The Alvirne High School baseball squad has had a rough start to the season, but last week they were able to secure the team’s first victory.
The first two weeks of the Division I season resulted in five consecutive losses, but the Broncos started week three on a high note, defeating the Nashua North Titans, 8-0, on their home field.
Nashua North entered the game with its only win of the season coming at home against Manchester Memorial and was hoping for a similar result against the winless Broncos.
Alvirne pitcher Brody Buja earned the win, pitching five innings while striking out 10 batters, allowing just three hits and no runs, and walking three.
Gavin Baviello pitched two innings of relief for Alvirne, striking out three and not allowing a hit.
The Broncos scored in two of the seven innings, beginning in the top of the third. Third baseman Jasper Workman led off with a hard-hit ground ball to third that resulted in an error. Center fielder PJ Millette followed with a full-count walk to put two runners on base.
Second baseman Alex Drown singled down the right-field line to drive in the first run of the game, and right fielder Jameson Krueger followed with a double down the left-field line to bring in the second run.
Singles by catcher Memphis Beach, designated hitter Luke Norse, and Buja brought in three additional runs, giving the Broncos a 5-0 lead. A total of 10 batters came to the plate in Alvirne’s biggest inning of the season so far.
The Broncos added three more runs in their final at-bats. Norse and first baseman Brady Mitchell led off the inning with singles, and Casey Benning drove in one run with a single to center field.
Left fielder Matty Bebris also lined a single to center, and Drown drove in the final run of the game.
Owen Forcier took the loss for Nashua North. The right-hander pitched five innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits, with no strikeouts and two walks.
The Broncos collected 12 hits in the game. Drown went 2-for-4 at the plate and led the team with two RBIs, while Norse went 3-for-3 to lead Alvirne in hits. Bebris added two hits in four at-bats.
Buja, Workman, and Millette each stole multiple bases, with the team totaling eight steals.
The results two days later weren’t as strong when the Broncos hosted the Salem Blue Devils in their seventh game of the season.
The Blue Devils entered the contest at 2-6, having lost five of their previous six games, matching Alvirne’s record at the time.
The Broncos’ bats were quieted by Salem pitcher Brady Silver, who faced 27 batters, striking out five and allowing two runs on six hits.
Cole Baker had two hits to lead Alvirne at the plate. Millette added a hit and an RBI, while Beach, Logan Orr, and Jmmeson Krueger each recorded singles in the loss.
This week, the team has games against Keene (2-6), Portsmouth (1-8), and Timberlane (3-6).
The only home game will take place on Wednesday, May 6, at 4 p.m. against Portsmouth.
