Timberlane baseball cruises to much-needed win over Merrimack

MERRIMACK – The Division I matchup between the Timberlane and Merrimack high school baseball teams on Monday featured a pair of two-win teams that were desperate for a victory.

The Owls proved to be hungrier for that victory, as Timberlane scored twice in the first and never looked back, sprinkling in at least one run in each of the final four frames during an 8-2 win at Merrimack.

“We had two teams on Monday that have struggled so far this year,” said Owls coach Jamie Fish. “We did enough things (Monday) to win a ballgame. We still need to clean a lot of stuff up, but I am happy with the victory. We have taken it on the chin a couple times this year by some really good teams. We really needed this win to get ourselves back in a confident mindset.”

The Owls (3-5) were led by an impressive performance on the mound by starter Lucas Harmon, as the junior went five-plus innings and only gave up two runs. He did not allow a hit through 3¹⁄3 innings and retired the side in order during the second and third, finishing with three strikeouts and three walks. Timberlane finished with nine hits and made two errors. Senior Brent Seavey went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

With one down in the top of the first, senior Ryan Bourque connected on an RBI triple to center, scoring Harmon. During the next at bat, senior Cameron Sweet lined a one-run single to center, giving the visitors an early 2-0 advantage.

In the second, Tomahawks freshman starting pitcher Ayden Curren made a phenomenal stop on a sharply hit groundball back up the middle with one down, and then was able to gun out the runner at first.

In the fourth, Timberlane was back on the attack, scoring three unearned runs as a result of two Merrimack errors, two hits and a walk. The rally ended with a sacrifice fly to center by Harmon, which scored senior Dan Hayes and gave the Owls a 5-0 cushion.

“I do not think we brought it (Monday),” said Merrimack coach Kevin Moyer. “Our energy was not where it needed to be. We came out flat and it showed on the field. I thought out pitchers (Ayden Curren, Ryan Williams and Ryan Ivester) did a really good job. They kept us in it and were getting groundball outs. We did not make enough plays behind them.”

Merrimack (2-7), which finished with six hits and four errors, put runners on first and second with one down in the fourth as a result of singles by seniors Eric Stack and Cole Keefe. Harmon was able to get out of the jam with some help, as his infield turned a perfectly executed 5-4-3 double play.

In the fifth, a two-out RBI single to left by Seavey put the Owls up 6-0, and then in the bottom half of the frame, Merrimack made its way onto the board with a one-out RBI single to right by junior Keaton Miller and a sacrifice fly to center by junior Mike Grover, cutting the deficit down to 6-2.

Even though they gave up two runs in the inning, the Owls made a big-time play, as the Tomahawks put runners on first and second with no outs, but Harmon and junior shortstop Donovan Kelley were able to pick off the lead runner at second.

“We have been preaching that there is still time this year, but time is starting to dwindle,” said Moyer about Merrimack’s season. “We cannot afford to come out flat and not be enthusiastic like we were (Monday). We got to want it every day. Hopefully, the guys come back with a positive outlook (Tuesday), and we are going to turn the page.”

An RBI ground out by Bourque scored senior Antonio Pallaria in the sixth, extending Timberlane’s lead to 7-2. Senior Shane Johnson scored the Owls’ final run with two down in the seventh, which was more than enough for relief pitcher Colin Scully. Scully threw two innings, striking out three and only allowing one hit and one walk.

“Lucas and Colin were all around the plate,” said Fish. “They do not hurt themselves typically, and on Monday they did a great job. Lucas is 2-1 now and Colin has saved a couple games for us.”

The Owls will travel to Manchester Central for a 4 p.m. start Tuesday, while the Tomahawks will host Bedford on Wednesday at 4 p.m.