Two years ago, Ryan Thompson pitched about as well as it’s possible to pitch at any level.

In 13 starts for Franklin Pierce University, the former Souhegan High School pitcher went 11-1 with a 1.23 ERA. In 95 innings, he struck out 114 batters and surrendered just 63 hits and 13 walks, holding opponents to a collective .188 average.

The honors poured in for Thompson, including first team All-American and several national player-of-the-year nominations. He was the Northeast-10 Conference Pitcher of the Year, which must have been an easy vote.

Then it was just a matter of waiting for that June’s Major League Draft because Thompson, who had spent two previous years at the University of Connecticut, was a draft-eligible sophomore.

There was speculation that the hard-throwing 6-foot-3-inch pitcher would be selected pretty high. But it wasn’t until the 36th round and the 1,109th overall pick that the Yankees called his name.

The Yankees offer wasn’t a great one, and Thompson, an honors level student, decided to gamble.

If people were still worried about a shoulder issue earlier in his college career, he’d prove he was fine by pitching even better the next year.

But Thompson heard the second guessing when a rotator cuff issue contributed to a slow start last spring. Thompson pitched well, going 5-2 with a 3.47 ERA, but nothing like the year earlier. Most of his postseason awards came because of his continued prowess in the classroom.

Thompson spent the summer pitching for Chatham in the Cape League and began to return to form, striking out 31 in 32 innings.

“Getting that level of hitter out on a regular basis was a big confidence boost,’’ Thompson said. “By the end of the summer, I was feeling pretty good.’’

And Thompson, a Canadian citizen who calls Calgary his hometown, is lights out again for Franklin Pierce. In six starts this spring, he’s 3-0 with a 1.77 ERA. He had 57 strikeouts and has allowed just 20 hits in 401?3 innings.

“I think he’s become a better pitcher because he’s developed a very effective change-up,’’ Franklin Pierce head coach Jayson King said. “The intelligence has always been there, and he’s become smarter on the mound.’’

Because he’s in his fifth year of college, Thompson said he has 20 credits more than he needs to graduate.

He’s a mass communication major whose grade point average looks more like his 2012 ERA than his numbers in 2011 and this spring.

Thompson will, no doubt, be drafted again this spring and will likely sign and try his hand at professional baseball, but with a college degree to fall back on.

He graduated from Souhegan a year early and returned to Calgary with his parents, who both work in the oil industry.

He said he’d love to represent his country some day in international competition.

Kevin McGowan

Thompson isn’t the only local pitcher who is off to a good start with Franklin Pierce.

Kevin McGowan of Nashua is 2-0 so far in five starts with a 3.00 ERA.

The former Nashua North standout has struck out 29 in 33 innings while allowing just 27 hits.

Shannon Connerty

Sophomore Shannon Connerty had seven goals and two assists for the Plymouth State women’s lacrosse team on Tuesday in a 16-15 victory over Connecticut College.

Connerty, from Nashua, has a team-high 18 goals through five games for the 4-1 Panthers.

Arashana Yankes

University of Massachusetts Lowell freshman Arashana Yanes of Nashua finished second in the 100-meter dash on Saturday at Dartmouth in a tri-meet with the University of Vermont.

The former Nashua South standout ran the 100 in 12.33 seconds and was third in the 200 in 25.44.

Bryan Johnson

Senior Bryan Johnson of Brookline has started all 10 games this spring on defense for the Saint Joseph’s College of Maine men’s lacrosse team.

Johnson had five grounds balls on Saturday on a 14-5 victory over Emerson. He’s third on the team in caused turnovers with 16.

Alek Morency

Junior pitcher Alek Morency of Nashua is off to a great start for the Merrimack College baseball team.

In five starts the Nashua North graduate is 3-1 with a 1.10 ERA. He’s struck out 24 and walked just three in 32 2? 3 innings. He allowed just 25 hits and opponents are hitting only .205.

Logan Gillis

Senior second baseman Logan Gillis of Merrimack leads the Bentley University baseball team in both hits (30) and batting average (.300).

Gillis, who is tied for the team lead in doubles with six, had three hits Saturday in a 15-4 victory over Saint Anselm College.

Newsletter