Concord 8, Bedford 1
Key players: Concord – Maddy Wachter (win, 3 H, 12 K, 1 ER), Brooke Wyatt (3-for-4, double, 2 RBI, run), Olivia Crawford (3-for-4, 2 runs), Grace MacDonald (2-for-4, double, 3 RBI, run), Elizabeth Blinn (2-for-4, double, 3 runs), Delaney Duford (2-for-4), Kennedy Craigue (hit, walk), Sarah Taylor (hit, run), Kyleigh Gray (RBI)
Highlights: Concord scored three runs in each of the first two innings to set the tone early. The battery of Duford and Wachter were in sync, with the sophomore pitcher perfect through 4.1 innings. She finished with 12 strikeouts, giving her 28 over her first two starts.
Coach’s quote: “Bedford has historically given us a hard time, especially down there, so to come out and play the way we did was very gratifying.” – Concord assistant Sandy Smith
Records: Concord 3-0; Bedford 0-2
Pembroke 10, Bow 4
Key players: Pembroke – Camdyn Despres (1-for-4, 2 RBI), Lilly Corbitt (2-for-4), Charlotte Corbitt (2-for-4); Bow – Hannah McGonigle (6 IP, 8 K, 1 ER; 3-for-3, double, RBI, walk), Lilly Wright (3-for-4, 2 RBI)
Highlights:
Coaches’ quotes: “It was nice to get a win under our belt after a touch extra-inning loss in our opener. We’ve proven to ourselves that we can hang tough and be resilient under pressure. Overall it was a good day for the Spartans.” – Pembroke’s Ashley Gladu
“Unfortunately two-out errors cost us the game, but we’re using these first few games to prepare ourselves going forward and to determine our best lineup and defensive positioning.” – Bow’s Jen Boyden
Records: Pembroke 1-1; Bow 0-1
Coe-Brown 4, Sanborn 1
Key players: Coe-Brown – Madison DeCota (win, 0 ER, 8 K), Lily Veneroni (2-run HR), Emma Braodstone (triple)
Highlights: The Bears’ three-run lead was threatened when Sanborn hit a fly ball to deep center with runners on second and third, but Broadstone threw to Courtney Thomas to throw out a baserunner tagging up to end the inning.
Coach’s quote: “The girls are working hard on the little things, learning the game and playing it how it should be played. We’re real proud of how they are progressing.” – Coe-Brown’s Dave Allis
Records: Coe-Brown 3-0; Sanborn 1-1
Merrimack Valley 17, Kennett 3
Key players: MV – Kalee Keyser (3-for-5, 5 RBI), Liv Seeley (HR), Livie LaCasse (3-for-4, 2 RBI; 6 IP, 6 K), Kayla Smith (3-for-4, RBI), Emma Steenbeke (stellar defense at shortstop)
Highlights: MV took control after trailing 2-0 early, scoring two runs in the second inning, two in the third and five in the fourth to break open the game.
Coach’s quote: “Another defensive gem from the girls. LaCasse continued her control of the circle, while the group pounded out 11 hits.” – MV’s Kevin O’Brien
Records: MV 2-0; Kennett 0-2
Hopkinton 7, Mascenic 4
Key players: Hopkinton – Maddy Follansbee (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Beth Taylor (2-for-3, double, RBI), Maddie Carmichael (2-for-2, double, 2 runs), Abby Simpson (defense)
Highlights: The Hawks scored five runs in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie. A Steph Elrick sacrifice fly brought home the go-ahead run, and a single by Shaylee Murdough, followed by doubles from Taylor and Lexi Lawler, brought in more runs. Mascenic scored two unearned runs in the seventh, but Elrick cruised to the win in the circle.
Coach’s quote: “Nice game against a solid opponent. I liked the way we swung the bat and we will take three wins in a week anytime.” – Hopkinton’s Dan Meserve
Records: Hopkinton 3-0; Mascenic 0-1
Coe-Brown 17, Sanborn 2, 5 inn.
Key players: Coe Brown – Jake Pelletier (3-for-4, 3 runs, 3 RBI, 2 doubles, triple), Jack Jerome (3-for-3, 2 RBI), Jacob Cook (2-for-3, 2 RBI)
Highlights: Coe-Brown jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back. The Bears pounded out 17 hits and held Sanborn to five hits in five innings.
Coach’s quote: “The team really brought the bats tonight.” – Coe-Brown’s Rob Stockman
Records: Coe-Brown 2-0; Sanborn 1-1
Merrimack Valley 12, Kennett 7
Key players: MV – Luke Dougherty (win, 5 IP, 3 H), Ben Rose (3-for-3, 4 RBI), Shea Wood (2-for-4, RBI), Jackson Mercer (1-for-2, 3 runs)
Highlights: MV jumped out to an early 4-0 after the first inning and never gave up the lead. Rose broke the game open with with a deep double to left center plating two Pride runs.
