It’s a practice coaches will often avoid, but the Bishop Brady and Hillsboro-Deering high school softball teams were already thinking about their next games during their meeting Monday at Rollins Park.
For H-D, it was the first of three games in three days and Coach Shawn Atkins had to manage his pitchers wisely. As for the Giants, they were hoping for a good game at the plate and in the field before their second game with Berlin on Tuesday – the same team that knocked them out of the second round of last spring’s tournament. Brady also faces a busy schedule with four games in five days this week.
Brady (5-0) had the game it was looking for with 13 hits in a 20-3 win, but the Hillcats (3-2) will try to forget this one as they get ready to host Fall Mountain on Tuesday in a makeup game postponed from April.
“It was a definitely a good game for us,” said Brady pitcher Lily Rivera, who allowed no runs in three innings with three strikeouts. “We’re improving every game and each game something gets better. We’re not going to be our best until the championship game.”
The Giants were relentless in their first inning at the plate. Their top six hitters made two rounds through the batter’s box and the order managed 10 runs with five hits. Emily Manning was the best of them in the opening frame with an RBI triple and a run. She later added single with a run in the fourth.
After a scoreless second inning, the Giants added eight runs to their lead in the third. Abby Santis, a sophomore, crushed a three-run homer on the fenceless field to left-center and beat the throw home. Santis finished with four RBI. Rivera drove in three runs on a double later in the inning.
10 of Brady’s 11 players scored in the game, which ended midway through the fifth via the mercy rule.
“Our hitting is definitely strong right now,” Brady Coach Freddy Rivera said. “Making solid contact, it’s a good hitting lineup and I knew we’d have that coming into the season. What we need to work on is defense in the field. Another reason why it was good is we got five innings in to work on some of these things we need to work on.”
Coach Rivera added: “It’s about making clean plays on defense. When we are defensively strong, we will be tough to beat.”
Nicole Mooney and Maggie Atkins shared pitching duties for the Hillcats. Atkins has been H-D’s strongest dealer from the circle. Monday was the first game she did not start. Coach Atkins plans to use her later this week as the Hillcats try to keep their record above .500.
“I was hoping for a little closer outcome … but Brady is a strong team and we still have a lot of good stuff,” Atkins said. “We got off our heels in the fourth and fifth (innings), so there are definitely some positives we will take away from that game and move forward. We have some competitive girls and they really want to play ball.”
The Hillcats pushed a pair of runs across in the fourth after Maggie Atkins stroked a double to the outfield and moved Melissa Veitch (hit by pitch) to third. Nicole Lillis and Madee O’Brien each earned an RBI as the next two batters driving Atkins and Veitch home.
Kimberly Rodier walked to open the fifth, reached third on a Brady error and crossed home on Mooney’s groundball to second base.
After playing Berlin, the Giants host Franklin (3-3) on Wednesday and travel to Campbell (4-3) on Friday.
“These teams definitely challenge us mentally,” Lily Rivera said. “Even though we are undefeated we still have to come in with everything we’ve got and not let ourselves think we can just go in and take a win. We’ve got to go in there like any game is anybody’s, not just ours.”
(Nick Stoico can be reached at 369-3339, nstoico@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @NickStoico.)
Concord 6, Salem 2
Key players: Concord – Abby Rochette (7 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 10 K; 3-for-3, triple), Anita DiBuono (3-run HR), Anna LeBrun (RBI)
Highlights/key moments: DiBuono provided the only runs Concord would need with a three-run blast in the first and Rochette did the rest, limiting the defending champs to just three hits.
Coach’s quote: “Nice way to start a challenging week with a strong win against an always tough opponent.” – Concord Assistant Coach Sandy Smith
Records: Concord 4-3; Salem 6-2
Coe-Brown 8, Merrimack Valley 7
Key players: MV – Katelyn Hill (4-for-5, 4 RBI), Sam Hodkinson (2-for-3, RBI), Ann Bascom (hit)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk-off with the win.
Coach’s quote: “A loss stinks in the short term but we have a goal for the season and one loss doesn’t change our goal.” – MV’s Sam York
Records: MV 5-1; Coe-Brown 5-1
Belmont 27, Somersworth 3
Key players: Belmont – Shannon Davies (win; 2 hits), Jordan Lavallee (3 hits), Nicole Antonucci (2 hits), Jordan Sargent (2 hits), Julianna Estremera (2 hits)
Highlights/key moments: The Raiders had five players with two or more hits and bounced back from their loss to Gilford with a victory.
