Merrimack's Garron Brown tag out Nashua North's James Markley on a steal attempt at second during Thursday's Division I game in Merrimack. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

MERRIMACK – The Gods are angry at the Merrimack High School baseball team.

How else can you explain the Tomahawks’ lack of good fortune in the first three weeks of the season?

They ‘Hawks were one out away from their second win of the year on Thursday at home vs. Nashua North. But a sinking line drive and a walk sent the game to extra innings, and a circus catch ended things with the Titans coming out on top 5-4 in eight.

That coming less than 24 hours after the Tomahawks had numerous scoring chances vs. Trinity but left eight men on in those chances without a run in a 4-1 loss.

They’re now 1-7.

“We’re not buying the breaks this year,” Merrimack coach Mike Dudash said. “We left a lot of guys on base again. … Hats off to North. They battle, and I know they’re like that because of what they did to Portsmouth (a late opening game rally for a win).”

Yes, many will tell you that you make your own breaks, and one of those is North coach Zach Harris. His 5-2 Titans are clearly battlers, and they proved it yesterday. After a double steal attempt was foiled at home, RBI bloop singles by Richie Tavares and Joey Deck snapped a 3-3 tie in the top of the eighth.

“They do (fight),” Harris said of his players. “It’s something we talk about. It’s something our culture’s been over the last six years I’ve been here. I’d like our focus and energy to be from the first pitch to the last instead of waiting around until the seventh or eighth inning of these games.”

The teams kept trading runs throughout. Merrimack starter Eliot Medlock felt his arm was a little sore early on so the ‘Hawks inserted freshman Zach Retey. North got an RBI single by Jayce Martinez and bases loaded walk to Deck, while Merrimack got a pair of wild pitches by North starter Joe Gutierrez for their two runs.

In the sixth, though, Cody Booth smacked the ‘Hawks fourth straight hit (two off Guitierezz and two off reliever Brady Sullivan) for an RBI and a 3-2 lead.

All Retey needed was to keep the Titans off the board in the seventh and the ‘Hawks would have a big win. Easier said than done. With two out and one on, Merrimack’s Luca Cabel couldn’t quite come up with a sinking liner in center after diving, and North had two on. Retey then lost the plate, walking two straight, the second issued to Austin Suchecki to tie the score.

“We talked about it before we broke the (post game) huddle,” Dudash said. “We have to change our strategy. We’ve only been beaten once this year when the ball was hit over our head. We’re playing too deep. We’re at a point where we have to bring (the outfielders) in. The one in center field he had a shot at it if he were shallow.”

Down 5-4 – an error played the ‘Hawks’ fourth run – Merrimack was one circus catch away from winning the game off Sullivan. With the runners off from first and second, a run in and two out in the bottom of the eighth, Ryan Mainey lofted a high fly to right field near the line but plenty fair. Tavares ran over and barely got there in time, the ball finding the webbing of the glove as he reached up and out.

“We’ve got all the confidence in the world in Richie,” Harris said. “We would’ve liked him to play a little more fundamental there, get underneath the ball, but he made the play, and that’s what counts.”

Harris knows they all count, including today’s game at Alvirne. “You know how difficult it is to win in Division I,” Harris said, noting that tougher games are ahead, including next Friday’s Battle of the Bridge game with Nashua South. “We’re going to just stick with it.”

So will Merrimack.

“They know they could have won half their games this year,” Dudash said. “Maybe 4-3 if things go our way. They’re really young. … It’s great experience for them.”

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