The Concord baseball team worked hard all season and the Crimson Tide’s effort paid off with the top seed in the Division I tournament, along with home-field advantage.
It turns out that Memorial Field gave Concord an unexpected advantage in a pivotal moment as the No. 1 Tide edged No. 9 Goffstown, 2-1, on Saturday to secure a second straight trip to the D-I final four.
Concord will play No. 4 Londonderry – a 4-1 winner over No. 5 Pinkerton – on Tuesday at Holman Stadium in Nashua. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
“We got there last year and it didn’t end our way,” said Concord senior Zach Miles, who scored the game’s opening run and nailed down the save with a 1-2-3 seventh. “We have a lot of new kids with inexperience in the playoffs, but that doesn’t matter to us. We’re just going to keep playing our game like we’ve been playing all year and get it done.”
The Crimson Tide (17-3) needed to execute in some nerve-wracking moments – and even get a little fortunate – to finish the job against the Grizzlies (12-9).
Clay Campbell tossed a complete game for Goffstown, striking out nine without allowing an earned run. However, Concord was opportunistic and, like strong teams often do, made the Grizzlies pay for defensive miscues.
“They’re a great team,” Concord coach Scott Owen said of Goffstown. “They battled us the whole day. (Pitchers) Eric Sullivan and then Zach Miles coming in at the end did fantastic jobs. They made a couple of mistakes and we were able to capitalize on them.”
The Tide scored two runs in the first three innings, but Goffstown mounted a rally in the top of the fourth. Myles Green worked a leadoff walk, Liam Kilbreth bunted him to second base before Sullivan, the Concord starter, struck out the next batter for a second out. But Ben Dodge legged out an infield hit to keep the inning alive.
Grizzlies leadoff hitter Connor Hujsak followed with a scorching single to left field. It was hit so hard that it squirted through the left fielder’s legs and all the way to the fence – and fortunately for the Tide, under it.
Although it seemed Goffstown had at least tied the game with Hujsak sliding into third base, he was sent back to second base and Dodge was placed at third base due to the Memorial Field ground rules calling for a double – regardless of where the runners were – once the ball scooted under the fence and out of play.
Clinging to a 2-1 lead, Sullivan regrouped and induced a fly to right field to prevent further damage and end the threat.
“There’s no question, we caught a break there,” Owen said. “The kid on the bases definitely scores and that’s a 2-2 game. You have to be good and lucky to win. You never go through a playoff where you’re just good.”
Concord was quite good on Saturday, though – and even better at making the Grizzlies pay when given the opportunity.
Concord managed a run in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Miles and Trevor Smith worked back-to-back walks to lead off the frame. Campbell seemed poised to escape without damage after Adrian Kennedy bounced a potential inning-ending double play right at the shortstop, but the throw from second base went awry and Miles scampered around third and bolted home once the ball deflected into short right field.
“Getting the first run couldn’t be more important,” Miles said. “As soon as you score that first run, momentum is on your side and it feels like everything is going your way. But obviously you have to keep grinding and keep doing your thing to get more because one is never enough.”
The second one turned out to be just enough.
Kyle Hill reached on an error to start the third and Miles followed with a bunt single. Campbell tried to catch Hill leading off second, but the pickoff attempt ended up in center field, allowing Hill and Miles to get in scoring position.
Smith sent a fly ball to right field that was plenty deep enough to score Hill on the sacrifice and give Concord an all-important second run.
Sullivan pitched the first six innings for Concord, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five and walking three. Miles was tested in the seventh with a deep flyout off the bat of Hujsak, but that’s as much noise as the Grizzlies could muster.
“We throw strikes and we play defense. That’s what we do,” Owen said. “It makes things pretty nervous, but that’s what we’ve done all year.”
The Crimson Tide lived up to that reputation. Smith, the catcher, made a diving catch near the backstop in the third inning and Nate Vandersea made a stellar play at second base to end the fifth.
It all added up to another trip to the semifinals for Concord, with No. 6 Bedford and No. 10 Portsmouth lurking on the other side of the bracket.
“It just means that we put in hard work all the time,” Sullivan said. “Through the summer, through the offseason, we’re putting in work and when the time comes for baseball season, we’re doing what coach says.”
Concord will need to dispose of the Lancers to go one step further than a season ago.
“We’re on to Londonderry,” Miles said.
D-II Baseball Quarterfinals
No. 3 John Stark 11, No. 11 Lebanon 2
Key players: John Stark – Nathan Isabelle (CG, win, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K), Jake Cole (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, 2 runs, stolen base), Rian Queen (3-for-4, 2 RBI, run), Carter Pike (2-for-4)
Highlights: Lebanon scored two runs in the second inning to go up 2-1, but Cole’s three-run blast highlighted a six-run third inning. The Generals plated a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to secure John Stark’s first semifinal trip in school history. The Generals will take on No. 2 Hollis Brookline on Tuesday.
