The John Stark baseball team would normally play 16 games in a non-pandemic year, but with schedules limited this season, the Generals are only playing 12. So, coach Dennis Pelletier has instituted a regular Sunday afternoon intra-squad scrimmage to get his team more experience with game situations.
Pelletier has also been using those Sunday scrimmages as auditions for the starting lineup, which has been more flexible this season since every team will be invited to the postseason regardless of record. A few Generals have made impressions on recent Sundays, like Jason Crean, Noah Brent, AJ Detone and Chad Martin. Those four earned their second start of the season on Thursday against Pembroke Academy (2-4), and all four made contributions in Stark’s 5-2 win.
Brent made his first start behind the plate, and he wound up catching a combined no-hitter from Alex Moore and Nathan Innerfield. It was the first start of the season for Moore, who went 5.1 innings, struck out six, walked six and allowed two unearned runs. Innerfield went 1.2 innings, striking out three and not allowing a baserunner.
“We’ve been starting Nate and bringing in Alex, but Alex has been looking stronger lately so we flip-flopped it today,” Pelletier said.
Control had been a recent strength for Moore, who moved from Virginia to New Hampshire this school year, but he had trouble with it on Thursday and two walks in the first inning helped Pembroke take a 2-0 lead. The Spartans also took advantage of an error, a wild pitch and a groundout to plate Preston Wallis and Cove Boucher with their runs.
John Stark (4-2) answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second off PA starter Ryan Ardine (five innings, three strikeouts, two earned runs). Brady Philibotte (2-for-3, RBI, run) led off the inning with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and then Moore walked. Both scored on a first-and-third steal play and throwing error. Crean (2-for-3) then doubled to lead off the third and eventually came home on a single from Innerfield to give Stark a 3-2 lead.
Cooper Rivers scored on a Philibotte single in the fifth to make it 4-2. And Martin scored an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Rivers after he was moved over by a bunt from Detone (double) and a single from Crean.
“Chad is a good example of someone who has made the most of those Sunday night games,” Pelletier said. “The other night he stole three bases and was diving and running all over the place, and someone said, ‘What’s gotten into Chad?’ And I was like, ‘He wants to play,’ and it was the same with Crean and Detone, they really stepped up and then played fantastic today.”
Merrimack Valley 7, Bow 6
Key players: MV — Ben Rose (6 IP, W, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 6 K, 7 BB; 3-for-4, 2 RBI, run), Owen Bernier (1 IP, save, 1 ER, 2 K); Cam Chevarie (3-for-4, 2 runs), Bryant Heath (1-for-2, first varsity hit); Bow – Connor Lee (hit, run RBI), Myle Rheinhardt (hit, run, BB), Anthony Constant (hit, RBI), Matt Lamy (5 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 6 K, 3 BB)
Highlights: Bow scored five runs in the top of the second inning on three walks, a hit and two errors to take a 5-0 lead, but the Pride answered right away with two runs in the bottom of the second on a walk, error and two hits, including an RBI single from Dom McGee. MV plated one more in the third and then took a 6-5 lead in the fourth on hits from Rose and Aidan Lacasse. Gavin Wheeler’s squeeze bunt plated Heath with the eventual game-winner in the fifth, and Bernier nailed down the victory for Rose with two punch outs in the seventh.
Coach’s quote: “We played pretty good baseball after the first two innings. Rose and Bernier did a great job on the mound and it was nice to see the offense come to life.” — MV’s Sean Wheeler
Records: MV 2-4; Bow 2-4
Hopkinton 15, Hillsboro-Deering 1, 5 inn.
Key players: Hopkinton — Joe Yanzo (3 IP, 7 K, 0 H), Abram Standefer (2 IP, 4 K, 0 H), Peyton Marshall (3-for-4 5 RBI), Owen O’Brien (2 doubles, 2 RBI) paced the Hawks.
Highlights: Yanzo and Standefer combined to pitch a no-hitter for Hopkinton, which has won three straight. The Hawks provided them plenty of support, banging out 13 hits from nine different players and scoring 10 runs in the first three innings.
Coach’s quote: “Nice to see Peyton Marshall continue to drive the baseball.” — Hopkinton’s David Chase
Records: Hopkinton 5-1; Hillsboro-Deering 2-4
Pittsfield 8, Derryfield 7
Key players: Pittsfield — Caleb Stopyro (4.2 IP, W, 6 H, 2 ER)
Highlights: Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Pittsfield rallied with five runs to go up, 8-5. Derryfield scored two in the seventh but left the bases loaded to end the game. The Panthers had seven hits as a team.
