Ouellette takes turn to shine for Lancers

Londonderry senior Andrea Ouellette, whose seems to be in a duel with classmate Brooke Beaudet for most impressive performances, paced Londonderry (11-1) to an 8-0 win over Trinity. She threw a two-hitter, striking out 11 without walking a batter, and was 3 for 4 at the plate with a home run and double to her credit. She's now 6-0 on the mound with a 0.75 ERA and leading the team in hitting with a .472 average. Also, Taylor Allard was 4 for 4 and scored twice.

Salem rode its second straight superb pitching performance and the continued clutch hitting of Katie Bettencourt to a 2-0 win over Concord. Erin Lyons went the distance, striking out seven while scattering four singles and Bettencourt (2 for 3) knocked in both runs with two outs in the fourth after sophomore Meg St.Pierre and freshman Sara Bracken battled through long counts to draw walks. Bettencourt is now hitting .658 for the 9-3 Blue Devils.

Timberlane's bats fell silent in a 3-2 loss to Spaulding, just the second setback of the season for the Owls. Steph Barrett struck out 10 and allowed just six hits in a losing cause for the Owls, who managed only three hits.

Pinkerton scored one run and had the tying runs on base in the seventh inning, but could manage no more and fell to Goffstown 3-1. Katie Miller singled in Nicole Cuerdon with the Astros' run.

Billerica slipped across two runs in the top of the eighth in a 5-3 victory over Central Catholic. Chelsey Guselli was 2 for 4 with an RBI, Tina Eringis smacked a solo home run, Erin Swarbrick was 2 for 2 with an RBI and Lindsay Martin stood out defensively for the Raiders (8-4).

Brooks scored nine runs in the fourth inning in a 14-2 rout of Milton. Kristin Sullivan (3 for 5) of Salem had a three-run triple in the fourth and Monica Berube (2 for 3) of Plaistow added an RBI triple. Kate Roddy was 2 for 2, scored twice and also had an RBI.

Sanborn rested its regulars in a 3-1 win over Newport. Stacie Blades got the win for the Indians (9-3), striking out 13 while allowing four hits, Abby Copp had a double and scored a run and Amanda Butler had the game's only RBI.

Pinkerton earned a win 7-4 win against tough division opponent Goffstown behind a seven-inning performance from Chris Debonis in which he allowed no earned runs. Nick Gregsak had a good day from the leadoff spot, going 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

Michael Johnson's 17-strikeout effort ended up in a frustrating no-decision as Brooks finished on the short end of a 1-0, 10-inning decision to Roxbury Latin (8-2).

A deep sacrifice fly to center field with runners on the corners and one out left Brooks (4-6) just shy of its upset goal, leaving reliever Brad Forgetta of Haverhill the tough-luck loser.

Georgetown's Johnson started, working eight innings of three-hit shutout ball and increasing his season strikeout total to 40 in just three starts.

Right fielder Jason Buco from Methuen helped Brooks' cause by throwing out a runner at third base, and junior Alex Clapp led the offense with a pair of line singles.

Salem's eight-game winning streak came to an end at the hands of 4-7 Concord, 4-2, as Matt Hardy (complete game, seven strikeouts) dropped a tough pitcher's duel to Concord's Colin Lisk. Greg Gardner was 3 for 3 from the ninth spot in the order and Joe O'Dell had the lone RBI for the Blue Devils (10-3).

A simple story: Spaulding came up with timely hits and Timberlane didn't as the Owls fell, 5-2. Mike Donovan slapped out a pair of hits and Nick Mascioli delivered an RBI double, but Timberlane (5-7) couldn't convert six walks into productive offense.

Facing the most evenly balanced team it's played so far, Timberlane suffered a 7-2 setback to Trinity.

"They had the best No. 3 and No. 4 singles players we've seen so far," Owl coach Bill Mealey said. "We didn't expect them to be a Londonderry or a Salem, but they beat us 7-2."