Coach’s quote: “Nice to get back on the field and get the win after a long vacation week.” – Belmont’s Bill Clary
Records: Belmont 4-1; Somersworth 0-4
Newfound 15, Mascoma 6
Key players: Newfound – Kasey Basford (5 IP, 11 K; 2-for-4, 2 RBI), Amanda Johnston (3-for-4, 3 RBI), Hayleigh Letourneau (3-for-3, 3 RBI, 4 runs), Vicky Roman (2 hits)
Highlights/key moments: Stuck in a tie game after two innings, Newfound broke the contest wide open with three runs in the third and four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Coach’s quote: “The team continues to hit well going 17-for-31 and the defense had zero errors.” – Newfound’s Corey Johnston
Records: Newfound 4-1; Mascoma 2-3
Kennett 5, John Stark 2
Key players: John Stark – Delani Dowst (6 IP, 8 K, 1 ER), Gillian McGirr (2-for-3, 2 doubles)
Highlights/key moments: Kennett scored four runs in the first inning on three hits and two errors by the Generals. Stark out-hit Kennett, 11-6.
Coach’s quote: “When you give the opposing team four runs to start any game it’s a pretty big hole to climb out of.” – John Stark’s Gerry Morin
Records: Kennett 5-1; John Stark 1-4
Winnisquam 10, Franklin 9
Key players: Winnisquam – Emily Decormier (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 3 runs), Ema Atherton (2-for-4, RBI double); Franklin – Mariah Haney (3 hits), Lexy Lynch (3 hits), Hailey Haskins (2 hits), Anna Sylvestre (2 hits)
Highlights/key moments: Franklin took an 8-4 lead with six runs in the fourth inning, but Winnisquam responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame.
Coaches’ quotes: “We capitalized on a couple errors and took a couple extra bases. It was as close as the score says and it could have gone either way.” – Winnisquam’s Kevin Dame
“We go from some tough defense but soft hitting in our Gilford game (last Thursday) to 14 hits but problems with defense (eight errors) against Winnisquam. It’s tough to win games without a little of both.” – Franklin’s Skip DuBois
Records: Winnisquam 4-2; Franklin 3-3
Gilford 19, Inter-Lakes 1
Key players: Gilford – Stevie Orton (5-for-5, 2 singles, double, triple, grand slam), Colby Butterfield (2 H, 7 K, 3 BB), Jillian Lachapelle (2-run HR), Lexi Boisvert (4-for-5, 4 RBI), Nicole Berube (3 hits, 2 RBI); I-L – Morgan White (RBI double)
Highlights/key moments: Orton hit for the cycle, including her first career home run – a grand slam in the sixth inning – and freshman Butterfield earned her second career varsity win.
Coach’s quote: “We need to make the basic defensive plays in order to stay in the game. Pitchers are throwing strikes so defense is important.” – I-L’s Harry Blood
Records: Gilford 4-3; I-L 0-4
Kearsarge 12, Hanover 0
Key players: Kearsarge – Maddie Folcik (3-for-4, 2 runs), Emily Folcik (3-for-4, 2 runs), Kate MacLeod (2-for-3, 2 runs), Sarah Young (3-for-4)
Highlights/key moments: The Cougars’ bats exploded in the second inning, scoring six runs. Kearsarge tacked on three more in the fourth, including a solo-home run from Folcik.
Records: Kearsarge 1-6; Hanover 0-8
Hopkinton 9, Farmington 8
Key players: Hopkinton – Gabby Lajeunesse (3-for-4, run), Alexis Ferns (2-for-3, run), Grace Gauthier (defense)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks trailed 8-6 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the bases loaded when Alexis Blanchette scored on a passed ball on a third strike and Gauthier scored from second base on an error on the same play. Ferns scored the game-winning run after the Tigers’ rightfielder overthrew to second base.
