Lebanon softball tops Hanover

LEBANON — The Lebanon High softball team picked up its second straight win by denying Hanover its first win of the season in a 17-7 NHIAA Division II game on Tuesday.

After Lebanon junior Ava Kaercher struck out the top of Hanover’s lineup to begin the game, the Raiders quickly pounced.

The Raiders drew four walks on their way to scoring six runs on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly from Kaercher, a bases-loaded walk, a hit batter, an RBI single from junior Reagan DiDomenico and a ground out from sophomore Avelina Pentella that brought another runner home.

Backed by a 6-0 run lead, Kaercher continued her dominance, striking out another three Bears to keep them off the board.

Lebanon extended its lead to 9-0 by the end of the bottom of the second, but Hanover began to claw its way back into the game in the top of the third inning.

The Bears took advantage of a pitching change, which saw Lebanon send Rya Wykes, the team’s lone senior, to the mound on Senior Night.

After Wykes hit the first batter she faced and walked the second, the Bears got an RBI double from senior Lily Smith. Hanover went on to cut the deficit to 9-4 with the help of a bases-loaded walk, a wild pitch and a bloop single from freshman Lila Bucci before the end of the inning.

Lebanon would get a run back on a sacrifice fly from junior Ella Reichert in the bottom half of the third inning to make the game 10-4, but then Bucci found her stride on the mound.

The Bears scratched out three more runs and were within striking distance, trailing just 10-7, headed into the bottom of the fifth.

“That’s softball. You can’t peg it from the first inning; it’s going to go all the way until the end of the game,” said Lebanon head coach Matthew Kaercher. “The bats just kind of lulled.”

But the lull was short-lived, and so too were the chances of the Bears earning their first win of the season.

Lebanon put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth and another three in the bottom of the sixth.

Kaercher came back into the game in the sixth inning in relief of Pentella, who had relieved Wykes, and shut the door on the Bears to seal the victory.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 6-6, good enough for 10th place in the 20-team D-II standings. The top 14 teams will make the playoffs.

Lebanon will conclude the rain-plagued regular season with a home game on Wednesday against Pembroke, a road game on Thursday against Hollis-Brookline, and a doubleheader at home against Souhegan and ConVal on Saturday.

The Bears’ loss dropped them to 0-14, and they will finish their season with a road game against Milford on Wednesday and a home game against Hollis-Brookline on Friday.

As the Raiders’ season winds down, Kaercher — who is in his second season as head coach — complimented his team’s “softball hearts.”

“They love playing, they have fun during practice, they’re energetic in the drills, and I think just having that group click and stay together. … I think they’re just growing together,” he said.

With the Raiders’ season drawing to a close, it also provided an opportunity to honor Wykes, a team captain who was recognized both pre- and post-game.

“She loves the game, she plays outside of high school ball … she works hard. I mean, you got a kid that can play any position,” said Kaercher. “Rya is our starting outfielder, pitcher and infielder, and she has fueled the team with her speed, strong ability to track fly balls, enthusiasm, support for teammates and positive attitude.”

Wykes, who hopes to play club softball next year at the University of California San Diego, said the recognition was a nice way to end her high school career.

“I feel very loved and I am very grateful for everybody coming together to celebrate,” she said.

Michael Coughlin Jr. can be reached at mcoughlin@vnews.com.