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MANCHESTER — Wyatt Divers and his Belmont High School baseball teammates were hungry entering the NHIAA Division III championship game at Delta Dental Stadium.
With a sea of supporters in the bleachers, the Red Raiders won their first state championship since 1988 by defeating Derryfield School 10-2 on Saturday.
The 2024 D-III runner-up and a semifinalist each of the past three years, Belmont scored seven runs in the third inning and received a stellar pitching performance from Divers.
The third-seeded Red Raiders finished with an 18-2 record.
“A lot of people thought we were going to do it last year,” Belmont coach Matt LeBlanc said of winning the title. “We were probably a year early. We came up here (to the final) two years ago. We were here in 2017 — lost a heartbreaker in extra innings. To be able to get this done, it’s an amazing feeling and these guys (the players) deserve all the credit.”
Relying on his slider, Divers, a senior righty, scattered eight hits and two walks, allowing two earned runs alongside seven strikeouts.
Divers, who recorded every postseason out for the Red Raiders, fed off the Belmont crowd.
“I saw everybody I think I’ve ever met out there,” Divers said. “Everyone was behind me and it felt good to be efficient.”
Belmont built a 10-1 advantage through three innings.
The Red Raiders scored seven runs on three hits, two walks and a Cougars error in the third. They batted around in that frame, which was highlighted by Brady Fysh’s RBI single to left field and Sam Binder’s bases-loaded walk.
Belmont also loaded the bases with nobody out and then plated three runs in the first inning to take a 3-1 lead. Binder, a freshman, and junior Jack Crockford had consecutive RBI groundouts and Brayden Townsend scored on a fielding error.
The Red Raiders logged eight hits, including two from senior Eddie Rochenski, and six walks.
“We feel like we’re the best-hitting team in Division III,” LeBlanc said. “We’ve been putting up runs all year.”
Fifth-seeded Derryfield (16-5) opened the game’s scoring in the top of the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Jake Larson. The Cougars also scored on a pinch-hit RBI single by senior Logan O’Leary in the sixth inning, which cut Belmont’s lead to 10-2.
The Cougars made their first state final appearance since 2007. This season was their second in Division III since moving up from Division IV.
“Just super proud of the group and how far we came and the mark we made for Derryfield baseball overall,” said Cougars coach Kevin Gray, a former sportswriter for the Union Leader. “Thirteen kids, no JV (junior varsity) team, second year in D-III.”
When the Red Raiders won their Class M championship in 1988, they were coached by the late Paul Sottak. The Belmont High Hall of Famer’s grandsons Jasper, a junior outfielder, and Cole Contigiani, a manager, were both part of this season’s title run.
Saturday marked the last game for Belmont assistant coach Jim LaClair, who is retiring after 49 years of coaching baseball. LaClair, who won two state titles at Farmington, where he spent most of his coaching career, is Divers’s grandfather.
“To get it done for everybody is just the best feeling in the world,” Divers said. “I love all these guys with all my heart and it’s something special that we got to do, especially with my grandfather over there.”
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With a sea of supporters in the bleachers, the Red Raiders won their first state championship since 1988 by defeating Derryfield School 10-2 on Saturday.
The 2024 D-III runner-up and a semifinalist each of the past three years, Belmont scored seven runs in the third inning and received a stellar pitching performance from Divers.
The third-seeded Red Raiders finished with an 18-2 record.
“A lot of people thought we were going to do it last year,” Belmont coach Matt LeBlanc said of winning the title. “We were probably a year early. We came up here (to the final) two years ago. We were here in 2017 — lost a heartbreaker in extra innings. To be able to get this done, it’s an amazing feeling and these guys (the players) deserve all the credit.”
Relying on his slider, Divers, a senior righty, scattered eight hits and two walks, allowing two earned runs alongside seven strikeouts.
Divers, who recorded every postseason out for the Red Raiders, fed off the Belmont crowd.
“I saw everybody I think I’ve ever met out there,” Divers said. “Everyone was behind me and it felt good to be efficient.”
Belmont built a 10-1 advantage through three innings.
The Red Raiders scored seven runs on three hits, two walks and a Cougars error in the third. They batted around in that frame, which was highlighted by Brady Fysh’s RBI single to left field and Sam Binder’s bases-loaded walk.
Belmont also loaded the bases with nobody out and then plated three runs in the first inning to take a 3-1 lead. Binder, a freshman, and junior Jack Crockford had consecutive RBI groundouts and Brayden Townsend scored on a fielding error.
The Red Raiders logged eight hits, including two from senior Eddie Rochenski, and six walks.
“We feel like we’re the best-hitting team in Division III,” LeBlanc said. “We’ve been putting up runs all year.”
Fifth-seeded Derryfield (16-5) opened the game’s scoring in the top of the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Jake Larson. The Cougars also scored on a pinch-hit RBI single by senior Logan O’Leary in the sixth inning, which cut Belmont’s lead to 10-2.
The Cougars made their first state final appearance since 2007. This season was their second in Division III since moving up from Division IV.
“Just super proud of the group and how far we came and the mark we made for Derryfield baseball overall,” said Cougars coach Kevin Gray, a former sportswriter for the Union Leader. “Thirteen kids, no JV (junior varsity) team, second year in D-III.”
When the Red Raiders won their Class M championship in 1988, they were coached by the late Paul Sottak. The Belmont High Hall of Famer’s grandsons Jasper, a junior outfielder, and Cole Contigiani, a manager, were both part of this season’s title run.
Saturday marked the last game for Belmont assistant coach Jim LaClair, who is retiring after 49 years of coaching baseball. LaClair, who won two state titles at Farmington, where he spent most of his coaching career, is Divers’s grandfather.
“To get it done for everybody is just the best feeling in the world,” Divers said. “I love all these guys with all my heart and it’s something special that we got to do, especially with my grandfather over there.”
[email protected]
Continue reading...
