NEIBL: championship matchups set

By rbrown
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Updated: August 6, 2020

Jake Wiberg collected three hits, including an RBI single in a four-run fifth inning, to lead second-seeded Stratham to a 7-3 triumph over sixth-seeded Londonderry in the NEIBL semifinals Wednesday night at Exeter High School.

Wiberg, Matt Hudlin, David Kohl and Tim Gori scored in the fifth, when Stratham extended its lead to 7-2. Duncan Cullinane had an RBI triple in the innng, and Boden Driscoll added an RBI single.

Driscoll had two hits in the win, and pitched the first three innings. He surrendered two runs, but both were unearned. Jason Yeaton tossed three scoreless innings, and Gori pitched the seventh.

Roger Davis and Damon Grace each had an RBI for Stratham, which trailed 2-0 after two innings. Wiberg also singled in the third and singled in the sixth.

Stratham will face top-seeded Manchester in Friday’s NEIBL championship game at Londonderry High School (3 p.m.). Manchester advanced by beating fourth-seeded Lakes Region 6-1 in Wednesday’s other semifinal.

Caleb LeClerc pitched four scoreless innings for Manchester. He also had a double in the win.

Matt Lebreque, Andrew Houghton and Jake Vachon also collected hits for Manchester.

VARSITY
Portsmouth 6, Keene 4

Justin Blumenthal and Oscar Lalime each drew a bases-loaded walk, and Ryan Minckler drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to help top-seeded Portsmouth overcome a 4-3 deficit in the fifth inning and earn a spot in the NEIBL varsity division championship game by beating fourth-seeded Keene on Wednesday night.

Carmen Zingarello drove in two runs with a double in the fourth inning to put Portsmouth ahead 3-1 before Adam Kent hit his second home run of the game to put Keene back in front.

Zingarello earned the win for pitching 2.2 scoreless innings in relief of starter Matt Minckler. Zingarello struck out three. Minckler allowed six hits and four runs (all via home runs). Adam Timmer took the loss. He limited Portsmouth to three hits and three earned runs but walked five. Chris Sault came on in relief and prevented further trouble.

Weare 3, Londonderry 2

Brett Patnode allowed two runs on four hits in five innings to help second-seeded Weare defeat third-seeded Londonderry in Wednesday’s other NEIBL varsity semifinal. Patnode stuck out four, didn’t walk a batter and also contributed on offense by going 2-for-3.

Jeff Wagner had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Alex Moore had a triple and scored, and Trevor Anibal scored twice.

Gunnar Hagstrom earned the save by tossing two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out one.

Weare will face Portsmouth in Friday’s championship game at Londonderry High School (5:30 p.m).