A well-played defensive game, especially at the Little League level, is a dazzling sight on the baseball diamond. But try telling that to Windham’s manager, Ron Carbonneau.

The mentor of the 11- and 12-year-old all-stars watched the hosts from Suncook catch every ball hit their way, denying sure base hits and turning aside every challenge in a 7-1 Windham loss on Saturday, July 5. The defeat knocked the locals from the District-1 Little League tournament.

“They were always one hit away from getting back in (the game),” said the good-natured Carbonneau, who praised Suncook for its flawless defense.

Hooksett starting pitcher Gus Connolly fanned the last two Windham batters of the game, but prior to that he was the beneficiary of some fine play behind him.

In the second inning, for example, Zack Hennessey’s fly ball was tracked down in left-center field, then Kyle Carbonneau’s smash toward center field was deflected by the pitcher and picked up by Hooksett’s shortstop, who stepped on second and threw to first to complete an inning-ending double play.

After dominating Concord National on June 30 in a 9-0 win, Windham starting pitcher Adam Dolan allowed a pair of two-run home runs to Hooksett. He also scored the team’s only run in the bottom of the first when he was hit by a pitch and moved around the base paths on three wild pitches, quickly cutting the deficit in half.

“They never give up. It sort of carried over from the Salem American game,” said Carbonneau, who added his group trailed its border rival by eight runs, 11-3, before closing to 11- 9 in the fifth inning of an eventual 12-9 loss on Friday, July 4.

In that contest, cleanup hitter Mike Goglia and the younger Carbonneau each delivered two base hits.

Dan Moynihan, the team’s No. 3 hitter, slugged a home run against Concord National, then Zack Breton came off the bench and poked another shot over the wall.

Starting first baseman Tim Hillman, leadoff hitter Kellin Bail, Kurtis Jolicoeur and Goglia, who pitched well in relief against Hooksett, are the team’s 11-year-olds, while Moynihan and Dolan returned to the all-star squad for a second straight year.

They’ll join left fielder Jeff Peterson, catcher Connor Whittemore, Andrew Lowman and Andrew LeClair at the Fraser Tournament, which welcomes teams eliminated from the District-1 tourney.

“They get along so well, and these kids love playing together,” said Carbonneau. “We put it to a vote, and it was unanimous to keep playing.”