Coach’s quote: “I have never seen a game end on a walk-off three run strikeout before. Not pretty, but we will take it.” – Hopkinton’s Dan Meserve
Records: Hopkinton 5-1; Farmington 1-4
Concord 12, Salem 5
Key players: Concord – Jake Kelly (win, 6 IP, 4 H, R; 2 hits, RBI), Kurtis Stadnicki (4 hits, 3 RBI), Ethan Dupre (4 hits, 3 runs, 2 stolen bases), Zach Miles (3 hits, 3 RBI, 2 runs), Ryan Tessier (triple, 3 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: The Tide pushed across three runs in the second inning on an RBI single by Miles and a two-RBI single by Stadnicki. Concord added another run in the fifth, six in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Coach’s quote: “We scored three runs with two outs in the second, which was huge. Jake pitched a great game and we turned two double plays.” – Concord’s Scott Owen
Records: Concord 5-4; Salem 6-2
Merrimack Valley 9, Coe-Brown 3
Key players: MV – Brian Nylen (complete game win; 2-for-5, 3 RBI), Mark Barton (2 hits)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride iced the game by scoring five runs in the final two innings.
Coach’s quote: “Brian Nylen set the tone. He was in control throughout. Great team win.” – MV’s Sean Wheeler
Records: MV 2-4; Coe-Brown 2-5
John Stark 13, Kennett 3, 5 innings
Key players: Stark – Jeremy Aubin (win; 2-for-4, 4 RBI), Aaron Robertson (3-for-4, RBI, 2 runs), Rian Queen (2-for-3, 3 runs), Derek Goldrick (2-for-3, 3 steals, RBI, run)
Highlights/key moments: Stark shook off a sluggish start to the game and rattled off a nine-run fifth inning to win in a shortened game.
Coach’s quote: “We were definitely flat most of the game today … but we found our groove in the fifth inning and hit the ball the way I know we can.” – Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: Stark 4-1; Kennett 1-6
Hopkinton 20, Farmington 2, 5 innings
Key players: Hopkinton – Ben McManus (W, 2 IP; 2 hits, 3 RBI), Sam Crawford (3 RBI), Larsen Burack (3 RBI), Dustin Rose (2 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks essentially ended the game in the second inning. Hopkinton sent 21 batters to the plate and scored 17 runs in the frame.
Records: Hopkinton 6-1; Farmington 1-4
Bow 6, Oyster River 4
Key players: Bow – Brendan Winch (4 IP, 4 K, 0 BB, 1 R), Connor Blandini (3-for-4, RBI, run), Jack Corriveau (2-for-4, triple, RBI, run), Austin Beaudette (2-for-3, run)
Highlights/key moments: Winch relieved start Ben Kimball in the fourth inning and shut down the Bobcats’ offense, helping the Falcons even their record.
Records: Bow 3-3; Oyster River 3-3
Belmont 8, Somersworth 3
Key players: Belmont – Cole Contigiani (7 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 9 K; 1-for-3, BB, run), Colby Brown (2-run single), Cam Magerer (1-for-3, double, BB, 2 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: The Hilltoppers took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the Raiders responded with six runs in the fourth inning. Brown hit a two-run single and Kyle Minery had an RBI single to lead the rally. Contigiani did not give up a hit after the second inning.
Records: Belmont 4-2; Somersworth 1-3
Portsmouth 8, Laconia 7
Key players: Laconia – Ryan Dee (1-for-3, RBI), Carter Doherty (1-for-3, double), Dom Vaillancourt (1-for-3, 2 RBI), Bradley Weeks (1-for-4, 2 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Vallaincourt started on the hill for the Sachems with three walks and three strikeouts.
Coach’s quote: “Despite allowing eight runs over six innings, Dom Vaillancourt pitched one heck of a game against a very dangerous Portsmouth lineup.” – Laconia’s Jon Myers
Records: Portsmouth 7-0; Laconia 0-4
Pittsfield 13, Portsmouth Christian 5
Key players: Pittsfield – Kyle Stockman, Devin Bedell, Noah MacGlashing, Casey Clark (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Pitchers Stockman, Bedell and MacGlashing combined for seven innings with two earned runs, 13 strikeouts and three hits.
Coach’s quote: “Good win for us tonight and the boys played a solid game.” – Pittsfield’s Rob Stockman
Records: Pittsfield 7-2; Portsmouth Christian 2-3
Bishop Brady 4, H-D 1
Key players: Bishop Brady – Chase Buckman (5 ⅔ IP, 0 ER, 5 K, 3 H), Mario Fusco (1 ⅓ IP, 1 H, 0 ER, save; 3 hits, RBI, run); ⅔H-D – Gunnar Hagstrom (2 hits, double)
Highlights/key moments: Brady broke the game open with three runs in the bottom of the third. Fusco struck out a key batter with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth to earn the save and Buckman earned his first career varsity win from the mound.
