As if guiding the Hopkinton softball team to its first state title since 1994 wasn’t enough, head coach Dan Meserve was named the Coach of the Year in Division III as the New Hampshire Softball Coaches’ Association released its end-of-season awards list.
Meserve, who just concluded his 14th season for the Hawks with a 2-0 blanking of No. 4 Campbell in Saturday’s title game, had plenty of company, too.
Hopkinton’s Megan Blanchette and Kally Murdough were both named to the All-State Second Team, while sophomore ace Megan Kimball-Rhines, who allowed zero runs and two hits from the circle in the final, earned an Honorable Mention nod.
Winnisquam shortstop Carly Catty was the lone local to crack the First Team. Bishop Brady pitcher Jayden Johnson and catcher Ami Rivera, as well as outfielder Abby Santis made Second Team.
Shortstop Julianna Estremera (Belmont), third baseman Raven Gates (Belmont) and Brady second baseman Halle Laramie were all listed as Honorable Mentions in D-III.
Concord ace Abby Rochette, and her pitch caller Abby Corbett led the Tide with First and Second Team honors, respectively, in Division I.
After leading the Tide to a championship in 2018, the duo guided Concord back to the final four again this year before bowing out to eventual champion and top-seeded Exeter, 7-0.
Division II was filled with locals, including three players who were on the field for Saturday’s championship.
Two-time defending champion John Stark landed both Sydney Nelson and Kali Kolehmainen on the All-State First Team, while runner-up Merrimack Valley had first baseman Molly McLaughlin make the list.
Pitcher Izabella Nelson (John Stark), catcher Autumn Stevens (Coe-Brown) and outfielder Angie Moss (Coe-Brown) all made Second Team, while Katie Messenger (Coe-Brown), Miah Boucher (MV), Anna Stenger (John Stark) and Olivia McCarty (Pembroke) were listed as Honorable Mentions.