RallyNorth.net

CONCORD, N.H. — The smiles on the faces of the Concord softball players were probably more of relief than joy.

After yesterday’s 2-0 Class L semifinal win over Londonderry, Concord coach Duke Sawyer, in fact, indicated that the Crimson Tide were much more than halfway home to the Class L crown.

LONDONDERRY  — Two pitchers proved slightly better than one yesterday afternoon and evening.

But only barely.

And it took 16 innings of dramatic, tension-filled softball to prove it as Londonderry outlasted Pinkerton and senior pitcher Cara Chooljian in a classic three-hour Class L quarterfinal game.

With no seniors and only one junior in the starting lineup, Londonderry softball coach Wayne MacDougall was concerned about how his young team would react to tournament pressure. Well, he had nothing to worry about.

Just one game after upsetting Class L's No. 1 seed, Spaulding, Londonderry's softball team clipped Manchester West 4-1 to finish the regular season 13-1. Sophomore pitcher Theresa Zwart got the win and was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Erica Boehm fanned seven and walked just one in a complete-game effort as Londonderry topped first-place Spaulding, 6-1. Boehm was especially impressive as she retired three straight batters — two via strikeout — to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth. Emily Kraytenberg, Abigail Lang, Daniele Crutcher and Beth Rosenberg all knocked in runs.

Londonderry sophomore Theresa Zwart hurled a terrific one-hitter, striking out seven, as the Lancers (13-3) blanked Goffstown 5-0. Zwart helped her own cause with a pair of hits and an RBI. Nicole Williams had two hits and an RBI.

With the score tied 3-3 in the fifth with Merrimack loading the bases with only one out, Londonderry (11-2) brought in Erica Boehm, who shut the door the rest of the way in a 10-4 victory. Samantha Nitso led the attack, going 4 for 4  and breaking the game open in the sixth with a two-run triple.

Erica Boehm allowed just two hits, walked only one and struck out 13 as Londonderry bested Trinity 4-1. Nicole Williams drove in one run with a single and scored two others. 

Pinkerton's softball team continued its turnaround season with a huge 5-3 win over archrival Londonderry. The Astros, now 9-2, rapped out 10 hits led by red-hot Shannon Doherty, and received a sparkling two-hitter from Cara Chooljian, who gave up just one earned run. Doherty, who is hitting over .400, was 2 for 2 with a solo home run in the sixth and had two RBIs and two runs scored.

Paced by Nicole Williams' two home runs over the fence and four RBIs, surging Londonderry rapped 14 hits in the final three innings in a 6-2 win over Nashua South. The Lancers (9-1), who upset Concord last week, also got three hits from Danielle Crutcher and two hits and a pair of RBIs from Emily Kraytenberg.