Ask Matt LeBlanc what has led the Belmont High baseball team to 13 straight wins and he’ll say it’s pitching. Ask the coach what will keep the Raiders hot heading into the playoffs and he’ll say it’s attitude.
“Honestly, the coaching staff has to do very little in terms of mentality,” LeBlanc said following Belmont’s 2-1 win over Laconia on Tuesday.
“These kids are dialed in,” he said. “They want good things for themselves and good things for their teammates.”
It feels like the Raiders (13-2) began the season 0-2 ages ago, but it has only been about six weeks since they lost their second game in a row to open the spring. That’s how long it has been since their last loss.
LeBlanc believes something changed in the players after they shutout Gilford, 7-0, in Belmont’s third game of the season. He said the team “has always been pretty loose,” but winning that game took some weight off their shoulders.
“After that our guys were just loose and enjoying each other and having fun,” LeBlanc said.
The pitching has certainly helped, too.
Belmont carries three quality hurlers in Cole Contigiani, Griffin Embree and Corey Derosier. Collectively, they have an ERA of less than half a run, LeBlanc said.
Embree threw a complete game against Laconia on Tuesday, striking out seven with three walks and one hit.
“Pitching has kept us in every single game, including losses,” LeBlanc said.
Cam Magerer went 1-for-3 at the plate for Belmont with a RBI-single and a stolen base. Jonny LeClair went 1-for-2 with a double, Doug Price went 1-for-3 with a single, and Ryan Gelinas went 1-for-2 with a single.
The teams were scoreless before trading runs in the fifth inning. Belmont scored its game-winner in the bottom of the sixth.
Jake Nelson pitched six innings for Laconia (2-12), giving up three hits and one earned run with two walks and two strikeouts. Nelson drove in the lone run for the Sachems with his fifth-inning single.
Belmont faces Franklin today, while Laconia takes the field against Goffstown.
Hanover 13, John Stark 4
Key players: John Stark – Jeremy Aubin (3-for-3), Brett Patnode (2-for-3, 2 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Hanover pounded out five runs in the second inning on six hits to cruise by the Generals.
Coach’s quote: “Hanover hit the ball really well today. Good thing about baseball is we can get back at it again Wednesday.” – John Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: Hanover 6-8; John Stark 8-6
Kingswood 5, Bow 2
Key players: Bow – Brendan Winch (3 K, 1 BB, 6 H), Jack Corriveau (run), Austin Beaudette (run, RBI), Sam Selleck (RBI)
Highlights/key moments: This matchup wasn’t pretty as all runs were unearned.
Coach’s quote: Brendan Winch pitched well, but he didn’t have any support.” – Bow’s Ben Forbes
Records: Kingswood 8-6; Bow 9-6
Newfound 3, Berlin 2
Key players: Newfound – Logan Rouille (6 IP, 4 K, 1 BB, 9 H, 2 R), Mike Doan (2 IP, 1 BB, 2 H, 0 R, win)
Highlights/key moments: Ryan Coughlin delivered a walk-of single as the Newfound won at home. Devin Kraemer-Roberts, Ricky DeLuca, Jarrod Fairbank, Nate Desrochers and Doan all had multiple hits for the Bears.
Records: Newfound 9-5, Berlin 6-8
Campbell 6, Hillsboro-Deering 3
Key players: H-D – Brad Sampson, Joseph O’Brien, Dustin VanCleave
Highlights/key moments: Sampson pitched four innings for the Hillcats and allowed four hits. H-D scored three runs in the fourth inning to keep things close against the undefeated Cougars.
Coach’s quote: “The team showed integrity and sportsmanship, playing as hard as they could and I am proud of how they performed today.” – H-D’s Erik Hagstrom
Records: Campbell 15-0; H-D 1-13
Somersworth 11, Bishop Brady 1
Key players: Brady – Kevin Anderson (2 hits, triple), Nick Grimbilas (single, RBI), Alex Andrews (single, run)
Highlights/key moments: This was a 2-1 game going into the bottom of the sixth when an error on a fly ball opened the floodgates and led to nine Somersworth runs.
Coach’s quote: “Definitely a rebuilding year. Most games we were starting two freshmen and three sophomores, so hopefully we gained some experience and come back stronger next year.” – Brady’s Skip Foy
Records: Somersworth 5-10, Brady 5-11
Merrimack Valley 6, Kennett 5
Key players: MV – Katelyn Hill (1-for-3, 3 RBI), Miranda Crane (hit, RBI), Miah Boucher (hit, RBI), Brooke Palmer (double), Molly McLaughlin (hit, RBI), Lauren McLaughlin (2-for-3)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride scored three runs in the top of the seventh with a two-out, two-RBI double by Hill deep into center field. Boucher beat out an infield hit and drove in Hill for the game-winning run.