Records: Pittsfield 4-2; Derryfield 4 -1
Concord 4, Spaulding 1
Key players: Concord — Sarah Taylor (win in relief, 4.2 IP, 0 H, 3 BB, 7 K; 3-for-3, RBI), Maddy Wachter (2.1 IP, 1 H, 5 K), Kennedy Ramos (2-for-3, triple, 2 RBI), Delaney Duford (2-for-3), Alice Rosenberg (RBI single), Anna Gaby (2 runs, SB), Libby Brown (hit), Elizabeth Blinn (run), Grace MacDonald (run)
Highlights: Wachter fanned five of the first seven batters she faced before taking a line drive off her leg (Spaulding’s only hit of the game). Taylor came in cold and walked three straight after a sacrifice bunt as Spaulding tied the game, 1-1. But she settled in and retired 13 of the final 14 batters, striking out seven without allowing a hit. Rosenberg’s RBI single gave the Tide back the lead in the bottom of the third, and Ramos belted a two-run triple in the sixth for insurance.
Coach’s quote: “Maddy took a pretty scary shot, but thankfully she’s okay now. And Sarah and the team picked it up nicely.” — Concord assistant coach Sandy Smith
Records: Concord 8-1; Spaulding 3-5
Merrimack Valley 7, Bow 3
Key players: Merrimack Valley — Sadie Barton (7 IP, W, 6 H; 1-for-3, 2 RBI), Arie Perry (1-for-3, 2 RBI); Bow – Katelin Howe (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI, 2 SB; defense, 4 putouts), Emma Kelly (run, SB), Lilly Wright (2.2 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 1 K; 2-for-4), Hannah McGonigle (3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 K; 1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI)
Highlights: MV scored four runs on four hits in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. The Falcons picked away at the lead and had it down to 5-3 going into the sixth, but the Pride added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth for its second win over Bow this week and its fourth straight overall.
Coach’s quote: “Sadie Barton controlled the circle today and helped herself with two RBI. We start four freshmen and three sophomores, and some innings we look real good and some not so much. As we enter the second half of the season and need to develop more consistent play.” — MV’s Kevin O’Brien
“When Katelin gets on base, she finds a way to score. We now need the rest of the offense to follow suit. Hoping for a better week next week!” — Bow’s Stacy Boyden
Records: Merrimack Valley 4-1; Bow 2-4
John Stark 18, Pembroke Academy 2, 5 inn.
Key players: John Stark — Izzy Nelson (5 IP, W, 10 K, 3 H), Olivia Hargreaves (3-for-4, 3 runs), Lauren Desroisers (3-for-3, 2 runs), Libby Banes (hit, 3 walks, 3 runs)
Highlights: Pembroke scored two in the top of the first (both unearned) to take a quick lead, but the Generals didn’t waste any time responding. Stark scored three in the bottom of the first, seven more in the second and never looked back.
Records: John Stark 3-3; Pembroke Academy 0-6
Hopkinton 14, Hillsboro-Deering 2
Key players: Hopkinton — Jordyn Barrett (4 IP, 2 ER, 2 K), Mady Secore (first varsity RBI), Brooke Carlson (2-for-3, double, 2 RBI), Megan Kimball-Rhines (1-for-3, defense), Maurgan McGrath (2-for-2, 2 runs, RBI)
Highlights: Hopkinton was up 4-2 entering the bottom of the third and then exploded for 10 runs in the frame to take control. Barrett pitched well for the Hawks and all of the seniors played a significant role in the Hopkinton’s early Senior Game.
Coach’s quote: “A lot of emotion with these seniors and a trip down memory lane with the many photos in the dugout. Great to see them come out with a win on their senior day, and just so happy to be playing.” — Hopkinton’s Dan Meserve
Records: Hopkinton 6-0; Hillsboro 3-3
Souhegan 12, Concord 7
Key players: Concord — Danny O’Brien (2 goals, 2 assists), Sam Nichol (3 goals), Nate Doherty (goal, assist), Eaton Tarbell (goal), Joey Tarbell (assist)
Highlights: After beating Souhegan, 10-6, on Tuesday in Concord, the Crimson Tide fell behind early in Amherst on Thursday and couldn’t catch up. The Sabers led 4-2 after the first quarter and upped it to 7-4 at halftime.
