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Londonderry eliminated

Thursday, June, 11 By Chris J. Helms

MANCHESTER, N.H. — The power of the Mohawk, which nearly every member of the Londonderry baseball team was sporting, simply wasn’t enough.

The Lancers loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh but they fell short against No. 3 Keene, losing 2-1 in yesterday’s Class L semifinal at Gill Stadium.

Adam Stanclift was effective and efficient until the start of the seventh, when Londonderry loaded the bases after a hit-by-pitch, an error on a sacrifice bunt, and an intentional walk.

Stanclift regained his composure and struck out both Caron and Brian Finnegan before getting C.J. Flanders to ground to short for the final out.

Lancers coach Brent Demas said, “I don’t believe you can hang your head about losing to a team like Keene. We had our opportunities and didn’t execute.”

The No. 2 Lancers scored their lone run when Sean Caron drove in Kyle Neverman on a single to right in the first. With the Blackbirds threatening in the top of the second, it was Caron coming up big again as the 6-2 center fielder caught a Frank Elliott shot and gunned down Evan Ayres at home on a one-hopper for the double play.

“Just when I think he can’t surprise me anymore, he does,” Demas said of the URI-bound Caron. “He’s an amazing player. That’s just one out of hundreds of times he’s come through for this team.”

The Blackbirds clawed their way back, posting their first run in the second on an  Ayres RBI triple to right. Elliot singled home Nick Nelson, who had gotten himself into scoring position by stealing second, for the game-winner in the fifth.

Londonderry starter Jake Finnegan (5 1/3 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits, 2 K’s, 4 walks) exited with one out in the sixth after issuing three straight walks. Stanclift tossed a complete-game four-hitter and held the Lancers hitless from the third inning on.

“I was very, very impressed (with Stanclift),” said Keene coach Tom Fowler. “He’s been in that situation where we’ve made mistakes behind him before, and he really kicked it up a notch.”

Londonderry beat Keene 7-6 in the regular season.

“That’s the fun of a one-and-done tournament,’’ said Demas. “I think I like our chances in a best-of-three format with Keene, but that’s not how it is and there’s no reason to cry about it.”

Saturday at Merchantsauto.com Stadium, Keene will face Alvirne, which upset No. 1 Trinity, 12-3.