LONDONDERRY — Devin Boles was brought up to the varsity midway through last season as outfield depth for the Londonderry High School baseball team that went on to beat Pinkerton Academy for the Division I championship, but he didn’t get a chance to start on the mound.
The junior left-hander earned that opportunity for the Lancers this season and he was called upon to start Saturday’s rematch against undefeated Pinkerton. Boles excelled in helping hand the Astros their first loss.
Boles allowed one earned run on four hits and four walks while striking out nine batters in 5 1/3 innings of work, while his defense shined behind him during a 4-2 victory. Brady Gillis pitched the rest of the way to pick up the save for defending champion Londonderry (9-2).
“I knew a lot of them were returning and they were probably still a little mad from last year, but we handled it like every other game,” Boles said of facing Pinkerton. “It was my first start at home and I felt good. I feel like they trust me and I feel very confident right now.”
Boles moved to 4-0 on the season and has compiled 34 strikeouts with a 2.33 ERA in a starting rotation that also includes Gillis and Joey Cafaro.
“I was impressed with his focus, he had his pitches going, and the kid is a gamer,” Londonderry coach Brent Demas said. “He’s a competitive individual and his teammates made some mistakes and he’s the first one that went up to them and said ‘We got this’. That’s the sign of a true competitor.”
After Londonderry scored twice off Pinkerton starting pitcher Michael Cioffi in the bottom of the first inning, Boles didn’t run into trouble until the third after a leadoff walk and an error allowed Leo Boucher to score.
Pinkerton (10-1) threatened further damage, but Londonderry center fielder Owen Carey tracked down a bomb off the bat of slugger Jackson Marshall with two runners on base. Boles then went on to strike out Hunter Brasier to keep the Lancers ahead 2-1.
“That catch that Owen made on Jackson Marshall to me was a game-saving catch,” Demas said. “That was a gap shot that was going to hit the wall and they were going to clear the bases. That was going to happen, but that’s just Owen.”
Londonderry’s defense helped Boles again in the top of the fifth inning after Brendan Horne singled with two runners on base, but Boucher rounded third base hard and tried to get back. After third baseman Johan Pena cut off Ryan Williams’ throw, Pena threw to shortstop Jayden Hamilton covering third base to pick off Boucher.
Boles went on to retire the next two hitters and Londonderry scored twice in the bottom of the inning aided by an error to take a 4-1 lead.
After Boles walked John Hanlon with one out in the sixth, Gillis came in for his first relief appearance of the season four days after throwing 100 pitches in a 7-0 win over Bishop Guertin. Gilis gave up an RBI single to Anthony Caruso, but he escaped further damage in the inning and struck out two in the seventh inning.
“It’s a little different for me to come (in relief) and my first few pitches were a little wild,” Gillis said. “After that I found my groove.”
Pinkerton coach Steve Campo was encouraged with how his team stayed in the game.
“It was a slow start, I thought the kids battled and I was proud with the way they stayed in the game,” Campo said. “Tip your hat to Londonderry. They’re a heck of a team and they took advantage of opportunities. We’ve got some stuff to work on and we’re going to work on it and get better.”