Records: Souhegan 2-6; Concord 3-5
Merrimack Valley 13, Bow 12
Key players: MV — Noah Miller (6 goals); Bow — Andrew Robbins (4 goals, assist), Ben Berube (2 goals), Brodie O’Neil (2 goals), Sean Hoey (2 goals), Ethan Tobeler (2 goals), Sam Ralston (2 goals)
Highlights: MV built an early 7-2 lead in Bow and withstood the Falcons second half charge to earn the win.
Coach’s quote: “The defense turned it around in the second half, giving the offense an opportunity to dig us out of the hole we created. We tied it late at 12-12, but a broken stick caused a turnover that led to their winning goal.” — Bow’s Darren Premo
Records: MV 3-3; Bow 3-3
Souhegan 15, Concord 6
Key players: Souhegan — 44 Concord — Mary Martinson (3 goals), Maria Armaganian (3 goals), Teylor Greene (6 saves)
Records: Souhegan 3-4; Concord 1-4
Bow 19, Merrimack Valley 1
Key players: Bow — Olivia Selleck (4 goals, 2 assists), Jess Chamberlin (6 goals, 2 assists), Alex Larrabee (3 goals, 2 assists), Sara Gagne (2 goals, 2 assists), Addison Trefethen (goal, 5 assists), Meaghan Danahy (5 saves); Merrimack Valley — Emily Koufos (draw controls), Caitlyn Fortier (draw controls), Colby Magoon (defense, caused turnovers)
Coach’s quote: “Although score looks similar to the Bow v. MV girls’ lacrosse game earlier this week, this was a much different game as MV players made adjustments, had successful midfield/draw controls and forced many turnovers.” — MV’s Katherine Stearns
Records: Bow 6-0; Merrimack Valley 3-2
Pembroke Academy 7, Bow 2
Key players: Pembroke Academy — Chase Culberson (8-3 win at No. 2 singles), Jason Dow (8-2 win at No. 3), Tucker Rienert (8-6 win at No. 4), Ben Sporcic (8-0 win at No. 6) Bow — Hunter Duncan (9-8 win at No. 1), Noah Leuchtenberger (8-0 win at No. 5)
Highlights: After losing to Bow’s Duncan in a tiebreaker in the No. 1 singles match, PA’s Finn Riccio teamed up with Culberson to beat Duncan and Colby Smith in a tiebreaker at first doubles, 9-8 (7-4). Rienert and Dow won 8-5 at second doubles and both had two wins on the day for the Spartans, while Sporcic and Nate Quinn claimed an 8-5 win at third doubles. Bow was missing its No. 1 player, Dominik Jurcins.
Records: Pembroke Academy 3-3; Bow 2-4
Bow 9, Pembroke Academy 0
Key players: Pembroke Academy — Helen Cika, Keelin Cripps, Sarah Bennett
Coach’s quote: “Our match was postponed from yesterday and Bow was able to hold the boys and girls match one right after the other, thank you (Bow AD) Mike (Desilets) for organizing it. The Bow girls outlasted us. We did our best against Bow but their talent got the best of us.” — Pembroke’s David W. Goulet
Records: Bow2-4 ; Pembroke Academy 0-4
Alyssa Hines (two hits, double, three runs, three RBI), Alison Dupuis (hit, two doubles, five RBI) and Lily Hackett (run, two hits, RBI) powered the Concord JV softball team to a 15-8 win against Spaulding. Katlyn Spinney played well on defense making a nice catch to end a threat in the sixth and help out McKenzie Tourdoff, who pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and no walks for the win.
■ The Concord JV baseball team (4-5) defeated Trinity, 11-1, behind 4 solid innings from Matt Drewes. Hunter Colbath, Jacob Wright and Dylan DelloIacono drove in runs for the Tide.
Austin Wells had two hits, but the Concord Reserve baseball team lost to Exeter, 14-11. Brett McDonough also had a hit. Matt Janness (four strikeouts), Nick Reynolds, Kalan Gaudreault and Austin Wells all pitched for the Crimson Tide.
Concord Police Patrolmen’s Association defeated Rowley Agency, 10-3 in Babe Ruth baseball. For Rowley, both Trevor Craigue and Colby Nyhan pitched well and had key hits. Deagan Hines, Sam Pfitzenmayer, and Chase Paquette combined for 12 strikeouts in six innings on the mound for CPPA.