Coach’s quote: “Luke set the tone on the mound and we had enough offense to hold on.” – MV’s Sean Wheeler
Records: MV 2-0; Kennett 0-2
Belmont 9, Kearsarge 5
Key players: Belmont – Liam Waldron (win, 6 IP, 8 H, 8 K, 3 ER, 0 BB), Isaiah Lambert (save, IP, 0 H, 2 BB; 2-for-3, double, walk, RBI, 2 runs), Matt Krasnecki (2-for-4, double, 2 RBI, 2 runs), Hutch Haskins (2-for-3, run), Owen Waldron (1-for-4, 2 RBI), Jason Roberts (1-for-3, walk, RBI), Jaxson Embree (1-for-3, walk, run)
Highlights: Kearsarge jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and after trading runs with Belmont, the Cougars scored three runs in the top of fourth to take a 5-3 lead. But the Raiders scored three runs in the bottom half of that frame to take the lead and plated three more runs in the fifth for some insurance.
Coach’s quote: “Another complete team effort where we needed all hands on deck. A nice character builder where we had to play from behind a few times, but kept charging and working to stay in it and take the lead. This was our best defensive effort of the early season with Hutch Haskins standing out with several plays at second base. We had some guys contribute offensively who were quieter in the first two games and we’re hoping to build off a win like this to keep the momentum going.” – Belmont’s Matt LeBlanc
Records: Belmont 3-0; Kearsarge 0-3
Mascenic 4, Hopkinton 2
Key players: Hopkinton – Owen O’Brien (2-for-2, 2 walks), Abram Standefer (2 IP, 0 H, 2 K), Cody Charron (1 IP, 0 H, 2 K)
Highlights: The Hawks battled back after giving up two unearned runs in the first and second innings. Hopkinton loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh innings with no outs, but an infield fly rule, a thrown out runner at home plate and a grounder to first stranded three baserunners.
Coach’s quote: “Always hate to lose, but we learned a little bit about how to play the game today and hopefully it will help us get better.” – Hopkinton’s David Chase
Records: Mascenic 3-0; Hopkinton 2-1
Bow 19, Belmont 0
Key players: Bow – Bri Fournier (first varsity goal), Madison Roberge (2 goals, first varsity goals), Sydney Mason (first varsity goal)
Highlights:
Records: Bow 2-1; Belmont 0-2
Windham 20, Merrimack Valley 2
Key players: MV – Taylor Gionet (8 saves), Alyssa Brodeur (goal), Kylie Golden (goal)
Coach’s quote: “We tried our best against a very talented and experienced Windham team. We worked a new defensive strategy which was successful at times. I am glad that our girls did not give up and instead supported each other.” – MV’s Kylee Yam
Records: Windham 3-0; MV 0-2
Goffstown 13, Pembroke 5
Key players: Pembroke – Camden Nix (2 goals), Gavin O’Brien (goal, assist), Owen Brown (goal), Owen Hill (goal)
Highlights: The Spartans trailed 5-2 at halftime and the Grizzlies extended their lead in the second half.
Records: Goffstown 1-1; Pembroke 0-1
Portsmouth 6, Bow 3
Key players: Bow – Jaden Glace (wins at No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles), Grace Modzeleski (wins at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles)
Highlights:
Coach’s quote: “We hung in there with one of the division’s usual top teams and picked up some wins at the bottom of the order.” – Bow’s Steve Langevin
Records: Portsmouth 4-0; Bow 2-2
Sanborn 6, Pembroke 3
Key players: Pembroke – Emma Parsons (8-3 win at No. 1 singles), Sarah Bennett (8-1 win at No. 2)
Highlights: After getting swept 9-0 in their first four matches of the season, the Spartans picked up some wins against the Indians. Parsons and Bennett both won two matches, winning in singles and teaming up for a 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles.
Coach’s quote: “I was very proud of how all the girls played today. There were close matches all the way down the ladder. Sanborn had too much depth.” – Pembroke’s David W. Goulet
Records: Sanborn 1-3; Pembroke 0-5
Kearsarge 6, Conant 3
Key players: Kearsarge – Addy Stadler, Marissa Montagna and Ellie Scharpf (8-0 wins in singles)
Highlights: The Cougars showcased first-time doubles pairs Kelsey Kane and Anela Branco, Kira Gantt and Amber Houle, and Anna Lick and Vivian Nguyen, who all played strong matches to help Kearsarge remain undefeated.
Coach’s quote: “Super proud of our doubles crew. Being the first time in a match setting for each of these girls, their efforts and attitudes were really inspiring. I commend them all.” – Kearsarge’s Jay Stadler
Records: Kearsarge 3-0; Conant2-3