Big first inning lifts Bishop Guertin baseball past Winnacunnet

NASHUA – Jumping out to an early lead is usually a recipe for success.

That narrative played itself out on Wednesday at Holman Stadium, as the Bishop Guertin High School baseball team hit the scoreboard with a four-run first inning and held hard-working Winnacunnet to one hit during a 6-2 triumph.

“Scoring four early was big because we could settle down,” said Bishop Guertin coach Scott Painter. “We attacked Winnacunnet starter and freshman Joseph Allen early, and he is going to be good. He is good, and I thought we were good with two strikes against him early. He got us into some off counts, and we competed and battled.”

Senior first baseman Sam Boudreau had a great day in the batter’s box, going 3 for 3 with a walk, an RBI and a run for the Cardinals (6-0). Sophomore Jake Mitchell and senior center fielder Ryan Bue each went 2 of 3 at the dish with two RBIs in the victory. Bishop Guertin held a 9-1 advantage in the hits category.

Cardinals senior shortstop Aiden Coyne opened the five-hit, first-inning effort with a single to right, and then scored two at bats later, on an RBI single to right by Boudreau. A two-run single to the gap in right-center by Mitchell extended Guertin’s lead to 3-0. Senior right fielder Taylor Proulx concluded the scoring in the first, trotting across home with one down off an RBI single to center by Bue.

Allen, who was charged with six runs and seven hits in 4¹⁄3 innings, really settled into the game for Winnacunnet against a potent BG offense, posting 1-2-3 innings during the third and fourth, in addition to retiring eight straight batters during a period from the second to the fourth.

Bishop Guertin must have not been happy with the way the third started, but given the situation, it must have been OK with the end result. Cardinals senior starting pitcher Aaron Zabawski walked the first batter, hit the second and walked the third, loading the bases with no outs.

A sacrifice fly to center by Warriors freshman Hunter Chase plated junior Jakob Bullard and put the visitors on the board. Zabawski (four strikeouts), who gave up two runs in 3²⁄3 innings on one hit, seven walks and two hitter batters, was able to retire the next two batters, getting his team out of the inning with a three-run advantage.

The Warriors (1-5) loaded the bases with two down in the fourth as a result of walks by sophomore Camden MacDonald and Allen, and a single to left by Bullard. An RBI walk by sophomore Hayes Waddell brought Winnacunnet to within 4-2.

Painter called in sophomore relief pitcher Zachary Rioux with the bases still loaded and two outs, and he was able to force Chase to fly out to left, ending the inning with no further damage. Rioux’s outing was impressive, as he came in and threw strikes, not giving up any walks or hits in 2¹⁄3 innings with the only Warriors’ base runner coming by way of a fielding error.

“Zach is a JV kid that is up and is looking to earn a spot, earn innings and time on the field,” said Painter. “He did a great job with 33 pitches in 2¹⁄3 innings. He threw strikes, pounded the zone and commanded both sides.”

Bishop Guertin regained a four-run lead with two runs in the fifth, as senior catcher Alex George scored with one down, and then with two outs, Proulx crossed home on an RBI single up the middle by Bue. Senior pitcher Raymond Touchette did not give Winnacunnet any chance to mount a comeback in the seventh, retiring the side in order with a pair of strikeouts.

“BG is a good team and they ran out some good pitching,” said Warriors coach Aaron Abood. “We did not hit well. You got to get more than one hit to win a game, but I am happy with the way that we got down early but hung in there and still battled. We did not let them run away with it. I am happy with the way we played defensively.”

The Cardinals and Warriors will be back in action on Thursday at 4 p.m., as BG will take on Nashua North at Holman Stadium and Winnacunnet will host Dover.