The Winnisquam softball team had the lead, but Coach Kevin Dame wanted more. Just one or two more runs, to make each breathe a little easier to take.
His team was ready to oblige.
A two-run fourth inning helped a fast start hold up, lifting the Bears to a 4-2 victory over Belmont.
The inning gave Winnisquam a 4-0 lead. The Red Raiders (2-1) countered with two in the fifth, but drew no closer.
“If you’re only up 1-0 or 2-0, and they score those two runs and you’re tied, I think the team gets tense,” Dame said. “For us to get two runs, we felt pretty confident that we could be okay.”
Winnisquam (2-1) took the lead when Lauren Bolstridge singled in Emily Decormier in the first, then got another when Cailey Clogston singled in Ema Atherton in the second.
The insurance runs in the fourth came when Molly Tinker and Clogston came home on Decormier’s single.
Given the support, freshman Talia DeBlasie closed the door. She allowed two unearned runs in the fifth, but finished with five strikeouts and seven hits allowed in seven innings.
Shannon Davies (2-for-4, RBI double), Jordan Lavallee (2-for-3), Taylor Lavallee (2-for-4) and Jordan Sargent (1-for-3, RBI double) led the way at the plate for the Red Raiders (2-1).
“Tough loss,” Belmont Coach Bill Clary said, “but you can’t give a good team like Winnisquam four early runs.”
Bolstridge and Clogston had two hits apiece for the Bears.
“I think our bats have been really good all three games,” Dame said. “And with Talia throwing strikes and us making plays behind her, if we keep that up, good things can happen.”
Londonderry 3, Concord 1
Key players: Concord – Caitlyn Shea (complete game, 3 ER), Izzy Dunn (2 hits, triple), Nicole Cacciola (first varsity hit and RBI), Jill Dusseault (first varstiy hit); Londonderry – Ila Brown (complete game, 1 ER; 2 hits, 2 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: After giving up three runs in the first two innings, Concord allowed only two baserunners over the final five innings.
Coach’s quote: “Defense played great, kept us in the game.” – Concord’s Duke Sawyer
Records: Concord 1-2; Londonderry 3-1
Souhegan 13, John Stark 2
Highlights/key moments: Souhegan’s pitching dominated the game, keeping Stark scoreless for most of the game,
Coach’s quote: “The Souhegan pitcher we faced today threw a good game and our hitters just have not been exposed to pitching like that this early in the season. We will talk about the things we need to work on defensively at practice tomorrow and grow from this loss.” – John Stark’s Gerry Morin
Records: John Stark 1-1; Souhegan 3-1
Hopkinton 10, Bow 6
Key players: Hopkinton – Alexis Blanchette (5 IP, 2 H, 12 K; 2 hits, 3 runs, 3 RBI), Kasey Smith (2 hits, 3 runs, 2 steals), Felicia Gordon (triple, 2 RBI), Caroline Flood (2 hits, 2 RBI, run)
Highlights/key moments: Bow scored three in the first two innings and had the bases loaded with no outs in the third. Blanchette came in to pitch, striking out the side and dominating the rest of the game. Her triple in the fourth gave Hopkinton the lead and Gordon had another key triple to drive in a run.
Coach’s quote: “It wasn’t our prettiest win, but we will take it and look forward to playing better on Wednesday at Raymond.” – Hopkinton’s Dan Meserve
Records: Hopkinton 4-0; Bow 0-2
Bishop Brady 19,
Hillsboro-Deering 1, 5 inn.
Key players: Bishop Brady – Lily Rivera (5 IP, 0 ER, 5 K; 2 hits, RBI) Cait Mallahan (3 hits, 3 RBI), Becca Olson (2 hits, 4 RBI), Jamie Cookingham (2 hits, 2 runs), Aniecia Vargas (2 hits, 4 RBI), Abby Santis (2 hits, RBI)
Highlights/key moments: After allowing a run in the top half of the first inning, Brady answered with three runs. The Green Giants exploded in the second with 10 runs on eight hits.
