The North Manchester-Hooksett Little League all-stars gave manager Tim DeVall a birthday he’ll never forget.
Tristan Lucier threw 10 strikeouts in a 4-1 victory over Nolensville, Tenn., capped by a double play by Jacoby Acevedo to keep New Hampshire’s Little League World Series journey alive.
A milestone birthday for DeVall (he turned 50 on Saturday) was matched by a historic win by the New Hampshire and New England Region champions.
New Hampshire had the longest active drought between LLWS appearances of any U.S. state — 15 years — and North Manchester-Hooksett picked up the first victory by a New Hampshire team at the event in South Williamsport, Pa., since Portsmouth Little League went 2-2 and reached the quarterfinals in 2006.
Just three days ago, North Manchester-Hooksett lost to Torrance, Calif., 10-2, but that’s a situation the squad has been in before.
New Hampshire lost to Saco, Maine, 5-0 in the opening game of the New England Region tournament, but rattled off four straight victories – three of them by the 10-run rule, including a 19-1 rout of Saco in a later game.
“We’ve been here before throughout the all-star season,” DeVall said in an interview with ESPN after the game. “We lose the first game and come all the way back. I guess that’s how we roll.”
Lucier established his fastball early and used it often throughout the game, walking three batters but not allowing any hits until the fourth inning. He became only the second pitcher in the tournament to reach 10 strikeouts, and he did so in just five innings.
The offense got things rolling early, too, with Mason DeVall (2-for-3, two runs) delivering a single, Lucier (1-for-1, two walks, two runs) reaching base on a walk and both of them scoring on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead through the first inning.
DeVall, Tristan Lucier and twin brother Calen Lucier hit three consecutive singles in the bottom of the second inning to load the bases, but the Southeast Region champions got out of the jam to keep more runs off the board.
Tennessee cut New Hampshire’s lead to 2-1 in the top of the fourth with an RBI single by William Dreussi that scored Mateo Bruzzese, but Keith Townsend responded in the bottom of the fourth by driving home DeVall and Tristan Lucier.
Ryson Michaud was another standout at the plate, going 2-for-2.
The fielding by the Granite State ballplayers was much cleaner and crisper than it was against California (two errors), and the lone error in the bottom of the sixth was quickly forgotten when second baseman Acevedo caught a line drive and threw out the Tennessee baserunner on first to close the game with a double play.
Townsend pitched the final inning, fanning one Tennessee batter.
Next up for North Manchester-Hooksett is a game on Monday at 3 p.m. against the loser of Sunday’s game between Lake Oswego, Ore., and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Monday’s game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN.