When the Concord High softball team took Memorial Field on Tuesday, it was the first time the Crimson Tide had done so this spring.
The Tide wasn’t out there for a practice, either. Winnacunnet was waiting in the visitor’s dugout, eager to avenge a first-round playoff loss to Concord from a year ago.
If there were any first-game jitters, the Tide and starting pitcher Caitlyn Shea shook those pretty quick en route to a 6-1 victory in the season opener for both teams.
“Last year, they beat us the first time we played them and then we came out hot in the playoffs and we got the win. They were definitely looking for revenge,” Shea said. “It’s definitely good to start off the season with a win under our belt.”
The senior did a little bit of everything to make that win possible, allowing just five hits with three strikeouts over seven innings. Shea also kept a rally going in the bottom of the first inning by hitting an RBI single on the sixth pitch she saw to give the Tide a 2-0 lead. All in all, Concord sent six batters to the plate in the first.
Concord Coach Duke Sawyer said an outing like Shea’s is exactly what he expects to see from his pitchers this season.
“I think we are going to be solid in the field. If our pitchers are around the plate, they don’t have to strike everybody out, but if they’re around the plate, I think we are going to be pretty solid,” the 17th-year coach said.
Shea walked three batters and found herself in a little bit of trouble in the first inning but she simply attributed that to those opening-day jitters.
“At first, there wasn’t much that was working for me,” she said. “And then I figured out the strike zone a little bit. Once I started getting the inside pitches and my changeup going, I felt good.”
Winnacunnet put two runners on in the first and third innings but all that action on the base paths yielded just one run, which came on an infield single in the top of the second to cut Concord’s lead to 2-1.
Nicole Cacciola’s effort behind the plate helped keep Shea on target when the Warriors were threatening.
“She called a great game,” Sawyer said of his junior catcher. “Whatever she called, Caitlyn seemed to be throwing pretty well. I thought they worked really well together, mixed it up real well. And that’s her, that’s Caitlyn. She’s not going to strike a ton of people out, they’re going to put it in play. But as long as we make the plays behind her, she’s tough.”
Jill Dusseault made plenty of plays at shortstop, but that’s become pretty standard for the junior.
“She’s got a good arm, a lot of range at short. She’s really come into her own out there,” Sawyer said.
Dusseault, who also chipped in with a single and sacrifice bunt at the plate, is one of five returning starters for the Tide this season, which has Sawyer feeling good one game in.
“I’m optimistic. We know the Bedfords are out there and the Salems and the others, they’re good. But hopefully we can play with them,” he said.
Concord also has one thing those other teams don’t have: freshman Abby Corbett, who was the designated player Tuesday. Corbett struck out in her first at-bat after seeing six pitches from Winnacunnet’s Hannah Dorehty in the bottom of the second inning. But when she got back into the box in the third inning for her second at-bat with the bases loaded, she had one thing on her mind.
“New count, new at-bat, just let the other one go,” she said.
It was easy to let that strikeout slip her mind when she took Dorehty’s first pitch to deep centerfield for a crucial single that scored two runs and gave the Tide a 5-1 lead.
“I think when a freshman goes out there and gets a hit like that with people on base and hits it hard, you know it wasn’t a fluke, I think it woke her up. I think it woke everybody up. That lifts a team,” Sawyer said.
Winnacunnet’s Dorehty allowed five hits and struck out three before she was replaced by Bryleigh April in the third inning. Stephanie Reed provided the only multi-hit effort for the Warriors, finishing with an RBI single and a double.
Concord’s Abby Rochette chipped in with a single and scored a run, while Anita DiBuono hit a triple in the bottom of the third and scored twice, and Haley Munroe added a double and scored a run.
Overall, it was a well-balanced victory for the Tide.
“This is the first time we’ve played Winnacunnet at home in a long time and to come out strong like we did, we had strong defense, we had a strong offense, and all-around, I thought we (played) really well,” Shea said.
Armed with a little bit of confidence and with one victory out of the way, Concord visits Bishop Guertin on Friday for a 4 p.m. first pitch.
