The Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse team celebrates its 17-16 Divison I title win over Bedford at Stellos Stadium. (Instagram photo)

The Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse team served notice they were to be taken for real when they ended Bishop Guertin’s long in-state winning streak a month ago at Stellos Stadium.

Well, the Astros’ return to Stellos brought the ultimate prize – the Division I state title,as they edged Bedford 17-16 in an absolute thriller Saturday.

It the highlight of a busy championship Saturday in NHIAA competition. Trinity took home the Division I baseball crown over Londonderry, and it was a tough day for the Lancers as they were upset by Goffstown in the Division I softball finals.

Here’s a brief look:

BOYS LACROSSE

The No. 2 Astros scored twice in a 26 second span late to pull out the win, and held off No. 1 Bedford’s final try on a possession with 13.7 seconds to go. The two teams were tied at 14 with 5:14 to go.

It’s Pinkerton’s first Division I crown since 2019. Astro Dylan Stingel was a key, receiving the team’ game ball.

In Division II, No. 2 Derryfield edged No. 1 Winnacunnet, 8-7; the game at Exeter’s Bill Ball Stadium was tied at 7 in the final minute.

In the Division III title game, this time the top seed came out on top over the second seed as Coe-Brown took home the crown, beating Bow decisively 15-8 at Laconia’s Bank of NH Stadium.

BASEBALL

The Pioneers downed Londonderry 11-4, leading 7-3 in the sixth. Chris Centorino had three doubles for Trinity, going 4 for 4. The Lancers made it tough on Pioneer starter Brady Sirois however, chasing him in the fifth to close to 5-3.But that was it.

In a wild Division II game, No. 2 Kingwood beat No. 4 St. Thomas 10-9 on Bryan Purington’s RBI single in the seventh.

Kingswood had jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first inning but the Saints scored nine to grab 9-8 lead in the fourth. The game was tied a 9 going into the seventh.

In Division III, Belmont topped Derryfield 10-2 thanks to a seven-run third inning. Wyatt Devers got the complete game win.

Finally, No. 1 Newmarket completed a 19-0 season – the only unbeaten in the state — with a 9-6 win over Epping, thanks to a four-run sixth that snapped a 5-5 tie.

SOFTBALL

Goffstown pulled off the shocker over the Lancers, 8-2, getting its first softball crown in nearly 30 years (1997). Ella Rivars and Payton Strand were among the key run producers for the Grizzlies who spoiled a day when Lancers pitcher Elisabeth Kearney recorded her 700th strikeout.

In Division II, No. 3 Kingswood blanked No. 9 Plymouth 3-0 for its second straight crown, making the school the diamond capital of Division II with two titles on the day.

In Division III, No. 2 Prospect Mountain edged No. 1 Gilford, 9-8, and No. 5 Portsmouth Christian bested No. 3 Colebrook 5-2 for the Division IV crown.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

No. 2 Coe-Brown got its second championship of the day as well, recovering from a 2-0 deficit to edge No. 1 Salem, 3-2, at Nashua North.

(Information from NH-HighSchoolSports.com, New Hampshire Hardball, NH Sports Page and other social media sites were used in this report.)