Her team had a five-run lead going into the final inning, but Hopkinton pitcher Megan Kimball-Rhines had a feeling she’d still have to work for the win against Merrimack Valley. Sure enough, the Pride rallied and brought the tying run to the plate before Hopkinton escaped the jam with a 5-1 win on Monday in Penacook.
“I know a bunch of girls from (MV) and I know who they’re ASA (Amateur Softball Association) coaches and all that kind of stuff, and I know their big thing is never giving up,” Kimball-Rhines said. “I was a little bit worried, but I was still confident that we were going to be able to shut that down.”
The Hawks improved to 8-0 with the win, although being undefeated isn’t really on their radar.
“I kind of found out today,” Kimball-Rhines said. “Someone said, ‘Hey, you’re undefeated,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, cool, that’s awesome,’ but it’s not like a top priority or anything we’re usually thinking about. We just go inning by inning and out by out and that works well for us.”
That’s how a young Hopkinton team won the Division III title in 2019. With five starters back from that squad and an influx of talented underclassmen, the Hawks have another high-caliber team.
“Hopkinton is a very good team,” MV coach Kevin O’Brien said. “They’re talented, they’re quick, they have as good an infield as we’ve seen, and we’ve seen John Stark, Coe-Brown, I went and saw Oyster River, and they’re infield is as good as anyone I’ve seen in our division. If they were in Division II they would be in the upper echelon.”
The Pride (5-3) knows all about the upper echelon of D-II after making the 2019 championship game. MV doesn’t have many players left from that team, but it does have senior Sadie Barton, the starting pitcher in the ’19 final and on Monday. Barton pitched all seven innings, struck out five, walked two, gave up five hits and allowed only two earned runs.
“Sadie pitched a great game,” O’Brien said. “The other kid pitched a great game, too.”
She certainly did. Kimball-Rhines struck out eight and allowed just one base runner on one hit through the first six innings before giving up a run on two hits and two walks in the seventh.
“She was feeling it today,” Hopkinton coach Dan Meserve said. “It was great.”
Kimball-Rhines is a middle infielder for her ASA club, so the last time she pitched before this season was the 2019 high school season. The layoff led to some inconsistencies in the circle earlier in the season, but she’s hit her stride now and said that Monday’s performance was her best of the spring.
“It was really great competition today,” Kimball-Rhines said. “I think we all rose to the level of competition and came to play.”
That certainly included freshman Keegan St. Cyr, who opened the game with a hit, scored two runs and flashed some impressive leather at shortstop. She scored on an error in the first and reached on an error in the third that eventually allowed Kimball-Rhines to step to the plate with two outs. With the count 3-2, she took a low and inside pitch from Barton over the left field fence to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead.
“(Barton) is on my travel ball team, so there was a little extra with that because she’s a really good pitcher,” Kimball-Rhines said. “I haven’t seen her in a while, so it was just good to see her.”
Hopkinton added single runs in the fourth and the sixth and Maddie Carmichael (2-for-3) was involved on both occasions. She hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth, and her single in the sixth moved along Kyanna Landry, who led off the frame with a hit and scored on a groundout to make it 5-0.
MV’s Liv Lacasse (2-for-3) singled in the second off Kimball-Rhines, and that was all the Pride offense could muster until the seventh. That’s when Addie Allen led off with a single, stole second and eventually scored on another hit from Lacasse. MV also drew two walks in the inning and had the bases loaded with the run in, but Kim ball-Rhines and the Hawks escaped.
“We were focusing o n outs instead of runs, because they needed more than one,” Kimball-Rhines said. “So, we were just making sure we were getting those outs.”
Concord 23,
Manchester Central 0, 5 inn.