(Michelle Berthiaume can be reached at 369-3338, mberthiaume@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @MonitorMichelle.)
Keene 11, John Stark 6
Key players: Stark – Parker McQuarrie (4 goals, assist), Drew McQuarrie (goal, 2 assists), Matt Bennetter (goal)
Highlights/key moments: The Generals led, 3-0, early on but quickly fell behind and couldn’t make up the difference.
Coach’s quote: “This is only our second time outside this spring and it showed. We’ve obviously got some work to do. It’s a long season. We need to get better each day.” – Stark’s Howard Roever
Records: Stark 0-1; Keene 1-0
Monadnock 10, Bishop Brady 7
Key players: Brady – Craig Newcomb (23 saves), Bryce Johnson (4 goals, 2 assists), Danny Bryck (2 goals), Rich Sullivan (goal, assist), Cooper Johnson (assist)
Highlights/key moments: Brady got off to a very slow start, but didn’t allow a goal until late in the first quarter. The Green Giants eventually built a 5-2 lead in the third, but the Huskies bounced back to tie the game. Three critical penalties helped Monadnock pull away in the end.
Coach’s quote: “We played extremely well against this team, last season we got run over early and never recovered. We built a lead, survived an onslaught of shots early on and capitalized on limited scoring chances. The penalties were very frustrating, but in the end you can’t be taking consecutive penalties against a team that was the No 4 seed in the playoffs last year.” – Brady’s Justin Loring
Records: Bishop Brady 0-1; Monadnock 1-0
Windham 20, Pembroke 4
Key players: Pembroke – Glenn Dion (goal, 2 assists), Jake McDonald (2 goals, assist)
Highlights/key moments: The Spartans kept it close early, but four goals in a two-minute span for Windham in the second quarter put the game away.
Coach’s quote: “Windham was very patient on offense and waited for their opportunities to present themselves. They were tenacious after the 50/50 balls and those extra possessions made a big difference in the game. Tough way to start the season, but it is a long season and it isn’t how you start the season, but how you finish it.” – Pembroke’s Tim Vasconcellos
Records: Windham 1-0; Pembroke 0-1
Concord 5, Winnacunnet 0
Key players: Concord – Griffin Gilbert (7 IP, 8 strikeouts, 3 hits, 103 pitches), Ethan Dupe (2 doubles, run), Christian McClellan (2 hits, RBI), Zach Miles (hit, RBI, 2 runs), Kurtis Stadnicki (hit, RBI), Jake Kelly (hit, RBI, run), Eric Sullivan (double, RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Concord scored single runs in each of the first three innings and two in the fourth. Gilbert pitched a gem and didn’t allow a runner to reach second base until the seventh inning.
Coach’s quote: “We had some timely hits to support Griffin’s great outing. We have some things to work on offensively but it was nice to get the win on opening day.” – Concord’s Scott Owen
Records: Concord 1-0; Winnacunnet 0-1
Gilford 8, Littleton 1
Key players: Gilford – Grant Workman, Christian Workman, Tyler Hanf, Kyle Davies and Alden Blais
Highlights/key moments: The Golden Eagles lost once in the season opener on their way to extending a 68-match win streak.
Coach’s quote: “The team played well in its first match.” – Gilford’s Terry Wilson
Records: Gilford 1-0; Littleton 0-1
Inter-Lakes 8, Moultonborough 1
Key players: Inter-Lakes – Noah Sullivan (8-0 win at No. 1), Gable Busby (8-1 win at No. 2), Jake Borsh (9-8 win at No. 3), Nate Sullivan (8-1 win at No. 5), Sam Noe (8-1 win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: Inter-Lakes won all three doubles matches to secure the victory.
