By Lauren Rose
Softball
The Pinkerton and Londonderry softball teams battled for 15 scoreless innings in a Class L quarterfinal duel that appeared destined to go on deep into the night.
In the bottom of the 16th inning, as Astros' pitcher Cara Choojian finally tired after more than 240 pitches, the Lancers' Sam Nitso drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Kelly Hunt with the winning run, propelling LHS into the semifinal round.
Chooljian, a senior, went the distance for her team. Londonderry senior Erica Boehm pitched six scoreless innings when Theresa Zwart came in to take over in the seventh, going the rest of the distance and getting the win. The Lancers advance to play Concord Thursday in the Class L semifinals.
Baseball
No. 16 Pinkerton boys baseball team kept pace with top seed Trinity, but failed to stay on track in the fifth inning as Trinity exploded for an 8-1 win. Zach Mathieu had the only run for the Astros as PA's tough season came to a close.
Sean Caron had six RBIs and two runs scored to show the Lancers the way to a 12-0 win against Spaulding in the Class L first round. He had a three-run homerun in the first inning to get Londonderry started off on the right foot. Jake Finnegan struck out five batters in four innings to get the win.
The No.2 Lancers boys baseball team advanced with a win over No. 10 Manchester Central, 6-1, in the Class L quarterfinals. Caron and Geoff Fisher both had two hits for their teams' victory as their pitcher, Kasey Carollo gave up only one hit to Central. The team was set to play No. 3 Keene Wednesday at Holman Stadium, in a semifinal.
Girls Lacrosse
Rory Fawcett sent four goals to the back of the net as she led the way for her Astros in an 18-5 victory over Manchester Central in the Class L quarterfinals. Kacie Connal, Danica Whitehouse and Nicole Curry each had a hat trick, scoring half of the goals for PA.
The Pinkerton girls lacrosse team then advanced to the Class L Championships with a 9-7 win over Exeter. Connal and Curry each had three goals to help push the Astros for the win. Heather Carr, Devan Shea and Vicki Kuhn also collected a goal a piece in the victory. Carr dished out three assists to her teammates in addition to her goal. PA will face arch-rival Londonderry in the final on Thursday at 7 p.m. at SNHU.
The Salem Blue Devils were no match for Kayla Green and the Lancers, as Londonderry dominated for a 21-0 win in the quarterfinals. Green had four goals and four assists to lead the way. Marcie Marino had three goals and three assists with teammate Dana Boyle chipping in four goals.
The Lady Lancers lacrosse team faced Pinkerton in the finals, but not before ousting Concord by a score of 11-4. Green had three goals and two assists. Boyle collected the hat trick as teammate Meaghann Mellen shot for two goals and an assist in the win.
Boys Lacrosse
Although Steve Ribero and Jared Crockett each collected hat tricks, it proved not enough as the No. 6 Lancers were downed by No. 3 Hanover 14-9 in the Division I quarterfinals. Also with goals for Londonderry were Mike Durand, who had two assists, Kyle Pedrick and Sean Givin. Joe Mitchell made 20 saves in net for the win.
Manchester Central could not get the job done over Pinkerton, as the Astros took the Division I quarterfinals game 12-3. Tom Auger and Teagan Norris each had hat tricks as teammates Nolin Murphy and Jeff Guilherme both scored two apiece. Steve Wolenski had 8 stops in net for the victory.
The Astros boys' lacrosse team fell to Hanover 14-12 in the Division I semifinals at Stellos Stadium. PA was down 9-2 in the second half, but the comeback came up short. PA senior Nolin Murphy had three goals, two coming in the third quarter. Teagan Norris shot four goals with three in the final frame, giving the last effort. Mike Auger and Brian Estes each had one goal apiece in the loss. Pinkerton goalie Steve Wolenski made 11 stops in net but fell short in the long run. The team gave a great run throughout the season, finishing with a 17-3 record.
Girls Tennis
For the Pinkerton Astros, Laurel Salladay and Summer Burns gave it their all as they first advanced with a win against Conant in the first round 8-4 then took on Central in the second round, winning again 8-4. It wasn't until the third round that they were upended by St. Thomas 8-2. In the singles match, Salladay beat Kate Torres from Bow High School 8-6, but was beaten by St. Thomas' Karina Menard in the second round.
Boys Tennis
Londonderry's Alex Burbine and Tyler Palmieri advanced to Thursday's state semifinals, winning 8-0 in the first round, 8-6 in the second round and 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in the third. Burbine also advanced to the semifinals of the singles tournament, as he ousted his opponents by scores of 8-1 in the first round, 8-3 in the second and 6-2, 6-0 in the third. Burbine, a sophomore, has proven his toughnes by playing the tournament with a broken cheekbone.
Pinkerton's Mark Mangini fell to Palmieri in the first round of singles, 9-8 (7-2). Palmieri then was blanked, 8-0, in the second round.
Pinkerton announces spring awards
Awards were recently handed out at the Pinkerton Academy Spring Sports Awards Night in the Hackler Gymnasium. Coaches awards went to baseball players Cody Lessard (varsity), Andrew Marino (JV) and Alex Pacocha (freshman); softball players Cara Chooljian, Adrienne Weishaar and Jilian Barden; boys lacrosse players Colton Desmarais, John Herlihy, and Cody Desmarais; girls lacrosse players Devan Shea, Meghan Lee and Canada Stewart; boys tennis players Mark Mangini and Patrick Maryea; girls tennis Laurel Salladay and Elizabeth Rialdi; boys track runners Mike Durant and Anthony Anzivino; and girls track runners Caryn Pepin and Sammy Goldsmith. Other award winners were Greg Poggi, Uncle Boots Memorial Award, Steph Sayward and Colby Verge, Senior Athletes of the Year, Caryn Pepin and Marc Marois, Mike Beeman Improvement Award, Kelsey McKechnie and Alex Reese, US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, Sarah Hensiek and Eddie Galvin, US Army Scholar Athlete Award, and Nolin Murphy, Bill and Bertha Torrisi Superfan Award.
