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Pinkerton rolled to an easy victory thanks to a superb effort from Alex Germaine (four goals, one assist). Also contributing in the 9-0 win were Omar Khartabil (two goals), Mike Wanelik (one goal, one assit) and Chris Doyle (four saves). The Astros improved to 9-0 with the win.

Tough scheduleAfter knocking off unbeaten Salem last Saturday, Pinkerton's girls volleyball team couldn't quite knock off another giant.The Astros lost a five-game marathon to Nashua North, the key game being a 28-26 loss in the third game."It was so emotional, and it was tough to come right back after beating Salem," said Pinkerton coach Roger Konstant. "But this was a great volleyball match."

The Blue Devils improved to 5-1-1 thanks to their 6-0 shutout of Nashua North. Leading the way for Salem were Cassie Chase (two goals) and Gina Righini (one goal, two assists). Adding insult to injury, Nashua North recorded an own goal in the losing effort.

Pinkerton senior golfer Greg Pogga knew he didn't play well when his team lost to Salem by one point earlier in the season and he did something about it yesterday.

Pogga shot a 37, five strokes better than in the previous matchup as the Astros (14-1) upended Salem by three strokes, 189-192. Both teams cruised past Memorial and Nashua North.

Salem crushed Nashua North 4-0, outshooting the Titans by a whopping 40-0. Chelsie Muldowney, Taylor Healey and Nicole Rozumek all had a goal and an assist for the Blue Devils (1-0-1).

Last night in the Class L state semifinals, Salem High stormed into Holman Stadium and finished the Gate City daily double, vanquishing No. 5 Nashua North, 3-1.

Gunning for their first Class L state title since 2003, the top-seeded Blue Devils will switch venues to Manchester's Merchantsauto.com Stadium Saturday at 5 p.m. against No. 3 Goffstown.

Lawrence's KB Oshodi has been one of Central Catholic's best and brightest track stars. And he has the Raider football program to thank for it.

"In my freshman year, the football coaches wanted to get us to do track," Oshodi explained. "They said it would be good to try and do a lot of different stuff. In the triple jump, in my first year, I was doing better than the varsity guys. I did well and I just continued to improve."

The concept of playoff basketball is purely Darwinian, and Pinkerton was only slightly fitter than Nashua North Wednesday night.

The No. 8 Astros weathered sloppy first and third quarters to squeak by the 12th-seeded Titans with a 46-45 nail-biter before about 400 fans at Hackler Gym.

The dice came up with a pair of nines for the Timberlane wrestling team at the Division 1 state meet yesterday, and they were big winners.

The Owls, thanks to a shocking 9-for-9 performance in the semifinals earlier in the day, cruised to their ninth straight Division 1 crown in resounding fashion.

Sophomore guard A.J. Guidi dropped in a game-high 18 points, and teammate Jill Johnston added 11 to power Pinkerton past Nashua North 53-42.