Key players: Concord — Elizabeth Blinn (5-for-5, double, triple, grand slam, 4 runs, 5 RBI), Grace MacDonald (3-for-3, 3 runs, 4 RBI), Libby Brown (3-for-3, 2 runs, 4 RBI, SAC), Sarah Taylor (3-for 3, 2 RBI; 2 IP, 0 H, 5 K), Alice Rosenberg (3-for-5, 3 runs), Delaney Duford (2-for-5, run, 2 RBI), Lillian Rienstra (2-for-4, HBP, 2 runs, RBI), Jaelyn Kelleher (1-for-1, HBP, run, 2 RBI; win, 3 IP, 1 H, 2 K), Anna Gaby (hit, 2 R), Kennedy Ramos (double, 2 R), Kyleigh Gray (run, RBI), Quincy Bolduc (2 runs)
Highlights: Concord batted around in the first inning, setting the tone for the lopsided victory. Blinn hit for the cycle, putting an exclamation point on the achievement with a grand slam. Taylor and Kelleher combined for the one-hit shutout, with Kelleher picking up her first varsity win.
Coach’s quote: “Games like these are rough. But it’s fun to see players like Blinn reaching a rare cycle. And Kelleher became our fifth pitcher this season to pick up a W.”” — Concord assistant coach Sandy Smith
Records: Concord 12-2; Manchester Central 1-8
Bishop Brady 7,
Coe-Brown Northwood Academy 0
Key players: Bishop Brady — Jayden Johnson (7 IP, W, 0 ER, 3 H, 6 K, 3 BB; single, double, RBI), Ami Rivera (single, double, walk, 2 runs), Halle Laramie (2 hits, RBI, run), Ashley Brust (run, hit), Gwen O’Keefe (hit, 2 RBI), Riley Marsh (hit, RBI), Margaret Sheehan (walk, run), Meg Pellerin (2 runs); Coe-Brown — Maddie DeCota (7 IP, L, 9 H, 4 ER, 7 K, 3 BB), Lily Veneroni (hit), Hailey Pruett (hit), Emma Pinard (hit)
Highlights: The first three innings were scoreless as Brady’s Johnson and Coe-Brown’s DeCota were keeping hitters off balance. The Giants struck in the fourth with two runs on three hits, an error and a fielder’s choice ground ball. Brady added five insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
Coach’s quote: “This was a solid win against a strong Coe-Brown squad. Our girls played well, we adjusted and kept putting the ball in play. Another strong pitching performance by Jayden Johnson. Ami Rivera is one hit shy of hitting the 100 hit milestone.” — Brady’s Freddy Rivera
Records: Bishop Brady 7-2; Coe-Brown 7-3
John Stark 8, Bow 4
Key players: John Stark — Izzy Nelson (7 IP, W, 11 K, 2 H; 2-for-4, double, 2-run HR), Sophia Lemay (3-for-3, walk, 2 runs, RBI), Lilli Stogner (1-for-2, 2 walks, 2 runs); Bow — Hannah McGonigle (7 IP, 2 K, 6 H, 3 ER), Ella Roos (1-for-3, run), Annika Geiben-Lynn (1-for-3), Katelin Howe (defense at short), Lilly Wright (defense at third)
Highlights: Stark’s Nelson struck out the side in the first inning to reach 400 strikeouts for her career, but the Falcons took an early lead and held it until the bottom of the fifth. That’s when a two-run single from Lauren Desrosiers gave the Generals a 5-4 lead. Bow was on top when Stark rallied in the bottom of the fifth, capped by a two-run single from Lauren Desrosiers to give the Generals a 5-4 lead. winning heading into the 5th inning, too many errors and walks cost us the game.
Coach’s quote: “Hannah did well hitting her spots, but we could not seem to get the calls we wanted. Overall, we were competitive against a solid team. Too many walks and errors cost us the game.” — Bow’s Stacy Boyden
Records: John Stark 5-4; Bow 4-5
Manchester Central 3, Concord 0
Key players: Concord — Jarrad Willette (5 IP, L, 3 R, 1 ER, 9 hits, BB, 4 K), Donny Cote (2 IP, 0 hits, BB, 3 K)
Highlights: Central scored two runs in the first on two hits and two Concord errors, and then added an insurance run in the fifth.