Coach’s quote: “Another big offensive output today. Our adjustments in practice have worked out very well and Nathan was a stud out there on the mound for us today. Looking forward to our school’s first trip ever to the baseball final four.” – John Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: John Stark 16-2; Lebanon 10-8
No. 1 Bow 6, No. 8 Coe-Brown 5
Key players: Bow – Riley Elliot (winning pitcher)
Highlights: The Bears had a 3-1 lead through three innings, but the Falcons tied the game, 5-5, in the fourth inning and plated the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to avoid a quarterfinal exit. Bow will play against No. 4 St. Thomas in Tuesday’s semifinal at Memorial Field in Concord.
Records: Bow 16-2; Coe-Brown 11-7
No. 2 Gilford 8, No. 7 Bishop Brady 2
Key players: Bishop Brady – Nick Grimbilas (4⅓ IP, 2 ER), Alex Andrews (3 hits, run), Connor Treybig (2 hits, 2 RBI), Kevin Anderson (hit, run)
Highlights: The Giants had two costly miscues in the first inning, resulting in four early runs for the Eagles, and Brady never fully recovered in its quarterfinal exit. Treybig drove home two runs on a bases-loaded single in the top of the third inning, but the Giants couldn’t close the gap any further, despite getting runners on base in the later innings.
Coach’s quote: “Nick (Grimbilas) gave us a decent start on the mound but we didn’t play good defense behind him. You can’t give good teams like Gilford extra outs in an inning. We also stranded tons of runners on base. I am still proud of the kids for a good season, but we just didn’t have a good day today.” – Bishop Brady’s Skip Foy
Records: Gilford 16-2; Bishop Brady 11-7
No. 4 Hopkinton 7, No. 12 Campbell 6
Key players: Hopkinton – Sam Crawford (win, 1⅔ IP; walk-off single), Larsen Burack (2-for-2, 2 RBI), Kevin Newton-Delgado (3-run HR), Colby Marshall (game-winning run, double)
Highlights: The No. 12 Cougars were close to another upset, rallying for three runs in the sixth inning to tie the game, 6-6, and force extra innings, but Crawford pitched the Hawks out of a jam and delivered the walk-off single to punch Hopkinton’s ticket to Monday’s semifinal against against No. 1 Belmont. Campbell took a 3-0 lead in third inning, before Hopkinton exploded for five runs in the bottom half to go up, 5-3. The Hawks picked up a pair of runs to get on the board, 3-2, before Newton-Delgado’s inside-the-park three-run homer gave Hopkinton its first lead. Marshall reached base with a double in the seventh inning before scoring on Crawford’s game-winning hit.
Records: Hopkinton 15-4; Campbell 8-10
No. 1 Belmont 3, No. 9 Laconia 2
Key players: Belmont – Griffin Embree (7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 10 K), Jason Gaudette (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Lars Major (1-for-3, RBI, run), Brett Auclair (1-for-2, double, run)
Highlights: Belmont scored all three runs in the bottom of the fourth, off an RBI-single from Major and a two-run single from Gaudette, and the top-seeded Raiders survived a challenge from the Sachems.
Coach’s quote: “A good team win against a very hungry Laconia team. They gave us everything that we could handle and Embree did a fantastic job on the mound keeping them at bay. It’s nice to see the bottom of our order so productive and now our focus turns to Monday.” – Belmont’s Matt LeBlanc
Records: Belmont 15-2; Laconia 11-7
No. 2 Pittsfield 19, No. 7 Lin-Wood 1
Key players: Pittsfield – Kyle Stockman (2 IP, 2 K; 3-for-3, HR, 6 RBI), Gavin Bedell (1⅓ IP, R, H; 3-for-5), Jesse McGlashing (2 hits), Ben Stephens (2 hits), Ben Stopyro (2 hits)
Highlights: The Panthers jumped out early and never looked back, out-hitting the Lumberjacks, 15-1, en route to a spot in Tuesday’s semifinal against No. 3 Sunapee.
Coach’s quote: “Great team win today by the entire team. Most complete game of the season for us. Time to move on and get ready for Sunapee.” – Pittsfield’s Rob Stockman
Records: Pittsfield 18-1; Lin-Wood 10-8
No. 4 Concord 5, No. 12 Portsmouth 1
Key players: Concord – Abby Rochette (win, 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 11 K; 3-for-4, run, stolen base), Autumn Nudd (hit, walk, run, RBI), Elise O’Neil (double, 2 runs, stolen base), Anita DiBuono (2-for-2, 2 RBI), Carly Torrance (double), Lillian Rienstra (HR), Alice Rosenberg (2 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 K)
Highlights: Concord scored in each of the first four innings, punctuated by a booming home run from Rienstra in the second inning. The Tide also got it done with the small ball when Rochette motored home on a suicide squeeze bunt single by Nudd. Rochette, Rosenberg and the Tide defense took care of the rest to send Concord into Tuesday’s 7 p.m. semifinal against top-ranked Exeter.
