LEBANON — Going into Monday’s contest, Lebanon High’s softball program was enduring a 44-game losing streak.
The skid predated the entire 2021 roster — the Raiders’ last win came in 2017, when the current class of seniors were eighth graders.
All season, the team had eyed Monday’s seven-inning home contest against winless Fall Mountain Regional High — on senior night — as an opportunity to put an end to the losing.
It was a promising start. The Raiders built a lead in the second inning, and spent the next three innings inching ever-closer to that elusive victory.
The weather was chilly and damp for most of the game as Lebanon methodically pulled further ahead.
But in the bottom of the sixth inning, perhaps in a nod of approval from Mother Nature, the sun started to shine for the first time all afternoon.
It was then that senior Autumn Crowell stepped to the plate with a runner on base and two outs and Lebanon ahead 22-11. (New Hampshire high school softball has a 12-run mercy rule.)
Crowell already had an inside-the-park home run, three runs scored and four RBIs.
On the first pitch, she sent a deep fly ball over the head of Fall Mountain’s right fielder, and began to round the bases.
As Crowell crossed home plate for an inside-the-park home run, she and her teammates in the dugout jumped in jubilation.
Mercy rule invoked. The streak was over in walk-off fashion. Raiders win, 24-11.
“It was intense. Just the feeling I know I can see inside and what I was seeing in the dugout when (Crowell) came through. It was just an ultimate high,” Raiders head coach Ray Petterson said. “I don’t know if we could ever walk off a field like that again.”
Petterson, who has been the skipper for the entirety of the losing streak, said the team would discuss the streak every game. But it wasn’t ever emphasized as a source of shame.
He’d assure his girls that they were progressing, and that their day would eventually come.
“We want to be a team that wants to win. We don’t want to be a team that just comes out to have fun,” Petterson said. “We are a competitive team, and we want to be competitive with other teams in our league and our division. And we use that as a talking point.”
In total, Crowell finished 3 for 4, along with two walks. Lebanon (1-6) also had a strong game from senior Cassady Coates. She went 3 for 5 with a triple, four RBIs, and three runs scored. Junior Alyssa Smith-Duff had a 3-for-4 game with a double, a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored. Senior Jacqueline Fredette went 2 for 4 with a double, five RBIs and three runs scored. Junior Hailey Annotti recorded a 2-for-3 day with a walk and two runs scored.
As a team, Lebanon scored its 24 runs on 15 hits.
During the clinching at-bat in the sixth, Crowell took advantage of a shift Fall Mountain (0-6) used during her previous at-bats that moved defenders to the left side of the field. She adjusted her stance and purposefully hit the ball to right field.
She described a feeling of relief as she stepped on home plate.
“I’ve been waiting for a very long time, but it feels really good to win,” Crowell said. “I know the team has been waiting the whole season for this game. So it’s good. It’s nice to win.”
Lebanon senior pitcher Kaitlyn Eylander labored through the game, pitching all six innings. She threw around 146 pitches, giving up 11 runs (eight earned) on three hits and 10 walks while striking out eight.
She escaped multiple key jams to keep her team’s lead at a comfortable distance.
Petterson said Eylander’s improvement through the offseason and into this season provided a competitive edge.
After the game ended, the Raiders acknowledged their opponents and the fans in attendance, then ran into left field, where they continued to celebrate their triumph.
Petterson spoke to them, and allowed some of the seniors — who were honored before the game — to share some words. It was a jubilant scene.
“This was their first win in four years,” Petterson said. “So they are all on cloud nine right now, and they’re still going off on it. To say they’re excited is an understatement.”
The teams will rematch on Wednesday at Fall Mountain.
Seth Tow can be contacted at stow@vnews.com.