Coach’s quote: “Jarrad Willette and Donny Cote pitched well in a losing effort. We were only able to muster three hits. We need to be able to put the ball in play more. We will get back to work at practice tomorrow and then get another shot at them on Wednesday.” — Concord’s Scott P. Owen
Records: Manchester Central 4-6; Concord 10-4
Bishop Brady 8, Coe-Brown 3
Key players: Bishop Brady — Michael Thresher (5 IP, W, 2 ER), Connor Treybig (2 IP, save, 5 K; 4 RBI, 4 hits, double), Jake Blake (3 hits, double, 3 RBI, 4 runs), Cody Fuller (2 hits, 2 runs); Coe-Brown – Thomas Trumble (4 IP, 7 H, 2 K), Jake Pelletier (2-for-4, double)
Highlights: Blake and Treybig put Bishop Brady on top with two outs in the first inning when Blake singled, stole second and came home on a long double by Treybig. They continued to carry Bishop Brady offensively for the entire game, combining for seven hits, seven RBI and five runs.
Coach’s quote: “To go over to the team with the best record in D-II and beat them 8-3 at there place says a lot about how hard this team is playing this year with quality wins against D-II and a D-I team. Michael (Thresher) gave us another quality start and Connor shut the door in the last two innings. Jake and Connor also really took over offensively today and our team defense was fantastic, too.” — Bishop Brady’s Skip Foy
“The top of their order hit the ball really well against us and we made too many errors. You can’t do that against a good team and they made us pay for it.” — Coe-Brown’s Greg Gilbert
Records: Bishop Brady 6-2; Coe Brown 7-2
John Stark 2, Bow 1
Key players: John Stark — Austin Hazzard (7 IP, W, 0 ER, 7 K, 1 H, 1 BB; double, run), Alex Moore (2-for-2, RBI, 2 SB, run, BB), Jason Crean (RBI double); Bow – Ethan Clark (5 IP, L, 4 H, 2 R, 3 K, BB), Calen Smith (1-for-1), Matt Lamy (run)
Highlights: This game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Stark scored both its runs on hits from Hazzard, Moore and Crean.
Coach’s quote: “Well played game between two good local rivals. We got some clutch hitting in the fifth and Austin was awesome once again for us, proving why he’s one of the best D-II pitchers in the state.” — Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: John Stark 6-3; Bow 4-5
MV 13, Hopkinton 7
Key players: MV — Aidan Lacasse (4 IP, W; 1-for-2, 2 RBI), Dom McGee (1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs), Gavin Wheeler (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Brandon Dukette (1-for-2, run); Hopkinton – Peyton Marshall (2-for-4, RBI), Armen Laylagian (hit, 2 RBI), Owen O’Brien (triple, RBI), Jack Morrall (hit, RBI)
Highlights: MV jumped out to an early 9-1 lead after three innings. After a thunder delay, Hopkinton chipped away scoring runs in the fourth and fifth to cut the Pride lead to just four with some key at bats from Laylagian and O’Brien, and the first RBI of the season from Kody Dexter. But MV put the game away in bottom of the sixth with four runs on hits from McGee and Wheeler.
Coach’s quote: “Good team effort, contributions up and down the line up.” — Sean Wheeler
Records: MV 4-5; Hopkinton 6-3
Newmarket 10, Pittsfield 5
Key players: Newmarket — Pittsfield — Caleb Stopyro (3-for-3, 3 RBI)
Records: Newmarket 6-3; Pittsfield 8-4
Concord 115, Manchester Central 24
Key players: Concord — Alexis Adams (1st shot put, 1st discus, 1st javelin), Ayva Mullen (1st long jump, 1st triple jump, 2nd 100), Whitney Vaillant (1st 800, 1st 1,600), Sarah Sponenberg (1st 100 hurdles, 1st 300 hurdles), Nydia Lane (1st 400), Katie Watt (1st 3,200), Gabriela Pimental (1st high jump), Kendall Barton (1st pole vault), Cassie Pfitzenmayer (2nd discus, 2nd shot put).
Highlights: The Tide won 15 of 17 events, led by Adams’s sweep of the throwing events, to defeat Central in a dual meet at Memorial Field.