Coach’s quote: “Solid pitching outing for Lily getting her first varsity start and win. Solid contributions up and down the lineup and getting every player into the game is always a good feeling.” – Bishop Brady’s Freddy Rivera
Records: Bishop Brady 2-1; H-D 1-3
Franklin 8, Newfound 2
Key players: Franklin – Hanne Nichols (2 hits, 3 RBI, 2 runs), Rachael Capri (2 hits), Breanna Styles (2 hits), Meghan Johnston (2 hits)
Highlights/key moments: Newfound opened the game with a 1-0 lead in the first after a runner scored on a fielder’s choice, but Franklin took the lead in the third. A triple drove in one, then another triple and a double made the score 3-1. Five more runs were scored in the fourth and the final run was scored by Newfound in the seventh inning, closing out the game.
Coach’s quote: “We hit the ball hard and only struck out twice, but Newfound played excellent defense all game to keep themselves in the game.” – Franklin’s Skip DuBois
Records: Franklin 3-0; Newfound 0-3
Souhegan 13, John Stark 2
Key players: John Stark – Jeremy Aubin (double, 2 RBI), Aaron Robertson (first career varsity hit), Leif Mailloux (2 steals)
Highlights/key moments: Souhegan’s bats came alive early, scoring four runs in the first and three in the second. Stark was able to respond in the bottom of the first with two runs, but couldn’t withstand the Sabres’ offensive output.
Coach’s quote: “We knew going in this was a really good hitting team. Their first three games were low-scoring, but there was just way too much talent in that lineup and we just happened to be the team that ran into them when they got hot.” – John Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: John Stark 1-1; Souhegan 2-2
Goffstown 14, Merrimack Valley 0
Key players: MV – Kevin Barton (hit), Taylor Hughes (hit)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride bats went silent against a Grizzlies team that made the Division II final last season.
Records: MV 1-3; Goffstown 2-1
Bow 12, Hopkinton 3
Key players: Bow – Austin Beaudette (3-for-5, RBI), Conner Lorenz (2-for-3, 3 runs), Jeff Bell (2 hits, 2 RBI; 7 innings, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts, 0 walks), Corbin Provost (2-for-3, 2 RBI); Hopkinton – Kyle Slevira (2 hits), Alex Lajeunesse (2-run double)
Highlights/key moments: A six-run third inning for the Falcons broke a scoreless tie, and after Hopkinton got a run across in the fourth, Bow got two more in the fifth, one in the sixth and three in the seventh to pull away.
Coach’s quote: “We’re taking baby steps. We’re getting guys that can throw it, pitch it. We’ve just got to string some hits together. I’m sure we’re going to get better, we just want it now.” – Hopkinton’s Dave Chase
Records: Bow 1-1; Hopkinton 1-3
Belmont 14, Winnisquam 3
Key players: Belmont – Cole Contigiani (7 innings, 8 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts, 2 earned runs), Caleb Drouin (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, run), Doug Price (3-for-5, double, 2 RBI, 2 runs, stolen base), Corey Derosier (3-for-4, walk, 3 runs), Josh Guptill (2-for-5, double, 2 RBI); Winnisquam – Jack Decormier (3-for-4, run, RBI, solid play in center field), Mike Lowrey (2-for-4, double), Josh Shevlin (first varsity hit), Jake Snow (double, RBI)
Highlights/key moments: The Red Raiders brought the lumber, taking a 4-0 first-inning lead and finishing with 19 hits. All nine starters had hits, and seven had multi-hit games.
