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All season long, the Pingree baseball team has had one goal in mind: defend their New England Championship. With a 9-0 win over the Forman School from Litchfield, Conn., in the semifinals, the Highlanders (21-2) will get that chance.

Senior Jesse Sullivan tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout to lead the defending New England champion Highlanders into Friday's semifinal with a 7-0 quarterfinal win over Concord Academy. Dillon Vassallo cranked two doubles and drove in a run while Lamarre Rey and Mike Lamothe also drove in runs. Ben McLaughlin smashed a 400-foot triple and recorded an RBI as well.

Two wins over Concord Academy during the regular season mean nothing to Pingree now that the New England Small School Tournament is here. The Highlanders (16-2) host Concord today in a playoff quarterfinal (4:30 p.m.) fully aware that resting on their laurels is the last thing they should be doing.

A big first inning was the perfect scenario for a Pingree team that desperately wanted to achieve its first goal of the season Saturday afternoon.

The Highlanders scored four times in the first and held on for a 6-3 win over Berwick Academy to seal their 13th Eastern Independent League title in the last 15 years.

Overtime seemed inevitable when Portsmouth Abbey scored the tying goal with 26 seconds left, but Brit Mscisz had other ideas.

Pingree won the ensuing draw after Portsmouth Abbey's goal and got the ball to Mscisz deep in the offensive zone. Mscisz was fouled and then scored on a free position with six seconds to play, giving Pingree a 13-12 victory that virtually ensures the Highlanders will win their fifth straight Eastern Independent League crown.

SOUTH HAMILTON | Arguably the best kept baseball secret north of Boston, The Pingree School just keeps winning.As the defending New England Small School champions, the Highlanders have racked up a total of 50 wins over the last three seasons.

To say that the Pingree School baseball team was pumped up yesterday would be a gross understatement.

Ted Fitts set off a wild celebration when the senior southpaw from Topsfield posted a no-hit, 10-0 victory over Beaver Country Day at Chestnut Hill.

When Pingree's football program lured junior Lamarre Rey from rival Beaver Country Day, the Highlander hardballers knew they were adding a tremendous talent. After all, Rey had finished second only to Pingree star Jolmi Minaya in the Eastern Independent League baseball Most Valuable Player voting last season.

The Brooks Baseball Team opened the 2008 spring season with a solid 10-8 victory over a tough Pingree squad. Brooks was lead by junior hurler Michael Johnson who mixed a sharp breaking ball with his over powering fastball to strike out 10 and only allow 2 earned runs over 5 strong innings. Sophomore Jason Buco finished the job by striking out 5 over the last two frames. In the batters box the Brooks offense came out swinging to score 4 times in their first inning of the season.

South Hamilton's Emery Parker carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished with a complete game, one-hit victory to lead the Highlanders (3-1) over Bancrfot, 6-3. Jolmi Minaya was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Lemerre Rey knocked in the game-winning run in the sixth. Pat George was 2-for-2 at the plate and stole two bases.