Drew Smith provided one of the lone highlights for Timberlane (3-5), rebounding from a 5-0 deficit at No. 6 singles to triumph, 8-5. The third doubles team of Andrew Fortini and Alex Mill took an 8-5 verdict for the Owls' other win.

Dominance at singles made for an easy day as Pinkerton swept past Dover, 8-1. Dan Kish pitched a shutout at fourth singles and Sean Kelly, Mark Mangini and San Eaton won easily as well for the Astros (7-3).

Losing one match by tiebreaker and two others by 8-6 scores, Londonderry dropped a deceptive 7-2 decision to Manchester Central. Alex Burbine and the doubles tandem of Tyler Palmieri and Phil Biondo were the winners for the Lancers (6-3).

Central Catholic rode a winning string at singles to a 4-1 triumph over Lowell. T Alaimo at second singles and Tom Flannery at No. 3 turned tough encounters into commanding victories for the Raiders (5-3).

Despite suffering through a recent death in the family, Laurel Salladay persevered for a pair of victories as Pinkerton toppled Dover, 8-1.

In fact, the Hampstead, N.H. resident attended funeral services in Haverhill for grandfather Frank Forman, who passed away April 30, then traveled to Dover and won her first singles match, 8-4, and paired with Summer Burns for an 8-3 triumph at first doubles for the Astros (5-5).

"She played extraordinarily well considering the circumstances," said coach Patty Milka.

Londonderry continued to roll, blasting Manchester Central 10-0. Kelli Murphy and Ali McKinney breezed to wins at the first two singles and at first doubles for the 9-0 Lancers.

Timberlane humbled Spaulding 22-2. The offensive explosion was led by Ryan Lewis' six goals. Trevor Devito had a hat trick from the midfield for the Owls, and Ryan Rothwell had two goals and seven assists.

Salem fought bravely and nearly upset Division 1 power Hanover, but late penalties and a seven-goal fourth quarter put the Blue Devils away 11-9. Ryan Shelley scored four times and Shaun Russell made 15 stops.

Londonderry spread the wealth in a commanding 19-1 triumph over Keene. Long-stick defender Jim Norris (goal) and Jimmy Curro (two assists) enhanced the Lancer victory with extraordinary hustle. Once again, Justin Sproul provided the most offense with seven goals and two assists.

Brian Estes scored four goals to lead Pinkerton to a 19-5 drubbing of Nashua North. Bobby Dattilo hat a hat trick while Pete Mazzola, Tom Auger and Nolin Murphy each had two goals and six others each had a single goal

Morgan DeShaw scored nine goals and Timberlane cruised past Spaulding 17-5. Brittany McFarland-Bateman and Kristen Norton each had two goals while Jill Bolduc made seven saves and added an assist.

Central Catholic dropped a tough decision to Billerica 10-4. Meredith Bilodeau had two goals, and Liz Steele made six saves in an impressive goaltending performance.

Andover clinched a berth in the state tournament with six games to play after getting past Methuen 25-14, 25-20, 25-17.

Surging Chelmsford swept Central Catholic 25-14, 25-20, 25-22. Sebastian Mejia led the Raiders (7-4) with nine kills. Tom Gomes had 18 assists and Mike Manzi stood out on defense.

St. John's Prep avenged an earlier loss to Haverhill with a 19-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-17 victory. For St. John's (10-2), Jeff Smallcomb of West Newbury and Luke Frick of North Andover played well.

UMass Lowell's baseball team, behind the pitching of Haverhill's Jeff Maloney, defeated Stonehill 3-1 to clinch a Northeast-10 playoff spot. Maloney went 72/3 innings, striking out six and allowing just five hits, for his fifth win of the season for the River Hawks (26-23, 18-12 in NE-10).

Photos

Timberlane's Chris Takesian leaps to return a serve during his match against Trinity's Ben Argain yesterday. The Owls fell, 7- Staff photo