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By: Patrick Webler
PBR New England Scout

We look to bring the New England region top-notch high school coverage throughout the area.

We have the 2017 Scout Blog (with video and notes from this game), Spotlight Games, Inside the Recruitment Articles, Unsigned Senior Spotlights, The Recruiting Trail, All-State Selections, Full Coverage of the State Tournaments as well as numerous other articles throughout the spring.

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New Hampshire Spotlight Game: Exeter vs Bedford - Division I State Championship

The New Hampshire Division 1 baseball state championship game was a match-up between undefeated Exeter (20-0) and Bedford (19-1), whose only loss was to Exeter 5-4.

Both pitchers are committed to Division 1 programs, as it was Exeter's junior Cody Morissette (Boston College) vs. Bedford's Joe Quintal (Fordham).

Semifinal hero Bobby Cliche got the scoring started for Exeter, whose RBI single gave the Blue Hawks a 1-0 lead after two. Tom Polhemus singled in another run in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead.

Bedford was luckily able to get two runs back to tie the game on a wild pitch and an error on a routine fly ball to right field.

Exeter was able to force Quintal out of the game in the fourth (3.2 IP, 3R, 5 SO), in favor of Tufts commit Manny Ray. Ray was promptly greeted with an RBI single by Kyle Maurice, which gave Exeter a 3-2 lead.

They were able to extend their lead to 7-2 going into the seventh.

Cody Morissette had been lights out up until the seventh, allowing only two hits, but back to back hits by the bottom of Bedford’s lineup had them in position for a big inning with the top of their lineup due up.

Morissette was able to retire Bedford leadoff hitter Joey Barrett, but the lead was cut to 7-4 after a throwing error on the third baseman and a Grant Lavigne double off the right field wall. Morissette struck out cleanup hitter Connor Collins, but then gave up back to back RBI singles to Liam Greene and Geoff Mosseau, making it 7-6.

Morissette was pulled after going 6.2 innings, allowing 4 earned runs, and striking out 8. Sophomore Ethan Imbimbo came in and was able to get Connor Zendzian to ground out to shortstop Kyle Ball to save the game and Exeter’s undefeated season.