Souhegan baseball rallies to beat Lebanon

AMHERST – It was only the second game of the season, but the Souhegan High School baseball team knew Wednesday’s home opener against Lebanon was a big one.

After a walk-off loss at Hollis Brookline, and going against a team that played in last year’s Division II championship game, the Sabers were in need of some clutch performances. They got that, and more, rallying to beat Lebanon 8-3.

Seth Learned pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking none. Andrew MacDonald drove in four runs for the Sabers and Connor Cinque added three doubles, while right fielder Chandler MacKenzie a big defensive play, throwing a out a Lebanon runner at the plate.

“We did a really good job coming out with the bats earlier in the game,” Cinque said. “Seth did a great job on the mound pitching. It kept our energy up and helped us with the bats. We came out and felt strong at the plate and put the bat on the ball.”

Souhegan (1-1) scored twice in the first inning, on a two-out double by MacDonald, and held that lead until the top of the fifth. The Raiders scored three runs on four hits – including two infield singles – and two Souhegan errors, but the Sabers wasted little time retaking the lead, scoring four in the bottom of the inning.

“It was a great moment for the kids,” said Lebanon coach Doug Ashey, who lost most of last year’s division runner-up to graduation. “We didn’t quite have the knowledge to hold on to (the lead) but I think that’s part of the learning process. We told our kids after the game, there was a lot more good than bad out there. Young and inexperienced, but you’ve got to compete.”

The Raiders did that, despite falling behind early. Learned didn’t allow a runner until the third inning, retiring nine of the first 10 batters he faced.

It looked like Lebanon (0-1) was finally going to break through in the fourth, as Grayson Hardy and Connor Greeley reached base to open the inning. Mike Servant followed with a fly ball to right field that MacKenzie caught and immediately fired home. The throw was perfect and catcher Cam Crook tagged Hardy for the double play.

“They told me to hit the cutoff, but I kind of ignored them,” MacKenzie said. “I thought it had a shot, I had a good gut feeling. I’ve done a few of them before and they all look good to me.”

Cinque, who was the cutoff on that play, got a firsthand view of the throw.

“I saw him gun it,” he said. “I was like ‘wow, it looks good.’ And I turned around and (Crook) tagged (Hardy) out. He’s got a really strong arm and he plays well and plays hard.”

Souhegan got out of the inning, but wasn’t so fortunate in the fifth.

Cam Broughton led off with a single, and after an out, reached second safely when Souhegan couldn’t get an out on a double-play ball hit by Walker Camp. Lebanon’s Noah Mayes put down a perfect bunt to load the bases and Austin Pelletier followed with a swinging bunt, scoring Broughton.

Souhegan’s Tyrell Torres fielded Broughton’s hit, and his throw to first was wide, allowing Camp to score and tie the game. Hardy followed with a single, scoring Mayes to put Lebanon up 3-2, but Learned was able to retire the next two batters to end the inning.

The Sabers got the lead back in the bottom of the fifth, as the first three batters of the inning reached base without a hit. MacDonald’s sacrifice fly and back-to-back doubles by Crook and Cinque put Souhegan back up 6-3, and the Sabers tacked on two more runs in the sixth.

“It’s huge to get out in front,” MacDonald said. “We fought hard and ended up coming out with the win. We’re never going to give up and we have the energy to keep playing as hard as we can. We’re going to be a tough team to beat.”

Hardy took the loss for Lebanon, allowing six runs on five hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings, and he also had two hits and drove in a run. Greely pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, giving up the final two runs on four hits and a walk.

For Souhegan, MacDonald finished the game with two hits, including a double, to go with his four RBIs, and Cinque was 3 for 3 with an RBI. Torres and Learned (two walks) each had a hit and scored two runs.

Both teams were scheduled to play Friday, with Souhegan heading to Goffstown and Lebanon to host Sanborn.