Coach’s quote: “H-D played us tough today. Overall it was a well played game. Our defense played better today and Chase gave us a big lift with a great start.” – Brady’s Skip Foy
Records: Brady 4-3; H-D 0-4
Franklin 10, Winnisquam 0
Key players: Franklin – Taryn Laramie (6 IP, 11 K, 5 H), Max Joyce (2-for-2, 2 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Bryan Sweet (4-for-4, 2 RBI, run), Harrison Clark (2-for-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 3 runs); Winnisquam – Blaise Ross (triple)
Highlights/key moments: The Golden Tornadoes took a 4-0 lead and Laramie shut down the Bears’ offense to secure the victory.
Coaches’ quotes: “They took it to us. Laramie was tough. No excuses. They outplayed us in every facet of the game.” – Winnisquam’s Fred Caruso
“Taryn pitched well for us and we gave him plenty of run support today. …Winnisquam is always tough so this was a great win for us today.” – Franklin’s Dave Joyce
Records: Franklin 2-4; Winnisquam 1-5
John Stark 8, Goffstown 7, OT
Key players: Stark – Aiden Moser (3 goals), Drew McQuarrie (6 assists), Matt Bennetter (2 goals), Kayden Easter (goal), Giuseppe Brown (12 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Despite letting a two-goal lead slip away late, the Generals won the game in overtime when Drew McQuarrie found his brother Parker for the game-winner.
Coach’s quote: “That was a battle. We had to grind it out and we did.” – Stark’s Howard Roever
Records: Stark 1-3; Goffstown 1-5
Milford 7, Coe-Brown 5
Key players: Coe-Brown – Jack Percy (2 goals), Ben Watson (goal, assist), Jacob Radwan (goal, assist), Ben Heyliger (goal), Zac Sheehan (15 saves)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears were outscored 3-0 in the second quarter and trailed 6-2 at halftime, but came back in the second half. The Spartans had a penalty with a 6-5 lead with five minutes left in the game, but Coe-Brown committed a turnover and Milford scored its final goal to seal the victory.
Coach’s quote: “There’s a lot of positives here. The second quarter stung us, but the team came to life in the third and fourth quarters.” – Coe-Brown’s Ryan Hanavan
Records: Milford 3-1; Coe-Brown 0-6
Hopkinton 16, Campbell 1
Key players: Hopkinton – Joe Cullinan (4 goals, 5 assists, 4 groundballs), Liam Flanagan (4 goals), Sam Schuster (3 goals, 3 assists, 3 groundballs), Colby Quiet (2 goals, assist, 5 groundballs), Henry Yianakopolos (goal, 2 assists, 4 groundballs, 14 faceoff wins)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks maintained possession throughout the game by working hard on groundballs and backing up their shots. Hopkinton also used a strong transition game to take a 14-0 lead after three quarters.
Coach’s quote: “We got out to an early lead and were able to cycle in our whole roster, giving some newer players the chance to play a solid team.” – Hopkinton’s Deacon Blue
Records: Hopkinton 6-0; Campbell 0-5
Merrimack Valley 10, Alvirne 9
Key players: MV – Brittany Leonard (9 saves), Talia Dinger (4 goals), Abby Grandmaison (3 goals)
Highlights/key moments: MV netted the game-winning goal in the final seconds to move above the .500 mark.
Coach’s quote: “The team is back on track, ready to tackle our next two games this week.” – MV’s Laurynn Chalifour
Records: MV 3-2; Alvirne 1-5
John Stark 14, Pembroke 1
Key players: John Stark – Hannah Chartier (2 goals, 2 assists), Olivia Fatcheric (goal, assist), Olivia Sohl (2 goals, 12 draw controls, 14 ground balls), Lexi Knapton (2 goals, 2 assists)
Highlights/key moments: Chartier and Fatcheric scored their first career varsity goals and Sohl scored her first goals of the season. The Spartans tied the game, 1-1, but the Generals pulled away to take an 8-1 lead at halftime.
Coach’s quote: “It was great to see nine different players contributing with goals and I was pleased with our poise and ball control in the second half.” – Stark’s John Warner
Records: John Stark 3-2; Pembroke 0-6
Kearsarge 15, Coe-Brown 3
Key players: Kearsarge – Leslie Angus (7 goals, 3 assists), Jackie DeAngelis (5 goals), Maicy Hansen (goal), Ellie Madigan (goal); Coe-Brown – Maddy Swansburg (10 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Kearsarge rattled off eight consecutive goals in the first half to take an early lead.
