Home, happy and bringing the heat: Sophomore Kearney firing on all cylinders at Londonderry High
Apr. 25—PLAISTOW — One sage veteran, who has been part of and been around New Hampshire high school softball for four-plus decades, said it best before Timberlane Regional hosted Londonderry on April 17.
"You just don't see high school sophomores throwing 65 m.p.h., around here."
New Hampshire is learning fast a lesson that the best of the Merrimack Valley Conference and much of Massachusetts endured last year. Elisabeth Kearney brings some serious heat when she is inside the pitching circle.
The sophomore Kearney has transitioned brilliantly in helping lead Londonderry to a 3-0 start after the 3-1 win here against the Owls.
One year ago, as a freshman at Central Catholic, she struck out 100 hitters in 49 innings, helping the Raiders on a run to the Division 1 state title game.
But the call to be a kid and join her childhood friends brought her back to Londonderry High this past fall.
Kearney could not be happier.
"There's always that second-guessing. It was hard moving back. I missed a couple things," said Kearney. "Volleyball helped connect me to my friends more since they all play. It was definitely a good start to my year.
"I'm really happy now. Softball is awesome. The girls are great. I knew most of them, so it was great to come back."
Kearney, the daughter of Central Catholic and UMass Lowell Hall of Fame baseball player Ryan Kearney and ex-Salem High pitcher Catherine (Raymond) Kearney, joined a Lancer program that already had an ace in UMass-bound senior Olivia Cutuli.
The two have meshed flawlessly so far.
"Liv and I work great together. She's excellent. We help each other," said Kearney. "Closing and starting games, we bounce back and forth, so it's been good."
Wednesday's victory could not have adhered to the script more perfectly. Kearney went the first four, allowing one run without a hit, walking three and striking out five. Cutuli came on in the five, striking out six in three scoreless frames, allowing a seventh-inning infield single to Juliana DeVito, the lone Owls hit on the day.
Optimism abounds these days with Lancer softball.
"I'm wicked excited. I love the start, and the new beginnings. So far, we are looking really good," Kearney said.
"I think we have potential. We work really well together. Hopefully, we make it to the finals."
Kearney has added to her game, playing at third and hitting in the heart of the lineup.
Folks might want to keep an eye on her in the batter's box.
"I learned from the best," she said, referring to her older brother, Nathan, who after two Eagle-Tribune All-Star seasons for Central is now a freshman at Division 1 Stonehill.
And while the notoriety grows with every windmill of her right arm, she remains happy and grounded in the moment. She's with her friends, playing a game she loves.
"I don't really put much emphasis and focus on (the hype and the expectations). I just go out and play my game," Kearney said.
"If I am nervous, I just put my mentality into it and focus when I go out there. I trust my team. They've got me."