Coach’s quote: “This was a good win against a quality team. Our team showed toughness and heart.” – MV’s Sam York
Records: MV 10-5, Kennett 11-5
Bishop Brady 10, Somersworth 5
Key players: Brady – Aniecia Vargas (3-for-4, double, 3 RBI), Jamie Cookingham (3-for-4, double, 3 RBI), Abby Santis (double, 2 RBI), Emily Santis (hit), Emily Manning (win, 6 IP, 5 K, 9 H, 2 walks; hit)
Highlights/key moments: Brady scored two runs in the first, second and fourth innings. Brady added four more runs in the top of seventh on RBI-singles by Vargas and Cookingham, and a two-run single by Maddy Rines, to take a 10-4 lead.
Coach’s quote: “Our energy level was low and we didn’t help ourselves by committing four errors in the field. It’s what you call an ugly win.” – Brady’s Freddy Rivera
Records: Bishop Brady 13-1; Somersworth 0-15
Berlin 8, Newfound 5
Key players: Newfound – Kylee MacDonald (2-for-4, 2 RBI, run), Hayleigh Pabst (2-for-4, double, RBI), Juliann Marchand (1-for-3), Kasey Basford (1-for-3), Amanda Johnston (complete game, 8 K; 1-for-3, 2 runs), Caroline Marchand (1-for-2, run)
Highlights/key moments: Trailing 7-0 entering the bottom half of the third, Newfound scored three runs in the third and added another in the fourth to cut the lead the three, but that was as close as the Bears would come.
Records: Berlin 6-8; Newfound 9-5
Gilford 9, Laconia 0
Key players: Gilford – Brooke Beaudet (3-for-4, double, 2 runs, RBI), Taryn Breton (3-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Jillian Lachapelle (2 hits, double, run, RBI), Stevie Orton (2 hits, RBI), Lexi Boisvert (single, 2 RBI), Maggie McNeil (single), Nicole Berube (single), Tricia Jarry (single, RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Colby Butterfield pitched a one-hit shutout for the Golden Eagles with 12 strikeouts and four walks over seven innings. Beaudet had a leadoff double in the third inning to begin a string of five straight hits that included a two-run double from Lachapelle and an RBI single from Boisvert.
Coach’s quote: “It was a total team effort with 15 players getting into the game and eight different players with at least one hit and one RBI.” – Gilford’s Joan Forge
Records: Gilford 9-6; Laconia 2-12
Campbell 9, Hillsboro-Deering 2
Key players: H-D – Gina Costello (2-for-3, RBI, strong play in center field), Kimberly Rodier (RBI), Maggie Atkins (7 IP, 4 K)
Highlights/key moments: Campbell jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings and didn’t look back.
Records: Campbell 11-3; H-D 7-7
Kearsarge 5, Hanover 4
Key players: Kearsarge – Kate MacLeod (3-for-4, 2 runs), Katlyn Kleckner (2-for-4, run), Shannon Breault (2-for-4, run), Caitlyn Messer (1-for-1, run), Maddie Folcik (triple, 2 RBI), Rachel Breault (6⅔IP, 6 K, walk, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER)
Highlights/key moments: Kearsarge took a 2-0 lead in the third off a triple by Folcik scoring MacLeod and Kleckner. Emily Folcik delivered a single to score MacLeod for the win.
Records: Kearsarge 3-12; Hanover 1-14
Derryfield 15, Bow 4
Key players: Bow – Brendan Ulrich (3 goals), Mason Grasso (goal, assist), Chase Chamberlin (11 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Ulrich led the Falcons’ offense, but Bow could not keep up with undefeated Derryfield.
Records: Derryfield 16-0; Bow 5-8
Merrimack Valley 11, John Stark 4
Key players: MV – Chase Mercier (7 goals), Dillont Arrant (2 goals, 2 assists), Josh Farmer (goal), Ricky Hazeltine (defense), Ryan Neylon (defense), Ben Davis (defense), Matt Jarvis (11 saves)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride led 6-4 at halftime and won its third straight game.