Coach’s quote: “I was pleased that all three of our goals were assisted.” – Coe-Brown’s Mike Hyer
Records: Kearsarge 4-1; Coe-Brown 1-4
Laconia 16, Lebanon 2
Key players: Laconia – Becca Howe (5 goals), Skyler Tautkus (3 goals, 2 assists), Abby Crowell (3 goals), Teegan Stevens (3 goals), Megan Gaspa (2 goals)
Highlights/key moments: After more than a week off, the Sachems got back in the win column.
Records: Laconia 4-1; Lebanon 0-4
Concord 7, Nashua South 2
Key players: Concord – Alexandra Killinger (8-1 singles win), Rebecca Cistulli (8-1 win), Sabrina Hart-Meyer (8-2 win), Abigail Pope (8-1 win), Lidia Yen (8-6 win)
Highlights/key moments: Concord clinched the match when No. 1 doubles pairing Cistulli and Killinger, and No. 2 pairing Hart-Meyer and Pope both won at the same time.
Coach’s quote: “The girls kept their focus under adverse conditions in what could of been a trap match to get the win.” – Concord’s PJ Cistulli
Records: Concord 5-2; Nashua South 4-3
Bow 7, Conant 2
Key players: Bow – Nandita Kasireddy (8-3 win at No. 1), Izzy Urbina (8-1 win at No. 3 ), Gwen Molind (8-0 win at No. 4), Emma Conley (8-0 win at No. 5), Isabelle Dolcino (8-0 win at No.6)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons took five of the six singles matches and two of the three doubles to remain undefeated.
Records: Bow 5-0; Conant 1-4
Dover 5, Bishop Brady 4
Key players: Bishop Brady – Sydney Herrington (8-0 win at No. 1), Ravalika Damerla (9-7 win at No. 2), Rachel Achong (8-3 win at No. 3)
Highlights/key moments: The Giants played well at the top of the ladder with key singles victories from Achong and Damerla and a win from Herringinton and Damerla at No. 1 doubles (8-0).
Coach’s quote: “The deciding match at No. 2 doubles was well contested, but Rachel Achong and Manu Komma of Bishop Brady fell a bit short.” – Bishop Brady’s Lee Herrington
Records: Dover 4-3; Bishop Brady 0-3
Souhegan 8, Pembroke 1
Key players: Pembroke – Kaitlyn Thompson and Jaden Russell (8-4 win at No. 1 doubles)
Highlights/key moments: The Sabres lost the top doubles match, but otherwise easily handled the undermanned Spartan squad.
Coach’s quote: “The Souhegan girls are a strong team and dominated the play.” – Pembroke’s David Goulet
Records: Souhegan ; Pembroke 0-4
Concord 9, Nashua South 0
Key players: Concord – Aidan Connor (8-2 win at No. 1 singles), Adam Bryant (8-6 win at No. 2), Sebastian Hart-Meyer (8-0 win at No. 3), Matt Chorlian (8-3 win at No. 4 ), Kevin Neary (8-1 win at No. 5), Thomas Burns (8-3 win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: The Tide continued its dominance into doubles where Connor and Bryant won at No. 1, Hary-Meyer and Chorlian won at No. 2 and Neary and Burns took an 8-2 victory at No. 3.
Coach’s quote: “We’re a better team than we were a week ago when we lost to Bedford, but we still need to keep improving.” – Concord’s Dave Page
Records: Concord 5-2; Nashua South 5-2
Coe-Brown 9, Trinity 0
Key players: Coe-Brown – Gareth Owen (singles win), Nick Sanderson, Todd Holman, Donovan Corless, Don Maccallum
Highlights/key moments: The Bears made quick work of Trinity with a clean sweep and Owen and Sanderson pairing up for a win at No. 1 doubles.
Records: Coe-Brown 4-2; Trinity 0-4
Gilford 7, Moultonborough 2
Key players: Gilford – Grant Workman (singles win), Christian Workman, Tyler Hanf, Connor Craigie, Kyle Davies, Alden Blais
Highlights/key moments: Donny Searle and Mikey Eisenmann won for the Golden Eagles at No. 1 doubles to keep Gilford’s record perfect.
Records: Gilford 7-0; Moultonborough 2-4