Baseball Notes: Defending-champion Londonderry has chip on its shoulder

The defending Division I champion Londonderry High School baseball team still has something to prove.

Despite going into last year’s eventually-erased season as a favorite, and beginning this spring with one of the most talented rosters top to bottom, Londonderry seniors Brandon Fish and Owen MacDonnell still think the rest of the state doubts the Lancers’ abilities.

“Everyone pencils that title in as a fluke,” MacDonnell said of Londonderry’s 2019 championship. “We hear it. We’ve heard that talk for a solid year now. We know what we had and how hard we worked for the title. We knew we had a strong group coming back last year. It’s the same group together again this season, and we know what we can do.”

Fish, a three-year captain, came out swinging as well, on and off the field.

“Yes, we have something to prove,” Fish said. “Going into last year we felt we had something to prove. A year off didn’t change how we feel we were perceived by other teams around the state. I guess you could say we have a little chip on our shoulder this year.”

The Lancers have exited the starting gate strong on their Prove ‘Em Wrong Tour, beating Bishop Guertin 7-2 in the season opener on April 12, a 5-3 extra-inning win over Merrimack on April 19 and a 10-0 win over those same Tomahawks in the back end of a home-and-home series April 20.

Fish and MacDonnell were instrumental in the first two wins.

In 12 innings of work over two games against Bishop Guertin and Merrimack, MacDonnell allowed just one earned run on seven hits while striking out 20 and walking two. The Sacred Heart University-bound southpaw recorded the season opening win, but settled for a no-decision in his follow up performance, as shaky defense allowed three unearned runs that forced extra innings with Merrimack. Fish and Ryan Killelea closed out the game by striking out five of the six batters they faced.

It’s overcoming that adversity in the Merrimack win that has head coach Brent Demas confident in his squad’s ability to complete this season’s mission.

“We had a lot of confidence coming off of 2019 and heading into last season,” the 18-year Lancers coach said. “We really felt 2020 was going to be a big year for us. Even before winning the title in 2019, we were really expecting big things for the program in 2020. Those expectations are just as strong with the start of this spring.”

Since taking the reins of Londonderry’s baseball program in 2003, the Lancers have been to the final four on eight occasions, winning four state titles, and finishing runner-up once. So the expectations are always high.

“We just want to go out there and pound every team we face,” Fish said. “That’s my mentality. I think my teammates all feel the same.”

That’s exactly what the Lancers did in Tuesday’s 10-0 bounce-back victory over the Tomahawks.

Senior Zach Smith dominated at the plate and on the mound Tuesday. He tossed a complete-game two-hitter, striking out 13 for the win. He helped his own cause at the plate, going 4 for 4 with three RBIs.

Junior second baseman Jack Marshall (2 for 3, double, four runs, three steals), senior catcher Zac Rheault (1 for 3, three runs, RBI) and Killelea (1 for 2, two runs) also supplied offense in the rout.

Demas points to Fish’s leadership and work ethic as the driving force for this year’s group of Lancers – a group that has played together for nine-plus years – led by seniors Fish (ss/closer), MacDonnell (p/1b), Killelea (3b/ss/p), Rheault (c), Sam DiCicco (utility/p), Braden Griffin (of), Gavin Parent (of), Aden Parsons (3b/1b/p) and Smith (p/3b/1b).

The varsity roster fills out with a handful of juniors: Justin Dickson (c/utility), Marshall (2b/p), Aiden Washington (of/p), Adam Wholley (of/p) and Grady Daron (1b).

If they were being graded as a unit, these Lancers would earn an A-plus in chemistry, with the University of Hartford-bound Fish highlighted on the team’s progress report.

“Most of us have been playing together since we were 8 years old,” Fish said. “Little League, middle school, all the way up to this day, we have played and grown together on and off the field. There is a chemistry we have that has us all on the same page and ready to defend our title.”

It’s Fish’s bulldog mentality that helps Demas keep everyone on track with the goal of another final four appearance and more.

Demas sees how strong Fish’s hold is on his teammates and how the extra work the captain puts in pushes his teammates to better themselves as well. Even when last year’s spring season was shut down, Fish stayed on his teammates to work out and prepare for this spring.

Londonderry players were able to get some quality time on the diamond over the summer, and again this fall in preparation for their title defense.

“Luckily, 24-25 of our guys were able to get in games with the NEiBL,” Demas said of the summer’s New England Independent Baseball League, “and our fall ball program is top notch.

“I think we’re still trying to get our footing this spring though. We normally play eight to 10 scrimmages before Game 1. That wasn’t the case this spring, so getting that work together in the summer and fall was key.”

Now that key is in the hands of Fish and MacDonnell as they unlock the door to another title run, while proving to themselves and the rest of the state that they were not a fluke champion in 2019.

“I’m focused, we’re all focused,” Fish said. “We have fun, but we’re all focused and driven to hold that trophy high again.”

Game On

Londonderry isn’t alone in it’s undefeated start to the spring. Actually there were five other Division I teams, eight Division II teams, six Division III teams and five Division IV teams undefeated going into Tuesday night.

Winnacunnet sits atop Division I at 4-0 with a pair of wins over Timberlane (15-0, 7-1), before beating St. Thomas (6-1) and Windham (12-0). There could be a big regular-season finale May 28 when Londonderry visits Hampton.

Joining Londonderry at 3-0 are Keene (wins over Trinity 14-1 and 4-2, and 5-1 over Manchester Central) and Concord (wins over Bedford 6-1 and 3-0, and 8-0 over Goffstown). The latter has a big home-and-home series with the Lancers next week. Londonderry hosts Concord on April 26 and then visits the Capital City on April 28.

Rounding out the D1 unbeatens are 2-0 Dover (wins over Timberlane 8-7, 7-3) and 1-0 Portsmouth (9-7 win over Salem).

In Division II, Hanover sits atop the standings at 3-0, while Milford and Oyster River follow up at 2-0. Coe-Brown, Hollis Brookline, Bow, John Stark and Souhegan round out the unblemished records at 1-0.

Inter-Lakes leads the pack at 3-0 in Division III, followed at 2-0 by Berlin, White Mountains, Newfound and Fall Mountain, as Mascenic rounds things out at 1-0.

Division IV sees 4-0 Lin-Wood pacing the field, with Pittsfield at 2-0, and the trio of Wilton-Lyndeborough, Derryfield and Groveton at 1-0.

For Openers …

Here’s a look at some standout performances from the first few games of the spring season:

• Nashua North’s Derek Finlay (3 for 4, two steals, three RBIs, four runs) hit a home run in the Titan’s 13-9 win over Merrimack on April 14.
• Mitch Cormier (3 for 3, two RBIs) paced Fall Mountain’s offense while shutting down Sunapee’s at the same time in a 4-0 victory on April 19. On the hill, Cormier went the distance, striking out seven and allowing just one hit.
• Nathaniel Wachter (2 for 3, two RBIs) swatted the first homer of his high school career in Concord’s 3-0 win over Bedford on April 14.
• Garret Mango and Phil Nichols came up big in Winnisquam’s 6-0 season-opening win over Conant on April 13. Nichols hurled a complete-game one-hitter in which he whiffed 13 Orioles. Mango registered two hits and stole four bases from the lead-off spot to pace the Bears offense.

To report standout diamond performances, or offer ideas for the baseball notebook, send an email to scioneg@gmail.com.