Opening Round Highlights
Exeter Post 32 kicked off the American Legion State Tournament with a 10-4 victory over Laconia. The win was anchored by a seven-run third inning that turned a close contest into a comfortable lead, and the team capitalized on three Laconia errors that produced eight unearned runs.
Top hitters Andrew Martin, Brady McGovern and Nate Gallant drove the offense, while the defense turned those miscues into extra scoring opportunities. The performance set a confident tone for Post 32 as they look ahead to their next matchup.
Rochester Post 7 also opened with a win, downing Lebanon 7-1. Strong pitching from Hunter Spencer, Carter Hanson and Nate Cloos kept the opposition at bay, and Rochester pulled away with a three-run fifth inning that put them up 6-1 before adding an insurance run in the seventh.
The next round will test both teams against seasoned opponents. Exeter is scheduled to meet District A No. 1 seed Bedford at 4 p.m. on July 25, while Rochester will take on Nashua at 7 p.m. Recent results show Bedford sweeping Salem 18-4 and Nashua edging Keene 7-4, underscoring the competitive field.
Rochester’s pitching rotation will feature James Mabey on the mound for the Nashua game, a decision announced by Locke that adds a strategic layer to the matchup. For Rochester, the tournament marks their first state appearance since 2019, heightening the significance of each contest.