By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

CONCORD - When it happened in the second game of Goffstown's 2005 Class L season against Dover, head baseball coach Matt Benson considered it nothing more than an aberration.

But having a second GHS lead disintegrate in the final frame en route to a demoralizing 6-5 loss at Concord has set off some serious alarms.

Through 6 1/2 innings on Friday, April 22, the locals led their previously winless hosts at Warren Doane Field, taking a 5-3 lead into the last of the seventh.

Needing three defensive outs to pull even at 3-3 through their first six games, the Grizzlies were instead touched for three critical runs.

"There is concern now," said Benson, visibly frustrated following Goffstown's post-game team meeting. "We've gotta find (an answer)."

Benson, who prides himself on remaining positive after games regardless of the outcome, told his team he was angry, particularly with its play in two key areas.

First, Goffstown's pitch selection while at bat was sub-par, according to the coach. Both early and late in the contest, GHS batters weren't swinging at strikes. They were, however, watching several called third strikes sail past them.

The Grizzlies struck out seven times as a team. In each of the first three innings, one GHS hitter K'd without attempting to make two-strike contact.

"We were swinging at awful pitches late in the game," Benson said. "That's what it came down to."

Momentarily, one Grizzly hitter appeared to be his squad's savior in the sixth.

His team leading, 3-2, with one out and the bags packed, senior captain Stephen Desjarlais laced a single back through the box, scoring junior pinch-runner Brian Doucet and junior captain Darren McLean for a 5-2 cushion.

GHS later reloaded the bases, but failed to capitalize and add additional insurance.

"We didn't put them away when we had the chance," Benson said. "We had opportunities to put them away with bases loaded and we needed someone to step up."

Benson also attributed the loss to the inability of his relief corps to make critical pitches in the late innings.

After starting pitcher Tom French gave his club 4 2/3 quality innings from the hill, allowing just two earned runs, the bullpen couldn't keep Concord's batters at bay.

Immediately after the Grizzlies took a 5-2 lead, the Crimson Tide was able to strike for a single run in the home sixth, making the last-inning comeback possible.

Trying to find the bright spots in a heartbreaking loss, Benson pointed to his starting pitcher, who struck out the side in the third - and fanned four overall - along with team defense.

"Tom French was outstanding and our defense was a positive," Benson said. "We're playing good defense, which is keeping us in games, and we're having good pitching. We just need to close the door - that's what it is."

Benson didn't buy the argument that his team would learn much from having another lateinning lead slip away. He said since his players have won at other levels, they already know what's needed to finish off an opponent.

"They're upset and that's a good sign," said Benson, whose team edged Merrimack, 9-8, on Monday, April 25. "Sooner or later we're gonna end up closing someone out."

Along with Desjarlais, Doucet, French and McLean, the '05 Grizzlies include assistant coach Pat Turcotte; seniors Conner Badasarian, Cory Burrall and Andrew Hart; juniors Ben Bradley, Jon Berube, Andy Cassidy, Craig McGee, Eric Szumiesz and Evan Turcotte; and sophomore Alex Sobolov.