Berlin 3
Key players: Inter-Lakes – Noah Sullivan (8-0 win at No. 1 singles), Gable Busby (8-5 win at No. 2), Jake Borsh (8-2 win at No. 3), Nate Sullivan (8-1 win at No. 4), Sam Noe (8-1 win at No. 5), Robbie Sassan (8-1 win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: The Lakers swept all six singles matches, and then mixed up their doubles lineup, on their way to the win at home.
Records: Inter-Lakes 8-4; Berlin 5-6