NASHUA — Five walks and an untimely error were the demise of sixth-seeded Londonderry as it fell short of No. 3-seed Goffstown, 4-3, in the Class L quarterfinals at Holman Stadium in Nashua yesterday morning.
Londonderry's pitching got off to a shaky start as sophomore starter Jake Finnegan walked the first two batters he saw and one scored on a sacrifice fly. Finnegan ended the day with four walks, two of which scored, and he only lasted 12/3 innings.
"You can't throw that many balls in tournament play," said Londonderry head coach Brent Demas. "I said before the game that it would come down to the least amount of errors, and throwing strikes.
"Jake is a young kid," added Demas. "I think the pressure got to him a little. I just hope he learns from this. We need him next year."
With the score tied 3-3 in the last of the sixth, a bad hop off the glove of C.J. Flanders was the final blow. With the bases loaded, a ground ball hit sharply off the bat of Grizzlies third basemen Travis Rand bounced off the glove of Flanders and allowed pinch-runner Brad York to score the go-ahead run.
Kyle Neverman, despite giving up the go-ahead run, pitched well in relief of Finnegan, throwing 41/3 innings while striking out three and walking only one. Neverman also drove in the first run of the game, while Brian Finnegan drove in the other two for the Lancers.
Neverman, Brian Finnegan and Sean Caron each had two hits in the loss.
On the opposite end of the field, Goffstown starting pitcher Tom McDonald went six strong innings, shutting down a normally potent Londonderry offense. He surrendered three runs in the second inning and gave up eight hits, but he struck out five and was effective the rest of the way.
"I think that was a combination of us tightening and him getting into it," Demas commented on McDonald's performance. "He got a one-two-three inning, and then he built on that. He pitched a really great game."
Londonderry (13-8), which actually outhit Goffstown 9-6, exited the Class L tournament in the semifinals for the second year in a row.
Goffstown 4, Londonderry 3
Londonderry (3): Neverman ss/p 3-1-2, B. Finnegan 2b/ss 4-0-2, Caron cf 4-0-2, Vieno 3b 3-0-0, Wojewoda ph 1-0-0, Flanders 1b 2-0-0, Worth c 3-0-0, McLarney lf 3-1-1, LaGasse dh/2b 3-1-1, Harding rf 3-0-1. Totals 29-3-9
Goffstown (4): McDonald p 3-1-2, Rand 3b 2-0-0, Hickey ss 2-0-0, DeConinck ph 1-0-0, Case c 3-0-1, Allen dh 3-0-0, Campasano cf 0-0-0, Lafond rf 2-1-0, Kiro 1b 3-1-2, York pr 0-1-0, Badasarian 2b 2-0-1, Palmer ph 1-0-1, Auger-Lencki 2-0-0, Bisceglia pr 0-0-0. Totals 24-4-6
Londonderry (13-8): 030 000 0 — 3
Goffstown (17-5): 110 101 x — 4
RBI: L — B. Finnegan 2, Neverman; G — McDonald 2, Hickey, Rand
WP: McDonald ; LP: J. Finnegan
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