Typically pitching and defense win games at this level and last night was no exception. Tanner Putnam, pitching on 3 days rest, earned the victory with a complete game one hit masterpiece. "Putt" as his teammates call him, got 7 of the 21 outs via strikeout, 11 via ground-out (5 by SS - Dylan Skinner, 3 by 2B - Kyle Indingaro, 2 by 1B - Pat Viviers, 1 by 3B - Tyler Perron) and 3 via fly ball ( 2 by 2B - Indingaro, 1 by RF - Chris Hood). Goffstown played flawless defense behind their starter committing zero errors. Portsmouth's lone hit came in the top of the fourth, an opposite field single by freshman Kyle Maurice.
The Grizzlies got all their runs in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Hood and Ryan Pinard both singled and Mike Bailey, sophomore CF, hit a triple to the right-field gap. Tanner drove Mike in with a hard ground ball that made it past the Portsmouth shortstop for the third and final run of the game.
Goffstown (19-2) faces #3 seed Plymouth (17-4) in the final which is being played at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (home of the Fishercats). First pitch is scheduled for 7pm Saturday June 14. Plymouth upset #2 seed Hollis-Brookline in the first semi-final game. Goffstown and Plymouth faced each other once in the regular season with Goffstown winning a close one.
Head coach Adam Lawrence and the players have been preaching "win the last game" all season. Now they have that chance.
