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Nashua miscues help Merrimack to 8-5 win in NHCBL opener

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Jun 25, 2020

Telegraph photo by TOM KING Nashua's Ethan Smith steals second ahead of the throw to Merrimack's Ryan Juliano during Merrimack's 8-5 win in the NHCBL opener for both Wednesday at Bishop Guertin's Elliott Field.

NASHUA – Mistakes are expected in this early season of local summer baseball – especially since there was no spring season for anyone.

It’s how teams either take advantage or overcome them that will make a difference.

Merrimack early Wednesday evening did a better job of the former than Nashua did of the latter in an 8-5 win over the Defenders in the New Hampshire COVID Baseball League opener for both at Bishop Guertin’s Elliott Field.

Nashua committed six errors, and visiting Merrimack took advantage of just about every one.

“That’s something I was looking for for these guys,” Merrimack manager Mike Henzley said. “Stay aggressive, running stuff out, right? Taking the extra bag. I was proud of their effort tonight.”

“It’s not how we’ve looked the last three weeks in practice or how we looked (Tuesday) night in Salem (in a scrimmage),” Defenders manager Tim Lunn said. “I think the little nerves were there and stuff. It is what it is. I thought we looked good on the mound, the hitters had a good plan at the plate. But you can’t make that many mistakes and expect to win a baseball game.”

No doubt. Nashua starter Henri Boudreau didn’t give up a hit but allowed two unearned runs in four innings, striking out seven. But after those four Nashua trailed 2-1.

Merrimack broke things open with five runs in the fifth off Nashua reliever Nolan Mederos, the key blow a three-run double by Trevor Coyne. Nick Wilson tripled in a run in the sixth to make it 7-1 and Merrimack got an unearned insurance run in the seventh.

Nashua had its chances. The Defenders, after leaving the bases loaded in the third and fifth against Merrimack starter and winner Nick Wilson, closed to 7-5 with Kyle Hsu’s bases loaded triple off reliever Blayne Laliberte. Hsu came around to score on the play on a throwing error, and Nashua looked in business.

Later in the inning, however, Merrimack got a big out at third on a stolen base attempt with two on and one out, and reliever Cody Pfeifer was able to pitch out of the mini jam and get a one-two-three seventh to end it.

“It just came down to us giving them more outs and more opportunities,” Lunn said, “and we didn’t capitalize on the opportunities we had.”

Pfeifer did exactly what Merrimack needed – stop the bleeding.

“Momentum had totally swung their way,” Henzley said. “You could hear them on the bench, they’re ready to take the lead. And Cody comes out and does what he can for us, right? He’s not a guy who’s usually on the mound. He helps us out, he was a guy we looked to tonight because we’re a little thin (with pitching). He came out and really carried us tonight.”

“I knew a bunch of guys on their team can hit really well,” Pfeifer said. “I knew I had to come in and throw strikes. Which is what Coach Henzley asks me to do every time.

“It felt amazing to get back out on a baseball field. We definitely needed this.”

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Fans weren’t allowed inside the fence near the field where bleachers are; they mainly sat behind the fence around Elliott…

The 11-team league will have an eight team playoff to determine a champion in August. Each of the quarters, semis, and finals will be a best two-out-of three.

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