RallyNorth.net

Barrett lifts Owls into semis

With the temperatures soaring into the high 90s, Timberlane starter Steph Barrett might have had reason to be worried.

Last year in the playoffs, she labored in the hot sun. So this year, coach Mike Sorter had a plan.

Londonderry drop pitchers dual

Londonderry fell to Nashua South 1-0. Jake Finnegan shined, fanning six and allowing four hits and just one walk in the complete-game loss. But Finnegan was out-dueled by University of Maine-bound A.J. Bazdones, who struck out 10 and allowed five hits and two walks. Chris Crutcher was 1 for 2 with a walk for the Lancers.

Ottaviani Haverhill Invitational Meet

Lawrence's KB Oshodi has been one of Central Catholic's best and brightest track stars. And he has the Raider football program to thank for it.

"In my freshman year, the football coaches wanted to get us to do track," Oshodi explained. "They said it would be good to try and do a lot of different stuff. In the triple jump, in my first year, I was doing better than the varsity guys. I did well and I just continued to improve."

NH Division 1 state meet

The dice came up with a pair of nines for the Timberlane wrestling team at the Division 1 state meet yesterday, and they were big winners.

The Owls, thanks to a shocking 9-for-9 performance in the semifinals earlier in the day, cruised to their ninth straight Division 1 crown in resounding fashion.

Methuen Invitational

Methuen senior John Sughrue didn't get the match he would have preferred, but he had plenty of consolation yesterday at the Methuen Invitational.

Because he moved up a weight class to 130 pounds this year, there was no showdown with Salem star Trevor Dearden, but both Sughrue and Dearden came away big winners.

Thompson's two tallies leads Londonderry

Tommy Thompson scored twice, and Scott Morrison struck on the power play with less than a minute to go in overtime as Londonderry edged Nashua South 3-2. Joel Willbrant was stellar as well, making 26 saves and stopping two breakaway attempts. The win improved the Lancers to 5-6-2, 3-5-2 in Division 1.

Salem whips Nashua North

Exploding to a 17-point advantage after one quarter, Salem (5-0) glided to a 64-45 triumph over Nashua South. Josh Jones (game-high 21 points) provided the offense, Shawn Stoodley (eight rebounds) and Dan Kinney (10 boards) cleaned the glass, and Josh Federico (four steals) and Mike Kimball (five swipes) provided the defense.

Blue Devil Classic

The names change, but the script remains the same at the Blue Devil Classic, the traditional season-opening local wrestling tournament.

Once again, Concord, N.H., rolled to the team title yesterday, its sixth straight, while local teams Pinkerton, Central Catholic and Salem showed some superb individual talent and projected promise of better days ahead.

The third is as sweet as the first

Pinkerton quarterback/defensive back Pete Mazzola could hardly put his excitement into words.

"This is unbelievable," said the senior. "So many people don't have the chance to get one championship, and we've been here four times and won three straight. That's amazing."

Defending their title Pinkerton's D dominates title game

NASHUA | Senior Josh Lane described the performance the way everyone in attendance was thinking.

"We're Pinkerton," said the offensive/defensive lineman between hugs from teammates and family members. "We get it done every time."

Guinto's run KOs South

NASHUA | Pinkerton led by a touchdown at the half and the defense had already made several big stops, but the Astros needed one more big play to break the game wide open. Enter Eric Guinto.

The sophomore speedster, who gained 107 yards on 12 carries, got the ball on the first play from scrimmage in the second half and took off like a jack rabbit for an 81-yard score that iced the game as Pinkerton won its ninth Division 1 state title, and third straight, handcuffing Nashua South 14-2.

Time runs out on Theodhosi, Londonderry

NASHUA | Alex Theodhosi will harbor both bitter and fond memories of yesterday's game.

He and his Londonderry teammates had guts, but it still wasn't enough.

"We just ran out of time at the end," the senior running back said after the Lancers fell to Nashua South, 35-31, in the Division 1 semifinals at Stellos Stadium yesterday.

Pinkerton suffers first league loss in 22 games

DERRY | The feeling was foreign to Pinkerton senior Josh Lane.

"We have a few things we have to deal with if we want to become state champions again," said the lineman. "As a team we need to come together and straighten things out."

Londonderry now needs help to get in

NASHUA, N.H. | Three interceptions proved to be Londonderry's undoing in a 22-13 loss to Nashua South. The Lancers' playoff fate now rests in the hands of Salem. If the Blue Devils beat West next week, the Lancers are in. If not, they'll be on the outside looking in.

Salem ends on a good note

Sophomore Tyler Rutledge helped Salem end the season on a good note, scoring three goals in the Blue Devils' 4-1 win over Nashua South.

"I think he's turned the corner (as a player)," coach Tony Karibian said.

Salem drowns Nashua South

SALEM, N.H. | The next time you hear someone say that a drenching rain is only good for ducks, you may want to offer a correction.

That's because it's also mighty fine for the Salem High football team as it proved last night in a monsoon of a downpour, washing previously unbeaten Nashua South down the drain, 55-20, in what was clearly a must-win game for the Blue Devils.

Late TD pass saves Astros

NASHUA, N.H. | Pinkerton Academy has displayed sheer dominance over its opponents this season, which is the mark of a great football team.

Last night the Astros demonstrated another characteristic of a great team | resilience.