Coach’s quote: “Both teams had many inexperienced players in their line-ups. Inter-Lakes’ consistency helped it in the singles play. Inter-Lakes is looking forward to a tough challenge against Gilford on Wednesday at the home courts.” – Inter-Lakes’s Bill West
Records: Inter-Lakes 2-0; Moultonborough 0-2
Portsmouth 9, Coe-Brown 0
Key players: Coe-Brown – Megan Wimsatt (8-5 loss at No. 3)
Highlights/key moments: Sandra Black and Jillian Gordon played a competitive match at No. 3 doubles, despite an 8-6 loss. It was the second match in as many days for the Bears, who host St. Thomas today.
Coach’s quote: “Three quality teams in three days … a lot of learning during game play.” – Coe-Brown’s Mark Struthers
Records: Coe-Brown 0-1; Portsmouth 1-0
Wilton-Lyndeborough 7,
Kearsarge 2
Key players: Kearsarge – Annie Carr (8-2 win at No. 6), Elise Paquette and Felicia McSweeney (9-7 win at No. 2 doubles)
Highlights/key moments: McSweeney lost her singles match in a tiebreaker, but won a close doubles match with Paquette.
Coach’s quote: “The Wilton girls played well and were just a bit steadier than us today but all well played.” – Kearsarge’s Laura Joslin-King
Records: Wilton-Lyndeborough 1-0; Kearsarge 0-2
Pelham 17, Bishop Brady 7
Key players: Brady – Emma Windsor (strong game in goal), Abby Tremblay (consistent play at midfield, 2 goals), Sam Will (3 goals), Gabby Diodato (goal), Abby Sharpf (goal)
Highlights/key moments: The Green Giants had a hard time stopping Pelham’s two-headed attack of Shannon Weisensee and Sarah Morin, who combined for 12 goals.
Coach’s quote: “It was hard to lose our first game of the season by so much, but we just have to learn from our mistakes and make improvements for our next game. We just have to keep our heads up and take on the next challenge.” – Brady’s Kate Hohenberger
Records: Brady 0-1; Pelham 1-0
Hopkinton 17, Gilford 10
Key players: Hopkinton – Amelia Bassett (7 goals, assist), Lyndon Flanagan (5 goals, 4 assists), Taylor Signor (2 goals, assist), Chloe Wood (2 goals), Hannah Wood (2 assists), Ellie Morall (goal), Elizabeth Berliner (12 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Cathen Hall, Amelia Thomas and Sage Hubicki played strong defense and did a good job protecting freshman goalie Berliner, leading the Hawks to a season-opening victory over the Golden Eagles.
Records: Hopkinton 1-0; Gilford 0-1
Laconia 13, Coe-Brown 0
Key players: Laconia – Becca Howe (goal, assist, 7 draw controls), Megan Gaspa (goal), Skyler Tautkus (4 goals, assist), Lyndsey Paronto (9 saves), Teegan Stevens (2 goals, assist), Abby Crowell (goal, 2 draw controls), Caitlin Beattie (goal), Hannah Dow (goal), Maci Howland (goal), and Camille Pollak (goal)
Highlights/key moments: Gaspa’s goal was the first of her career. The freshman also caused two turnovers in her first varsity appearance.
Records: Laconia 1-0; Coe-Brown 0-1
Coe-Brown first
Key players: Coe-Brown – Isaiah Allen (1st discus, 1st javelin, 2nd shot put), Zach Richards (1st 800, 1st 1,600), Will White (1st shot put, 3rd discus, Shawn Spenard (1st triple jump), Evan Tanguay (1st 3,200, 2nd 1,600), Chris Pratt (1st 400), Jacob Snow (1st high jump), Tyler Troy (1st pole vault), Josiah Hinrichsen (1st 110 hurdles), Orion Clachar (1st 300 hurdles), 4×100 (1st), 4×400 (1st)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears won 14 of 17 events to take the quad-meet on their home track. Coe-Brown (186) topped Kennett (47), Hollis/Brookline (42) and St. Thomas (20).
