8 - May 4, 2012 by Marc Ayotte Not that the first half of the season has been a


walk in the park with Yogi and Boo-Boo, but the remainder of the Pelham baseball schedule looks daunting to say the least; with games against number three Portsmouth and undefeated Hollis- Brookline scheduled to take place before the ink on this paper fully dries. The Pythons will also have to face the H-B Cavaliers again on May 9 in Pelham in their quest to qualify for post-season play.


Pelham~Windham Sports Pelham~Windham Sports


Python Baseball Faces Tough Second Half of Season


In an attempt to not ‘borrow trouble,’ let’s instead focus on the recent accomplishments of the Python nine. On April 27, Pelham started their win streak, albeit a modest two- gamer, with a 7-2 road decision over Coe-Brown and followed that up three days later with a convincing 6-0 blanking of Oyster River, also on foreign soil. In keeping things real however, the Pythons did begin the week back on April 25 with a home field loss to Bedford by the score of 7-1. The Bull Dogs came into Pelham with a solid 4-2 mark, losers to only Hollis-Brookline and Goffstown, who currently have a combined 13-1 win-loss record. The Pythons, with Nick Roussel on the hill stayed close through three complete, trailing 3-1. But a three run sixth and one in the final frame put the game out of reach for Pelham. Although they were only able to push one runner across the plate, there was considerable improvement in the batter’s box, as the Pythons were able to collect a total of eight hits on the day. Leading Pelham at the plate was Alex Newton, who was perfect on the day, going 3 for 3. Devin DeCarteret and Pat McLean each went 2-3, while David Bronson stroked a two-bagger in going 1-3. With the loss, Pelham slipped to 1-6 in the D-II standings. In Northwood, the Pythons struck early and often against Coe-Brown. A Justin Moran RBI single driving in Bronson followed later in the


rally by turning two. Pelham effectively put the game away by scoring three runs in the third. A leadoff double by Jake Vaiknoras and a single by David Bronson (2-4, 2 runs) created a runners on first and third scenario. After Bronson picked up one of his two steals on the day by claiming second base, Evan Sage (1-3, run) plated both he and Vaiknoras with a two RBI triple. Additionally, Alex Newton remained hot at the plate, going 3 for 4, highlighted by his two RBI single in the fifth. Nick Roussel, Newton and Pat McLean each recorded stolen bases for the Pythons. With the back-to-back wins, Pelham improved to 3-6 on the year. Pelham’s next home game is on May 7 when they face Sanborn Regional.


Pitcher Nick Roussel makes a nice play, coming off the mound and flipping the ball to Pelham first baseman Devin DeCarteret in time to get the Bull dog runner at first


inning by a Nick Roussel sac fly driving in Evan Sage, gave Pelham the 2-0 first inning lead. With one in the second, and three more in the third, Pelham jumped out to a comfortable 6-0 lead before the home team answered back with a harmless single run in their half of the third. David Bronson was the starter and winner for Pelham, throwing four innings, allowing five hits, zero earned runs while fanning six. With the win, Bronson improved to 2-0 on the year. Adding a nice touch to the Pelham victory was the relief performance by Ryan Frank. Celebrating his 16th birthday, Frank fired three innings of one hit ball, striking out two in picking up his first varsity save. Offensively, Pelham once again mustered up eight hits, with Justin Moran and Alex Newton leading the way with a multi-hit game. Moran slapped out three singles, knocking in a run as well as scoring a run and Newton’s RBI and run came as a result of his two singles. Pat McLean


contributed nicely with a single, two ribbies and a run scored. Jake Vaiknoras (RBI), Evan Sage (run), and David Bronson (run) each recorded singles as well.


In what Coach Billy Beauchesne referred to as


“by far, the best game we’ve played as a team” the Pythons received a complete game performance from Justin Moran on the hill in their 6-0 blanking of host Oyster River. Moran, in going the distance for his shutout, allowed only two hits, fanned five Bobcats and did not allow a single base on balls. “The defense was absolutely phenomenal,” exclaimed Beauchesne in the win. Depicting the Python coach’s claim was the 5-4-3 double play gem turned in by Nick Roussel, Chris Gamble and Devin DeCarteret, respectively. With Pelham owning a 1-0 lead after scoring in the top of the first, Moran surrendered one of his two hits on the day in the second inning. But the Python trio quickly squashed any chance of a Coe-Brown


Alex Newton banged-out five hits in Pelham’s two wins this past week; here, Newton beats out a bunt in a home game against Bedford


Python Boys’ Tennis; Snakes in the Tall Grass; Smith & Taylor Remain Undefeated


by Marc Ayotte According to an ancient Chinese proverb, “He who was


bitten by a snake avoids tall grass.” Nine matches into the season, the Pelham boys’ tennis team finds itself slithering around, if not in the tall grass, at least on the tennis courts normally reserved for the big guns of Bedford, Portsmouth and Hanover. And as a consequence, opponents just might not be taking the Pythons quite so lightly this season. As the calendar turned a page into the first day of May, the Pythons inarguably led NH Division II tennis in team wins with eight. Granted, Pelham will not face the Bull dogs nor the Marauders during the regular season, and where they ultimately stand in the pack will come to light in early May, when they face the Clippers of Portsmouth. The last eight state titles in Division II (or equivalent)


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have gone the way of perennial powerhouses Hanover (5), Bedford (2), and Portsmouth (1). Nonetheless, Pelham has flourished since a season opening loss to cross-town Windham. Now, all being said, Windham has since incurred a 9-0 thrashing to Portsmouth, proving that the top three teams really are the elite in this division. But with the potent 1-2 punch of Matt Smith and Jared Taylor, who through the first nine matches remain undefeated in their respective singles matches, as well as together as doubles partners, the Pythons are making quite a name for themselves; ranked fifth, just percentage points behind Bedford in the rating category. In a home match on April 25, the Pythons improved to


seven wins against the single loss with a 6-3 team victory over Goffstown. Number one seed Matt Smith kept his perfect season in tact with an 8-0 beat down of Marty Pelletier in Pelham’s best performance of the day. Second seeded Jared Taylor grabbed a 7-4 lead before finally fending-off the Grizzlie’s Pat Bruzqua, 8-6 to also stay


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Unbeaten number one seed Matt Smith (Pelham) shows a nice touch, dropping a volley softly over the net for a point against Goffstown’s Marty Pelletier


undefeated. Pelham received singles match victories from number three seed Adam Duff-Marsh who defeated Kyle Arnold, 8-4, and Andrew Janocha who edged out Grant Caine, 8-6 in a number six seed match. Smith and Taylor clinched the win for the home team with their doubles play while Duff-Marsh/Janocha added a little frosting to the cake with their 8-0 blanking of Sheehan/Tardiff. In closing out the month of April, Pelham faced Souhegan in the middle match of their three match home stand. The Pythons won their seventh consecutive match, improving their team record to 8-1, by emerging with a slim 5-4 win over the Sabers. Adam Duff-Marsh, adding to wins from Smith (8-0) and Taylor (8-6), gave the Pythons a nice 3-0 lead in the team scoring, when he posted a solid 8-3 win over Jason Emmond. After Smith and Taylor easily won their ninth straight doubles match, it took Ben Harris and Jared Labonte’s 9-8 (7-4 tiebreaker) doubles win to provide the necessary fifth team point, giving Pelham its eight win of the season.


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Staff photos by Marc Ayotte


Staff photo by Marc Ayotte


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