After winning the Class L baseball title in 2008, the Goffstown Grizzlies were unable to hold a 5-1 lead and were eliminated by eventual state champion Keene in the quarterfinal round on June 6, 7-5.

Poor defense haunted Goffstown, which out-hit Keene 10-4 on the afternoon. The Grizzlies made four errors in the contest.

Sophomore catcher Ryan Beal led the offense during the two postseason games, driving in six runs in two games, including a three-run double in the quarterfinals.

Tri-captains Alex Hickey, Dan Deconinck and Josh Lafond are among the five soonto- graduate seniors from this year’s squad.

Hickey was the team’s shortstop for three years, Lafond made key contributions in the outfield during his two years, and Deconinck must be replaced on the mound after he went 6-0 this season.

Despite the loss, head coach Matt Benson likes his team’s chances of working its way into another title game, but only if it can avoid the problem that popped up during this year’s playoff exit.

“Our junior class is very talented, but we need to realize that we know we can hit. If we want to get back to the championship game, it won’t come down to that,” said Benson. “I want people to be talking about us, but I want it to be because of our pitching and defense.”

Goffstown went 14-6 to earn the tourney’s No. 6 seed, snapping a four-game losing streak with a 10-0 preliminary-round victory against Winnacunnet on June 4.