Merrimack Valley first
Key players: MV – Brandon Wood (1st 110 hurdles, 1st 300 hurdles), Dylan Guinard (1st 800), Nick Bartlett (1st javelin), Joey Baylus (2nd 110 hurdles, tied 3rd long jump), Isaiah Shedd (2nd 800), Ryan Latorella (2nd javelin, 3rd discus), Dylan Lessard (2nd triple jump, 4th shot put), Camden Donovan (2nd high jump), 4×100 (1st), 4×400 (2nd)
Highlights/key moments: Wood won both hurdling events and ran on the winning 4×100 relay to lead the Pride to a win in its season-opening meet on its home track. MV (92) topped Hanover (66), Lebanon (50.5) and Windham (41.5).
Kearsarge first
Key players: Kearsarge – Grant Croft (1st 110 hurdles, 2nd pole vault, 2nd triple jump, 4th discus), David Wallace (1st 300 hurdles, 2nd 110 hurdles), John Cunningham (1st pole vault), Hunter Burns (1st 800), Carl Betz (2nd 800), Andrew Shepherd (2nd 3,200), Sam Kulacz (2nd javelin, 3rd pole vault), 4×800 (1st), 4×400 (2nd); H-D – Ben Ketterer (2nd 100, 3rd 200, 3rd long jump), Parker Noyes (2nd discus, 3rd javelin), Brandon (4th javelin, 5th long jump), Brandon Plante (4th 200, 6th 100), 4×100 (2nd); Bishop Brady – Sean Sullivan (1st discus, 2nd shot put), 4×100 (3rd)
Highlights/key moments: The Cougars started off their defense of last season’s D-III title by winning a nine-team meet on their home track. Kearsarge (121) topped White Mountains (78.5), Stevens (70), Campbell (66.5), Hillsboro-Deering (45), Bishop Brady (23) and Fall Mountain (21). Concord Christian competed but didn’t score. H-D scored most of its points in the sprints and throws, led by Ketterer’s trio top-three finishes.
Coe-Brown first
Key players: Coe-Brown – Kathleen Collins (1st shot put, 1st discus, 1st javelin), Mabel Mackey (1st 200, 2nd 100), Alli Pratt (1st 800, 1st 1,600), Elly McDonough (2nd 800), Abby O’Connor (2nd 1,600), Sophie Laird (2nd 200), Kate Clinch (2nd 400), Hannah Daly (2nd 3,200), Chelsea McCallion (2nd long jump), Raven Barnes (2nd triple jump), 4×400 (1st)
Highlights/key moments: Collins swept the throwing events, Pratt won a pair of distance events and the Bears had some solid showings in the sprints from freshman, who led Coe-Brown (128) to a win. St. Thomas (83.5), Kennett (44.5) and Hollis/Brookline (33) rounded out the team scores.
Merrimack Valley first
Key players: MV – Kristie Schoffield (1st 800, 1st 1,600, 1st triple jump), Cassidy Considine (1st 400), Kaitlyn Covell (2nd 100 hurdles, 2nd 300 hurdles), Asia Grace Hanson (2nd javelin, 4th shot put), Addie Hodge (2nd long jump, 4th triple jump), 4×400 (1st)
Highlights/key moments: Schoffield also ran on the winning 4×400 relay to lead the Pride to a victory on its home track. MV (75), topped Lebanon (67), Windham (53) and Hanover (51).
Coach’s quote: “We have barely even had a track to practice on for a week, so today’s meet had a sudden, spontaneous feel to it. The athletes all responded like seasoned veterans though, with solid performances all around, capped by the win in the 4×400 relay.” – MV’s Dave Irving
Kearsarge second
Key players: Kearsarge – Maddie Neilsen (2nd 200), Mya Dube (2nd 1,600), Hayden Keene (2nd 3,200), 4×100 (1st), 4×800 (1st); H-D – Lily Gibson (3rd long jump), Samantha Grondin (4th javelin); Bishop Brady – Christa Clery (2nd long jump), Anna Grafton (4th 1,600, 6th 800)
Highlights/key moments: White Mountains (117) topped Kearsarge (92) in an eight-team meet in North Sutton.
Campbell (72), Fall Mountain (39), Stevens (36), Mount Royal (17), Bishop Brady (10) and H-D (10) rounded out the team scores. Kearsarge won two relays and had several top-three finishes.