Weare, n.h.
The No. 12 seed Raiders scored runs in the first and second innings to take an early lead. Lebanon then scored two runs in the top of the sixth to build a 6-3 lead. Those insurance runs proved all-important, when the fifth-seeded Generals answered with two in the bottom of the sixth to close within a run.
Now nursing a one-run lead in front of a raucous home crowd in the bottom of the seventh inning, sophomore starting pitcher Derek Griffin buckled down to retire the Generals in order and set off a Raider celebration.
“It’s a great win for us,” Lebanon coach Doug Ashey said. “It’s a good upset when a 12 knocks out a 5 on their home field. The kids felt pretty good about themselves. I’m very proud of them.”
Griffin threw 98 pitches in his complete-game effort, scattering eight hits while striking out four and walking none.
“He worked in and out of jams. He keeps his composure well and doesn’t get rattled with guys on base,” Ashey said.
The Raiders banged out 12 hits, including three each by Matt Sullivan and Nate Gariepy. Sullivan drove in two runs and scored two. Gariepy had a double, one RBI and scored once. Nate Perkins added two hits and scored a run. Andrew Hadlock had a hit and finished with three RBIs on a pair of squeeze bunts and a bases-loaded walk. Hadlock had what turned out to be the game-winning RBI on a squeeze bunt in the top of the sixth inning to score Gariepy.
Having taken down the previously 12-4 Generals, the Raiders (6-11) now set their sights on No. 4 seed Windham (14-3 after its 6-2 victory over Sanborn on Thursday). The Raiders lost 8-1 at Windham on May 10. Lebanon followed that loss with wins in five of its next seven games.
Woodsville
Davidson struck out six in a clean, efficient outing to open the postseason. The Engineers committed two errors behind Davidson but otherwise played what coach Brent Cox said was an exceptional game defensively.
Woodsville scored a run in the third inning before adding three insurance runs in the home half of the sixth. Zach Moore had an RBI single in the sixth, and Brandon Brown executed a suicide squeeze bunt to score Mike Dennis for another of the runs.
Seth Hannett finished 2-for-3 and scored a run. Davidson was 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored once.
“I’m really happy with the performance of the whole team. We put the ball in play today, which is all I ask for,” Cox said. “We had a lot of good performances from freshmen and sophomores that really sparked us today.”
Fifth-seeded Woodsville (11-6) will visit No. 4 seed Newmarket for a quarterfinal game on Saturday.
Belmont, n.h.
Newport had taken a 3-1 lead with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Samantha McNeel keyed the rally with a two-run double. Emma Carroll also had an RBI single. Katrina Batista was 2-for-3 for the Tigers. Gabby Scanlon and Hailey Perry each singled and scored a run in the fifth.
Senior starting pitcher Stephanie Carl allowed just one earned run on six hits in her final game for Newport while striking out three. The Tigers finish at 11-6 overall.
Danville, Vt.
Senior Lindsey LaPerle led off the top of the first inning with a single for Whitchester. Avery Palmer followed with a single to advance LaPerle to second. LaPerle then stole third and came home to score on a passed ball to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Indians scored two in the fourth inning and four in the sixth to pull away.
Junior Laura Vaillancourt pitched a complete game, giving up six hits while striking out three and walking three. The Mountaineers conclude the season at 6-11.
Laconia, n.h.
Seniors Brenna Peterson, Kendra MacDonald and Elle Brine all scored in their final high school games. Goalie Elizabeth Jones had five saves. The Raiders finish at 7-8 overall.
“It’s a tough way to end, but we’re a young team with only five returning starters (on this year’s team). I think we had a great season,” Lebanon coach Sara Ecker said.
“We had eight seniors who were good role models for the younger group. I think the next few years will be good ones.”