Coach’s quote: “The bats came alive. When you couple that with good pitching and good defense, the results are going to be pretty positive.” – Belmont’s Matt LeBlanc
“Too many physical and mental mistakes against probably the best hitting club I’ve seen the last three or four years.” – Winnisquam’s Fred Caruso
Records: Belmont 3-0; Winnisquam 0-3
Bishop Brady 10, Hillsboro-Deering 0
Key Players: Bishop Brady – Mario Fusco (4 IP, 1 H; triple, single, 2 RBI, run), Garrett Andrews (2 IP, 4 K), Ian MacDonald (RBI single), Max Lamora (RBI single)
Highlights/key moments: Brady scored three runs in the first inning and six in the fifth to cruise to a 10-0 win. Fusco and Andrews pitched a combined one-hitter on the day.
Coach’s quote: “We’ll take the win, we only had one error today after the fiasco on Friday (seven errors). We’re playing well defensively and got some solid pitching” – Bishop Brady’s Skip Foy
Records: Bishop Brady 2-1; Hillsboro-Deering 0-4.
Franklin 14, Newfound 1
Key players: Franklin – Garrett Fleming (7 IP, 15 K), Tyler Arnold (2 hits), TJ Laramie (2 hits, 4 RBI), Bryan Sweet (3-for-5, 3 runs) Dyland Cooper (2 hits)
Highlights/key moments: Laramie opened the game with a bases-clearing double with the bases loaded, and that set the tone for the entire game.
Coach’s quote: “Garrett (Fleming) came out today looking to establish the tone for the afternoon. he worked ahead in the count all afternoon, ending with 15 strikeouts and only two hits.” – Franklin’s Dave Joyce
Records: Franklin 3-0; Newfound 0-3
Newmarket 2, Pittsfield 0
Key players: Pittsfield – Noah McGlashing (6 innings, 1 earned run; hit), Casey Clark, Cam Darrah, Kyle Stockman (hit apiece)
Highlights/key moments: McGlashing kept the Mules at bay, but the Panthers couldn’t muster any offense off of starter Erin Pomeroy (7 innings, 10 strikeouts).
Coach’s quote: “We just couldn’t put enough good at-bats together against Erin today. He was very tough on the mound against us. . . . Pomeroy was the difference tonight.” – Pittsfield’s Rob Stockman
Records: Pittsfield 3-2; Newmarket 3-1
Bedford 7, Concord 2
Key players: Concord – Justin Toler (8-3 win at No. 1 singles), Toler/Aidan Connor (9-8 win at No. 1 doubles)
Highlights/key moments: Toler impressed in the top spots for Concord, but the Crimson Tide had a difficult time matching up with the Bulldogs’ talent and depth.
Coach’s quote: “Bedford had too much talent and depth for us today. … Our kids fought hard on every court and Justin Toler and Matt Chorlian played superbly in singles. Today’s result will keep us grounded and inspire us to work even harder to improve in the coming weeks.” – Concord’s Dave Page
Records: Concord 3-1; Bedford 6-0
Coe-Brown 9, St. Thomas 0
Key players: Gareth Owen, Brian Gordon, Jared Carlson, Tom Mellor, Nate Griffith, Nick Sanderson (all with singles wins)
Highlights/key moments: Owen (12-10) and Mellor (8-6) needed tiebreaker victories, but it was an overall easy day at the office for the Bears.
Coach’s quote: “Solid win today by the boys.” – Coe-Brown’s Sam Struthers
Records: Coe-Brown 5-0; St. Thomas 1-3
Lebanon 9, Bishop Brady 0
Key players: Thomas MacMullin (solid play at No. 1 singles), Harry Zha (good match at No. 6 singles)
Highlights/key moments: The Green Giants challenged in some of their matches, but couldn’t make a dent on the scoreboard against the Raiders.
Records: Brady 2-4; Lebanon 1-0
Kearsarge 5, Plymouth 4
Key players: Kearsarge – Tyler Valovic (8-0 win at No. 1 singles), Jack van Etten (8-3 win at No, 3), Sam Williamson (8-3 win at No. 6), Tyler Valovic/Tucker Valovic (8-3 win at No. 1 doubles), van Etten/Charlie O’Connor (8-6 win at No. 3)
Highlights/key moments: The teams split the singles evenly and the match came down to the No. 3 doubles.
