RallyNorth.net

LONDONDERY — At just the right time, the pieces may be fitting together quite nicely for the Londonderry softball team.
On an afternoon in which it all fell apart for No. 1-seed and defending state champion Salem, which was upset by Bishop Guertin 3-2, the Lancers showed strength in every facet of the game in an 8-0 Division 1 quarterfinal romp over Nashua South.
Londonderry (17-4), which has overcome adversity over the last month, advanced to Thursday’s 4 p.m. semifinals against Alvirne (18-3) at Southern New Hampshire University.
During the season, starting first baseman Danielle Crutcher missed most of the action with mononucleosis, ace pitcher Theresa Zwart developed a brain abnormality that has forced her to be a designated hitter only and starting catcher Abby Lang — who was hitting over .400 — suffered a knee injury that probably has ended her season.
But the Lancers displayed their resiliency yesterday. Crutcher played the entire game, scoring a run and making a great defensive play, No. 2 pitcher Sam Corey threw a six-hit shutout, striking out seven, and backup catcher Cara Colotti, a junior, was 2 for 3 with three RBIs.
“Cara can hit and I thought she called a good game today,” said Londonderry coach Wayne MacDougall. “I thought overall we looked pretty good today.”
Coming into the tournament, MacDougall’s biggest concern was, without being able to use Zwart, Londonderry’s pitching, but Corey may have eased his fears yesterday.
“She’s technically our No. 2 pitcher, but she pitched like a No. 1 today,” said MacDougall. “She had them off balance and she seemed very relaxed out there. She has a tendency to get rattled.”
But that is something Corey has been working on.
“The key for me is being confident, feeling good and shaking it off when things don’t go well,” said Corey. “I felt good today. I love the pressure of pitching in the big games.”
Corey must have felt relaxed after the bottom of the first, when Londonderry scored five runs, courtesy of a leadoff double by Lindsay Bolduc, three errors, a dropped sun-plagued fly ball and a two-RBI hit by Colotti.
A two-run homer by Nicole Williams in the third made it 7-0 and Colotti’s RBI single drove in Kelly Hunt ( 3 for 3) with Londonderry’s final run in the fifth.                 
“We can hit the ball, but we’ve had some trouble against the really good pitchers,” said MacDougall. “We’ll find out if we’re over that against Alvirne (with ace pitcher Taylos Carbone).”

Masha Lange bashed a solo home run to lead off the third inning, while Shirley Butterfield smashed a two-run double to pull Timberlane softball ahead for good in the sixth inning. Butterfield also earned the win on the mound, hurling a complete game as Londonderry won 6-3 over Nashua South. 

Four first-inning runs gave junior Nicole Gubellini a smooth road to her ninth pitching victory as Salem defeated Nashua South, 4-2. Gubellini helped her own cause with a two-run double while Jade Morrison and Amanda Baron added RBI singles.

Sarah Pierce was 3 for 3 with three runs scored and three RBIs as unbeaten Londonderry (6-0) whipped Nashua South 14-0. Theresa Zwart pitched a four-hit shutout for the win and was 4 for 4 at the plate, scoring three runs.