Concord 96, Manchester Central 41
Key players: Concord — Nick Richards (1st long jump, 1st 110 hurdles, 1st 300 hurdles), Jacque Tunguru (1st 100, 1st 200), Eben Bragg (1st 800, 1st 1,600), Derek Taylor (1st triple jump, tied 1st high jump), John Murphy (1st 3,200, 2nd 1,600), Matt Lavoie (1st pole vault, 2nd 400), Aiden Gleason (1st 400), Jarrett Lamoureux (1st shot put), Sam Foulds (1st discus)
Highlights: The Tide won 16 of 17 events, including three from Richards, to defeat Central in a dual meet at Memorial Field.
Concord 5, Manchester Central 4
Key players: Concord — David Bean (8-5 win at No. 3), Tyler Coskren (8-1 win at No. 4), Knox Brown (8-3 win at No. 5), Carter Pratt (8-0 win at No. 6).
Highlights: Concord’s Pratt recorded his second straight shutout win and the Crimson Tide held a 4-2 lead after singles, but the Little Green won at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to make things interesting but Coskren and Brown claimed an 8-2 win third doubles for the clinching team point.
Coach’s quote: “After a slow start to the season, we are building positive momentum as the tournament approaches.” — Concord’s Dave Page
Records: Concord 4-7
Bow 7, Bishop Brady 2
Key players: Bow — Dominik Jurcins (8-6 win at No. 1), Colby Smith (8-0 win at No. 3), Aiden Munro (8-2 win at No. 4), Noah Leuchtenberger (8-0 win at No. 5), Oliver Dolcino (default win at No. 6) Bishop Brady — Cy Yvars (8-4 win at No. 2)
Highlights: Yvars had a hand in both of Brady’s points, winning at No. 2 singles and teaming up with Ryan Achong, who had a tight 8-6 loss at No. 1 singles, for a 9-8 (8-6) win at first doubles. Bow’s John Topolosky and Aaron Barrieau claimed an 8-3 win second doubles.
Records: Bow 4-4; Brady 0-7
Pembroke 7, Coe-Brown 2
Highlights: Coe-Brown’s Sam Dupuis won, 8-0, at No. 2 singles and then teamed with Nolan Grassi for an 8-5 comeback win at second doubles for the bears two points. The two teams meet again on Wednesday in their final match of the regular season.
Records: Pembroke 4-3; Coe-Brown 3-3
Coe-Brown 9,
Pembroke Academy 0
Key players: Pembroke Academy — Madi Apgar
Highlights: Apgar saved several match points, lost two of her own and went to tie breaker at No. 4 singles losing 9-8 (10-8).
Coach’s quote: “Even though the match was over after singles play, the girls did well in all the doubles courts. We lost 8-5 at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, and lost 8-4 at No. 3 doubles. Coe-Brown’s No. 1 Skye Loto is a strong player.” — PA’s David W. Goulet
Records: Coe Brown 4-4; Pembroke Academy 0-7
Trailing by two runs going into the final inning, the John Stark JV baseball team came back for an 8-7 win against Bow to stay undefeated at 6-0. Travis Wiggin caught a great game and Austin Burkhamer and Logan Montgomery pitched well for the Generals, while Montgomery, Seth Marquardt and Miles Lanier had key hits, including the game-winning RBI from Lanier to score Aidan Johnson.
The men’s varsity double of Jacob Garside and Luke Lowne won their first heat and finished with a silver medal at US Rowing’s Northeast Youth Championships, and will now compete at the National Youth Championships in June.
Brady Peterson and Tad Stokes each had two hits while Nolan Staples-Roy and Trent Urbon played excellent defense to lead the Concord Police Patrolmen’s Association to a 3-1 win against Banks in Concord Babe Ruth action. Isaac Vaillancourt and Ryan Stephenson pitched well for Banks while Joey Simpson had a hit and scored a run.
Post 21 of Concord Senior Legion Baseball Team is holding a second tryout on May 23 from 9-11 a.m. at the Concord Sports Center. Anyone who is between the ages of 16 and 19 who is interested in playing should fill out the form at concord21.yolasite.com/ or contact John Bly at 558-1320 or coachbly@comcast.net.