Coach’s quote: “We’ve been improving all season and I think we are hitting our peak at the right time.” – MV’s Sean O’Brien
Records: MV 9-4; John Stark 6-8
Hopkinton 13, Bishop Brady 1
Key players: Hopkinton – Joe Cullinan (5 goals), Jake Tomlinson (3 goals, assist), Colby Quiet (2 goals, 2 assists, 11 groundballs, 4 faceoff wins), Liam Flanagan (goal, 2 assists), Prince Mansah (goal, assist), Gerry Donahue (defense, 10 forced turnovers, 8 groundballs), Sage Dubois (defense, 5 forced turnovers, 4 groundballs), Thayer Maughan (defense, 3 forced turnovers, 2 groundballs), Derek Amoth (9 saves on 10 shots); Bishop Brady – Kyle Cioffi (goal)
Highlights/key moments:
Coach’s quote: “We knew going in that Brady would be a physical team that could score if we gave them a lot of possessions. We countered this by pressuring on defense, pushing the tempo, and getting a lot of quick passing.” – Hopkinton’s Deacon Blue; “That’s the best team in (Division III) and we were just outplayed today. With the playoffs in sight, we have to move on and be ready for whatever challenges we face.” – Brady’s Justin Loring
Records: Hopkinton 13-0; Bishop Brady 7-5
Kearsarge 15, Campbell 2
Key players: Kearsarge – Justin Norris (3 goals, 3 assists), Tom Gallo (2 goals, 2 assists)
Highlights/key moments: Ten different players scored for the Cougars, who led 10-2 at halftime.
Coach’s quote: “The team did a great job getting everyone involved. It is rare to have 10 different players play a role in the scoring.” – Kearsarge’s Zach Matthews
Records: Kearsarge 12-2; Campbell 1-9
Bedford 20, Concord 6
Key players: Concord – Delana Erickson (2 goals), Jess Nelson (2 goals), Becca Proulx (goal), Brenna Vandersea (goal), Fabi McLeod (strong game in net), Olivia Branch (numerous forced turnovers)
Highlights/key moments: Concord suffered its third loss in the last four games.
Coach’s quote: “It was a tough game but we had opportunities to score and took it to the goal and scored. They were tough but we didn’t give up.” – Concord’s Steph Johnson
Records: Concord 7-7; Bedford 15-2
John Stark 15, Spaulding 1
Key players: Stark – Jill Douzanis (3 goals, 3 assists), Rylee Ledoux (3 goals, 2 assists), Mackenzie Nase (goal, 3 assists), Hannah Marquis (2 goals, 2 assists)
Highlights/key moments: Nine different players scored to lift the Generals to their sixth win in seven games with one left to play.
Records: Stark 10-4; Spaulding 1-15
Kearsarge 14, Campbell 3
Key players: Kearsarge – Leslie Angus (4 goals, 5 assists), Brie Von Beren (4 goals, assist), Maicy Hansen (3 goals, 8 draw controls)
Highlights/key moments: The Cougars extended their three-game win streak heading into Friday’s season finale against Lebanon.
Records: Kearsarge 10-4; Campbell 1-12
Hopkinton 19, Bishop Brady 8
Key players: Hopkinton – Ellie Morrall (goal, assist), Taylor Signor (2 goals, 2 assists), Cathen Hall (defense), Amelia Thomas (defense), Lyndon Flanagan (4 goals, 4 assists), Amelia Bassett (6 goals), Hannah Wood (3 goals, 2 assists), Anna Hoffman (goal), Ellie Owen (goal); Brady – Sam Will (4 goals), Abby Tremblay (2 goals), Mary Anne Wiley (goal), Alex Sacco (goal), Anna Carroll (strong defense)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks used a balanced attack to pick up their fourth straight win and sixth in the last seven games.
Records: Hopkinton 10-3; Brady 4-8
Bow 15, ConVal 10
Key players: Bow – Taylor Darrell (8 goals, assist), Emma Gagne (2 goals, assist), Maggie Vogt (goal), Charlotte Ulrich (goal), Zoe Jukoski (goal)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons extended a 10-game win streak as a matchup with Derryfield (11-1) looms to close out the regular season.
Records: Bow 12-1; ConVal 7-6
Laconia 12, Inter-Lakes 6
Key players: Laconia – Becca Howe (9 goals, assist), Skylar Tautkus (3 goals, 4 assists), Abby Crowell (4 goals, 2 assists), Megan Gaspa (5 goals)
Highlights/key moments: The Sachems were lifted by a strong defensive effort, anchored by Lyndsey Paronto’s four saves in net.
Records: Laconia 12-3; I-L 4-8