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June 07. 2012 9:33PM
Div. III baseball semi: Hopkinton rallies to book title game spot
HOOKSETT — Junior Steve Auger’s two-out fly ball fell just in front of Conant’s diving center fielder to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as top-seeded Hopkinton of Contoocook rallied for a 4-3 win over fourth-ranked Conant of Jaffrey in the Division III baseball semifinals on Thursday at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester.
Down by a run, Hopkinton’s rally began with a single by senior Jay White and a walk by junior Colin O’Keeffe. Pinch runners Joe MacDonald and Frankie Beane made it to second and third with two outs before Auger’s fly found a sweet spot in center.
“They were playing back,” Hopkinton coach David Chase said of Conant’s outfielders. “That was a huge hit. It propelled us to the title game.”
Senior starter Sam Bonifant made sure the Hawks advanced to play Campbell of Litchfield for the championship by fanning two during a one-two-three seventh inning. “Bonifant is a gamer,” Chase said. “He had a hard time in the middle innings, then he settled down.”
Twice the Hawks (19-1) fell behind, but rallying was something they’d done multiple times late in the season. “We’ve been the cardiac kids of late,” Chase said.
Conant senior Jeff Degrenier lifted a double over the head of Hopkinton’s left fielder to score junior Josh Leblanc in the top of the second with the first run of the game off Bonifant. Hopkinton responded in the bottom half of the inning when White singled, stole second and later scored on a groundout by O’Keeffe to tie the game at 1-1.
The Orioles (14-5) went back on top in the third when junior starter Devin Springfield helped his own cause with a two-run home run over the right-field fence that scored senior Kole Duckworth. Senior Sam McManus’ single in the bottom of the third plated senior Nate Greabe to cut Conant’s lead to 3-2.
Bonifant shut out Conant over the final four innings. He allowed six hits and struck out six on the day. Springfield took the loss despite allowing only five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Hopkinton and Campbell play for the title on June 16 at 10 a.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester.
Craig Liadis may be reached at cliadis@unionleader.com.cliadis@unionleader.com
Down by a run, Hopkinton’s rally began with a single by senior Jay White and a walk by junior Colin O’Keeffe. Pinch runners Joe MacDonald and Frankie Beane made it to second and third with two outs before Auger’s fly found a sweet spot in center.
“They were playing back,” Hopkinton coach David Chase said of Conant’s outfielders. “That was a huge hit. It propelled us to the title game.”
Senior starter Sam Bonifant made sure the Hawks advanced to play Campbell of Litchfield for the championship by fanning two during a one-two-three seventh inning. “Bonifant is a gamer,” Chase said. “He had a hard time in the middle innings, then he settled down.”
Twice the Hawks (19-1) fell behind, but rallying was something they’d done multiple times late in the season. “We’ve been the cardiac kids of late,” Chase said.
Conant senior Jeff Degrenier lifted a double over the head of Hopkinton’s left fielder to score junior Josh Leblanc in the top of the second with the first run of the game off Bonifant. Hopkinton responded in the bottom half of the inning when White singled, stole second and later scored on a groundout by O’Keeffe to tie the game at 1-1.
The Orioles (14-5) went back on top in the third when junior starter Devin Springfield helped his own cause with a two-run home run over the right-field fence that scored senior Kole Duckworth. Senior Sam McManus’ single in the bottom of the third plated senior Nate Greabe to cut Conant’s lead to 3-2.
Bonifant shut out Conant over the final four innings. He allowed six hits and struck out six on the day. Springfield took the loss despite allowing only five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Hopkinton and Campbell play for the title on June 16 at 10 a.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester.
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Craig Liadis may be reached at cliadis@unionleader.com.cliadis@unionleader.com
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