Coach’s quote: “There was a lot of hustle in the doubles, you have to win two out of three when you split the singles. Good movement and hustle, the match really could’ve gone either way.” – Kearsarge’s Lynn Miller
Records: Kearsarge 2-0; Plymouth 2-3
Bedford 8, Concord 1
Key players: Concord – Olivia Cattabriga and Irene Escobar (8-6 victory at No. 3 doubles), Becky Cistulli, Alexandra Killinger (hard-fought matches at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively)
Highlights/key moments: The undefeated Bulldogs took control early in the match, but the Tide salvaged a victory when Cattabriga and Escobar battled from a 5-2 deficit.
Coach’s quote: “They have a deep team and will be hard for anyone to beat.” – Concord assistant coach Rebecca Killinger
Records: Concord 2-2; Bedford 5-0
St. Thomas 5, Coe-Brown 4
Key players: Coe-Brown – Camryn Chick (9-8 win at No. 5 singles), Jillian Gordon (8-2 win at No. 6 singles), Bailey Docko/Tayla George (8-3 win at No. 2 doubles), Chick/Arianna Gunderson (win at No. 3 doubles)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears won a pair of singles and doubles contests, but fell just one match short of a victory for the day.
Records: Coe-Brown 4-1; St. Thomas 3-1
Hollis-Brookline 9, Pembroke 0
Highlights/key moments: The Cavaliers dominated the match, allowing the Spartans to win only two games.
Records: Pembroke 1-4; H-B 4-0
Bow 7, Stevens 2
Key players: Bow – Laura Zbehlik (8-0 win at No. 1 singles), Casey Day (8-1 win at No. 3), Claire Mulvaney (8-2 win at No. 4), Sarah Zecha (8-0 win at No. 5), Julia Currier (8-0 win at No. 6), Miah Munroe/Lauren Goyette (8-1 win at No. 3 doubles)
Highlights/key moments: Bow cruised in the singles, winning five of the six matches. With the match wrapped up, the Falcons muixed up their doubles matches and the freshmen duo of Munroe/Goyette won their first-ever varsity match.
Coach’s quote: “Stevens’s No. 2 was quite a player, she was very strong. We were just very steady in singles on the day.” – Bow’s Jonsey Rainville
Records: Bow 3-0; Stevens 0-4
Plymouth 8, Kearsarge 1
Key players: Kearsarge – Ellie Mellott (8-5 win at No. 6 singles)
Highlights/key moments: Plymouth and Kearsarge battled all day, with the No. 4 and 5 singles tiebreakers happening at the same time.
Coach’s quote: “Fantastic matches today. All six singles matches were hard-fought and close with two tiebreaker losses. Special congratulations go out to Ellie Mellott in the No. 6 singles for her win and exceptional play.” – Kearsarge’s Laura Joslin-King
Records: Kearsarge 1-2; Plymouth 2-3
Merrimack Valley second
Key players: MV – Brandon Wood (1st 110 hurdles, 1st 300 hurdles), Isaiah Shedd (1st 1600), Walker John (1st 3200), Ryan Latorella (1st discus)
Highlights/key moments: Wood’s pair of victories in the hurdling events helped the Pride secure 75 points, good for a very close second against Portsmouth (78) and Trinity (28) on MV’s home track.
Merrimack Valley second
Key players: Kristie Schoffield (1st 3200, 1st triple jump), Kaitlyn Covell (1st 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Sarah Carter (1st shot put, 1st discus), 4×400 relay team (Tristan Beyer, Maizie Thurber-Wells, Covell, Schoffield, 1st), Asia Grace Hanson (1st javelin)
Highlights/key moments: The host Pride swept the hurdle and throwing events en route to 70 points, but still finished behind Portsmouth (94), which won all but one of the running events. Trinity was third with 10 points.