RallyNorth.net

MANCHESTER — Given a second chance, Londonderry walked off the NE Delta Dental Stadium yesterday much more euphorically than a year ago.

Twelve months after dropping a heartbreaking Division I state title game in a one-run decision to Exeter, the fifth-seeded Lancers knocked off third-seeded border-rival Pinkerton 4-1 to win the progam's fifth New Hampshire championship in six tries and third since 2004.

Connor Donahue threw a brilliant one-hitter, striking out six, to pace Pinkerton past Exeter 4-0 in the Division 1 quarterfinals. He took a no-hitter into the seventh before Exeter's Colin Graham broke it up with a single. Joe Murphy led the offense for the Astros (15-6) with two hits and two RBIs while Chace Spears and Ryan Day also had two hits with Spears scoring twice.

Pinkerton pitchers John Polichetti and Chris Gerossie combined for six strong innings as the third-seeded Astros rolled 11-1 over No. 14 seed Manchester Central in the first round of the Division 1 tournament. 

Chris Gerossie fired a complete-game four-hitter and Pinkerton blanked North 1-0. John Polichetti drove in Gerossie for the game's only run in the second.

Chris Gerossie helped Pinkerton gain a regular season split with Londonderry, going six strong innings in a 4-2 Astros win. John Polichetti pitched a scoreless seventh for his second save. Both teams are now 8-3.

The heart of the Pinkerton Academy order — Ryan Day, Nate Rossi and Tommy Diskin — combined to go 9 for 13 with 6 runs and 9 RBIs, carrying the Astros to a 12-2 win at Exeter. John Polichetti hardly needed all that support. The sophomore went the six-inning route, striking out five in a five-hitter.

Chris Gerossie went the distance, scattering eight hits while striking out seven as Pinkerton beat Keene 3-2.

Connor Donahue whacked a two-run homer and John Polichetti got the win with three scoreless relief innings as Pinkerton beat Alvirne 7-6.