Follow @pbrnewengland

With the 2020 spring season right around the corner, PBR New England is eagerly anticipating bringing the New England states the best high school coverage throughout the region.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2020 Team Preview, click here.

To view the whole list of 2020 Team Previews, click here.

Interested in attending a PBR New England event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2020 NH Spring Team Preview - Londonderry

LONDONDERRY, N.H. - If pitching and defense wins games, then Londonderry will again be a team that needs to be reckoned with coming off of last season’s Division I state championship.

“Not to get ahead of ourselves, but we don’t want to put pressure on this team based on what last year’s team did,” noted head coach Brent Demas, who has led the Lancers to four state titles in 2004, 2010, 2014 and 2019. “We need to ride our pitching and defense, and get hot going into the playoffs.”

A year ago Londonderry finished 19-5, defeating Bedford 1-0 in the battle for a state crown.

“I expect us to make the playoffs and compete every day,” explained Demas, who points to archrival Pinkerton, Portsmouth, Keene, Winnacunnet and Exeter as the top teams this season along with his own Lancers and Bedford. “Having everyone understand and accept their role on a talented team will be the key to our success.”

Right-hander Nolan Lincoln, “a top arm in Division I” according to Demas, is back to lead the staff after going 7-3 with a 0.83 ERA as a junior, fanning 69 and walking nine in 67 innings on the mound.

“Our pitching will be very strong led by Nolan Lincoln,” noted Demas about the 6-4 185-pounder who gave up one run against top-ranked Concord in the state semifinals before a three-hit shutout over sixth-rated Bedford in the finals. “Owen MacDonnell and Luke Marsh are both flamethrowers with numerous pitches and will also help.”

Marsh, a returning outfielder who hit .250 with 12 RBIs during his junior campaign, is one of four starters from the state title game back. Junior shortstop Bradon Fisher, who hit .409 with 23 RBIs and 23 runs scored to go along with seven doubles and six triples, returns in the leadoff spot for Londonderry with senior Sean Cavanaugh, who drove in the only run of last year’s state championship game, the other returnee. A first baseman/pitcher, Cavanaugh batted .323 with 15 RBIs a season ago.

Demas has high praise for MacDonnell, a junior left-handed pitcher who also plays first base and one of five newcomers the 18th-year Londonderry head coach mentioned.

“He will be a name to watch this spring,” Demas said of the 6-1 185-pounder. “He has very good offspeed and is already garnering interest from Division I schools.”

Braden Griffin, “a speed outfielder with a great contact rate” according to Demas, is one of the keys to an offense that must replace graduates Reece Manor, Zack Luongo and Nick Cote. Manor, now at St. Anslem, hit .456 with 27 RBIs, Luongo, currently at Eastern Connecticut, averaged .325 with 18 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Cote, at UMass-Dartmouth, scored 19 runs and stole 26 bases while batting .282.

“Hitting will be a weak spot early on,” admitted Demas, who has had the Lancers in the Final Four seven times. “It’s tough to replace some of the bats we lost, but we are confident in the guys who are coming in.”

Versatile Zach Smith, “who can play all nine positions decently” in the eyes of Dumas, and Ryan Killelea, a solid infielder who is expected to help out of the bullpen, are being counted on for major contributions in 2020 by Demas, who enters the campaign with a 248-122 coaching record.

Catcher Zach Rheault is another expected to play a big role in 2020.

“He was able to get some strong experience last year as the back-up,” noted Dumas, who has coached Londonderry to the state finals four times in the past decade. “Offensively, he hits like an outfielder. He’s a big part of our plans.”