Coach’s quote: “Great intensity. Kids came out strong from the very first pitch and were determined to keep the season rolling.” – Concord assistant Sandy Smith
Records: Concord 15-5; Portsmouth 10-10
No. 4 John Stark 8, No. 5 Souhegan 0
Key players: John Stark – Anna Stenger (2-for-2), Izzy Nelson (2-for-4) who combined drove in 5 runs. The outfield trio of Kacie Weston, Brooke Patnode, and Elizabeth Aubin played outstanding defense making heads up plays and throwing runners out at the plate.
Highlights: Led by Stenger and Nelson, who combined for five runs scored, the Generals took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and tacked on three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. The outfield trio of Kacie Weston, Brooke Patnode and Elizabeth Aubin played outstanding defense to prevent the Sabers from getting on the board. Stark will play top-ranked Milford in Tuesday’s semifinal.
Records: John Stark 15-3; Souhegan 13-5
No. 3 Merrimack Valley 5,
No. 6 Oyster River 4
Key players: MV – Sadie Barton (7 IP, 3 ER; 2-for-3), Lauren McLaughlin (2 hits), Alani Ramis (2 hits, RBI), Miah Boucher (hit), Molly McLaughlin (hit)
Highlights: The Pride scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with the score tied, 2-2, to secure MV a spot in Tuesday’s semifinal against No. 2 Coe-Brown. A two-run double from Oyster River in the fifth inning tied the game, but Barton and the MV defense retired eight of the next nine Bobcat batters, and Meghan McGonagle and Emma Steenbeke put balls in play that Oyster River mishandled to put MV back on top, 5-2.
Coach’s quote: “Outstanding job by the team today. We played excellent defense, led by Miah Boucher at third but she wasn’t alone.” – MV’s Sam York
Records: MV 15-3; Oyster River 13-6
No. 2 Coe-Brown 5, No. 7 Plymouth 1
Highlights: The Bears advanced to the semifinals with a victory at home.
No. 4 Campbell 6,
No. 5 Bishop Brady 4
Key players: Bishop Brady – Ami Rivera (4-for-4, double, 2 runs), Abby Santis (2 hits, triple, run, 2 RBI), Jayden Johnson (5⅓, 4 ER, 2 K, 3 H), Jess Beeso (hit), Hannah Hicks (hit), Ashley Brust (hit, run)
Highlights: The Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and plated three more in the third to take a 5-1 lead. Rivera scored on a Santis single to cut Campbell’s lead to 6-2 in the fourth and Rivera scored again later in the game off a Santis triple to cut the Giants’ deficit to 6-3. Santis came home on a passed ball to make the score, 6-4, but the rally ended there.
Coach’s quote: “We had a fantastic season. It was a younger group who enjoyed each other and had lots of fun. They worked hard all season and learned a lot in a short amount of time. We battled until the end but came up short. Campbell had our number this season, hats off to them, they were the better team. Thanks to our seniors Abby Santis, Jess Beeso and Sierra Horangic for a great season and wish them the best of luck in the future.” – Bishop Brady’s Freddy Rivera
Records: Campbell 15-3; Bishop Brady 14-4
No. 7 Hopkinton 2, No. 2 Mascenic 1
Key players: Hopkinton – Megan Kimball-Rhines (7 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 4 K; 1-for-3, triple, RBI), Megan Blanchette (1 IP, save), Kally Murdough (1-for-3, game-winning run), Julia Baer, Maddy Follansbee, Clara Walling, Maurgan McGrath (defense)
Highlights: Kimball-Rhines matched Mascenic’s ace pitch-for-pitch for five scoreless innings and helped her own cause by tripling home Maurgan McGrath in the sixth. The Vikings scored a run to force extra innings, but the Hawk defense, led by Julia Baer, Maddy Follansbee, Clara Walling and McGrath came through, and Murdough reached base on a single and scored in the top the of eighth. Hopkinton will play No. 6 Belmont in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Coach’s quote: “What a fantastic game. So proud of our team and how hard they played for this win.” – Hopkinton’s Dan Meserve
Records: Hopkinton 14-4; Mascenic 15-3
No. 6 Belmont 2,
No. 3 White Mountains 1
Key players: Belmont – Morgan Hall (7 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 9 K), Lizzie Fleming (two-run double)
Highlights: Fleming’s two-run double in the fourth inning lifted the Raiders to back-to-back trips to the final four, past the defending champions that beat them in the D-III championship last year. Becca Fleming led off the fourth with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kara Stephens. Hall reached based on a fielder’s choice and Margaret Witham earned a walk to load the bases, setting up Lizzie Fleming for a game-winning double to left center. White Mountains, who won the D-III title game, 4-1, last season, scored a run in the seventh inning, but the tying run was thrown out at second.
Coach’s quote: “A big fourth inning and getting out of some tough situations with runners in scoring position led up to an eventful seventh inning.” – Belmont’s Bill Clary
Records: Belmont 15-3; White Mountains 14-4