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HOOKSETT — Salem left too many chips on the table Saturday afternoon, while Dover ultimately cashed in.
As a result, the Blue Devils — despite outplaying the defending champion Green Wave much of the way — dropped a 5-2 heartbreaker in 12 innings in the Division 1 title game at Southern New Hampshire University.
“It was the type of state championship game that should be played,” said Salem coach Harold Sachs, whose club finished at 17-5. “We both had opportunities (to win) but they took advantage of their opportunity and we didn’t.”
That was particularly true in extra innings. Salem had a runner on second base with one out in the ninth and its fastest runner, Brooke Murphy, on second with no outs in the 10th, but both times Dover all-state pitcher Molly St. Germaine bore down to keep the Devils off the board.
On the other hand, the Green Wave (18-4) were pretty much kept in check in extra innings by Rachel Towler, who pitched her heart out, striking out 11 and scattering eight hits through 11 innings, but things fell apart in the 12th.
Jessie Mau led off with an infield hit, went to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a groundout. She then scored what proved the winning run on another infield hit.
Sachs then replaced Towler with Meghan O’Brien, who hit the next batter and then gave up a screaming two-run double to St. Germaine to account for the final score.
“Rachel did her job and I didn’t think it was fair to leave her in there,” said Sachs. “She had thrown over 130 pitches which is way more than she had before.
“She had a tremendous season and she is the reason we’re here. We just didn’t get her the support today when we needed to.”
Dover coach Tim Dudley was certainly happy to see Towler depart, but he felt confident that they would eventually score on her.
“I felt she (Towler) was getting a little tired,” said Dudley. “My kids were coming into the dugout saying that she was getting slower and not hitting her spots.
“(In the 12th), we had the bottom of the order up, but they had been making contact and we felt if we could get a couple of kids on, our big guns could drive them in and that’s what happened.
“This was a heck of a game, and winning (the title) was a lot more difficult than last year. That (Salem) is a very good team we beat.”
Dover had taken a 1-0 advantage in the third on a rally that included an error on a bad hop and an infield hit, but Salem took a 2-1 lead in the fourth after Brooke Murphy led off with an infield hit.
Seanna Cloutier and Holly Peterson had successive doubles, the latter of which drove in a run, Mikayla Ramsdell had an infield hit and Montana Davis had a deep RBI sacrifice fly.
The drive by Montana was actually one of the key plays of the game because Dover right fielder Hannah Quituqua went back to the wall and made a spectacular catch. If she hadn’t made that catch, the Devils would have scored at least two more runs.
“That definitely was a big play for us,” said Dudley. “To get out of that inning without more damage was really important.”
Salem certainly seemed more deserving and had plenty of possible heroes. Murphy, Peterson, Ramsdell and Davis all had two hits, Madison Rastello made a beautiful diving catch in left field and Victoria Andrade played an outstanding game at catcher.
“I’ve got to give this team a lot of credit,” said Sachs. “There were times in the season when we seemed lost and had no direction, but they really came together in the tournament.”
They were just missing that final timely hit in extra innings to cap it off.

In Salem's 8-0 win over Dover, freshman pinch-hitter Brianna Marino lashed a two-run single, Ashley Conway drove in three runs and Brooke Murphy had four hits and three runs. Rachel Towler (3-hitter, 10Ks) earned the win.

Dover beat Londonderry 2-0. Losing pitcher Melissa Sprague fired a 2-hitter with 14 Ks but Molly St. Germaine (3-hitter, 13 Ks) got the win.

Dover beat Londonderry 2-0. Losing pitcher Melissa Sprague fired a 2-hitter with 14 Ks but Molly St. Germaine (3-hitter, 13 Ks) got the win.

Ally Collins drove home the go-ahead run with a single and Kayla Doherty followed with an pinch-hit RBI single for the insurance run, both in the seventh as Timberlane rallied to beat defending Division 1 state champion Dover 4-2. Kate Hoadley struck out 14 for the victory.