Sanford, Maine — All the Upper Valley Nighthawks needed to do was relax. It was something manager Nick Cenatiempo preached in the parking lot before departing for Saturday night’s matchup against the Sanford Mainers. Relax. Take a deep breath. Most importantly, don’t think too much about the losing streak.

Upper Valley put together the closest thing to a complete game than it has all season, retaking the lead in the eighth inning before exploding for four runs in the top of the ninth in an 8-4 victory in Sanford’s Goodell Park. The Nighthawks are now 11-19 heading into the NECBL’s All-Star break.

“I think we were more relaxed tonight,” Cenatiempo said in a phone interview after the game. “We’ve been putting a lot of pressure on ourselves, we’ve been really trying to force things and maybe trying to do too much.”

The Nighthawks amassed 10 hits in the victory, the team’s first in eight days that snapped a five-game losing streak. With two weeks left in the season, Cenatiempo knows time is running out for his team to dig itself out of last place in the Northern Division.

“I think this should put a good feeling in us,” Cenatiempo said.

Al Molina, Walker Grisanti and Joey Denison all had multiple hits in the victory. Molina and Grisanti also scored twice each. Bill Maier, the Nighthawks ace, went six innings and allowed seven hits, three earned runs and one walk, recording four strikeouts.

Molina started at shortstop with Matt Maul, the team’s starter, departing the team for shoulder surgery. Grayson Byrd, a natural shortstop from Clemson, will return to the Nighthawks during the All-Star break after missing more than a month of the season due to a back injury.

GolfURI Golfer Takes N.H. Am

Laconia, n.h. — Chris Houston held off Matt Paradis, 4 and 3, to win the 113th New Hampshire State Amateur Golf Championship at Laconia Country Club.

It looked like Houston might run away with the title, but Paradis, a 20-year-old who plays out of Concord Country Club, won the 18th hole and carried that momentum into the second half of the day, cutting into Houston’s lead early in the second 18 and finding himself within one stroke after 30 holes.

But just when it looked like Houston was about to collapse, the 2012 Gilford High graduate came through with some of his best golf. He won the 31st hole (the 13th hole on the course) with a birdie thanks to the shot of the day, and then he birdied the next two holes.

— Concord Monitor

Sr. Legion BaseballWRJ 11, Randolph 1 (5)WRJ 14, Randolph 4 (5)

White River Junction — White River Junction Post 84 (13-2 in league, 14-5 overall) earned an easy sweep of Randolph as both games were abbreviated by the 10-run rule.

In game one, Post 84’s Eddie White allowed two hits and one run with four strikeouts over 4 innings. Jordy Allard pitched the last inning.

At the plate, Brandon Gaudet was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Jacob Perkins was 1-for-1 with a walk and three RBIs.

In game two, WRJ’s Jacob Perkins was 2-for-2 with three runs scored, two RBIs and two walks. Allard was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Austin Gaudette was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored and Gaudet was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Wyatt Connor pitched three perfect innings of relief with two strikeouts, and Tyler Hamilton pitched a 1-2-3 fifth in his first mound appearance of the season.

Milford 10, Lebanon 7 (11)

Lebanon — Milford scored five runs in the top of the 11th inning to defeat Lebanon Post 22 (10-4), which scored two in the bottom of the frame. Post 22’s Matt Braley had three hits and three runs, and teammate Will Smith added three hits.

Lebanon scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at 5 and force extra innings.

Post 22 hosts Keene today.