Division: I
Coach: Duke Sawyer (16th year)
Last year: 14-7, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Franny Redlon, sr., C/1B; Sam Clapp, sr., 3B; Caitlyn Shea, jr., P/OF; Delia Barry, jr., P/2B
Top newcomers: “Players that didn’t see a lot of time last year will fill a lot of open positions,” Coach Sawyer said. “I’m sure the new players will work their way into the lineup as the season progresses.”
Outlook: Concord got outside earlier than some years, but then the weather came and of its 10 scheduled scrimmages, the Tide was able to play just three. That means a team with only three starting positions returning will have to use the early part of the season to figure out its lineup. “We are a work in progress,” Sawyer said. “We have some excellent athletes, just have to find where they fit it.”
Teams to beat: Spaulding, Salem, Bishop Guertin, Alvirne
Division: II
Coach: Tim Tenasco (15th year)
Last year: 17-3, D-II champion
Returning starters: Drew Stevens, so., 2B/SS; Cortney Lewis, sr., 1B/C; Catie Langdon, jr., OF
Outlook: “The 2016 Lady Bears will be looking to continue their success with another run in the Division II playoffs. The team must replace six starters from the back-to-back championships of 2014 and 2015,” Coach Tenasco said. “The Lady Bears are led by three seniors, nine juniors and two sophomores. What the team lacks in varsity game experience they make up in athleticism and an outstanding work ethic. The team’s motto is: One play, one inning, one game.”
Teams to beat: Goffstown, Milford, Windham, Sanborn
Division: II
Coach: Gerry Morin (1st year)
Last year: 3-13, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Kendall Keim, sr.; Sara Lyons, sr.; Jocelyn Dimond, jr.; Gillian McGirr, so.; Jillian Palmacci, so.; Haley Philibotte, so.
Top newcomers: Kali Kolehmainen, fr.; Delani Dowst, fr.; Sara Ferguson, fr.
Outlook: “Our team is looking to have a huge bounce-back season this year and is poised and confident it will return to its winning ways from years past and find its way back into the playoffs,” said Morin, who takes over as head coach after serving as varsity assistant last year. “We have a strong freshman core that combined with last year’s six returning starters should make us a worthy opponent this year.”
Division: II
Coach: Sam York (7th year)
Last year: 8-9, reached first round
Returning starters: Miranda Crane, jr., C; Lindsay Balch, sr., C/1B; Ann Bascom, so., P; Katelyn Hill, jr., SS/OF; Sam Hodkinson, jr., P/OF; Brooke Palmer, jr., 2B/3B
Top newcomer: Alani Ramas, fr., IF/P
Outlook: “Our pitching and infield defense should be a strength for us,” Coach York said. “We are looking to lean on our experiences from last year and advance in the tournament. This team is working hard and getting better every day. The players have the talent to compete with any team in Division II. They need to take the field believing in themselves, each other, and prove they belong.”
Teams to beat: Windham, Goffstown, Coe-Brown
Division: II
Coach: Ashley Gladu (1st year)
Last year: 14-5, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Brianna Whitcomb, sr., 3B; Alexis Palmisano, sr., P; Rachel Denoncourt, so., 2B; Brianna Connolly, jr., C; Olivia Langevin, so., SS; McKaylee Loomis, so., CF; Danielle Parent, so., RF
Top newcomers: Stephanie Berube, so., 1B; Mercedes Simoneau, sr., OF
Outlook: Coach Gladu takes over a Spartans team that returns seven players who started at times last season during Pembroke’s run to the final four. With that core and good starting pitching, Pembroke hopes to be in that late-season mix once again.
Teams to beat: Coe-Brown, Goffstown
Division: III
Coach: Bill Clary (6th year)
Last year: 13-4, reached second round
Returning starters: Shannon Davies, jr., 1B; Megan Prescott, sr., P; Courtney Clairmont, sr., 2B; Nicole Antonucci, jr., 3B; Jordan Sargent, so., C/OF
Top newcomers: Lizzie Fleming, fr., OF/P; Julianna Estrameara, fr., SS/OF; Taylor Lavallee, jr., OF; Jordan Lavallee, so., C/OF; Mackenzie Donovan, fr., SS/OF/C
Outlook: “With only five returning starters, we will be young, but will be led by Prescott in the circle,” Coach Clary said. “I’m looking for some of the freshmen to contribute immediately, but at the same time realize it’s a much faster game than they are used to. We were very lucky to have the Lavallee sisters move into the district. This should help give us some experience to complement the returners.”
Teams to beat: White Mountains, Berlin, Conant, Prospect Mountain
Bishop Brady
Division: III
Coach: Freddy Rivera (2nd year)
Last year: 9-9, reached second round
Returning starters: Becca Olson, sr., C/SS/OF; Emily Santis, jr., 2B/SS/C; Cait Mallahan, jr., OF; Maddy Rines, jr., OF; Aniecia Vargas, so., 3B/OF; Jamie Cookingham, so., C/2B/1B
Top newcomers: Lily Rivera, jr., SS/3B/P; Emily Manning, jr., P/OF/2B; Gwen Tupman, so., SS/2B/3B; Abby Santis, fr., 1B/OF; Jackie Hill, fr., 1B/OF; Jess Beeso, fr., OF
Outlook: “The Green Giants will have a mix of experience and youth this season with six returning starters, three transfers and three freshmen joining the roster,” Coach Rivera said. “Pitching and defense will once again be the staple of this year’s success. We have a solid hitting lineup that should be able to compete. The goal this season is to be “Better than Last” (year), improve on our regular-season record and advance further in the playoffs.”
Teams to beat: “Any given day/night, anyone can win, therefore we never overlook our opponents,” Rivera said. “The team we play that day will be the team to beat. Every team is going to create some sort of challenge.”
Division: III
Coach: Rick Ladd (1st year)
Last year: 2-14, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Erin Boldwin, so., C/P; Sara Anoli, jr., IF/P; Lyndsey Wheeler, jr., OF
Top newcomers: Jessica Doward, fr., IF/C; Lauryn Colby, fr., P/IF
Outlook: “With only two seniors on the team, and only three returning starters, it is a young team just learning to play together,” said Coach Ladd, who takes over the helm of the Falcons program. “Even though this is a rebuilding year, we expect to be competitive with the level of talent on the team.”
Division: III
Coach: Skip DuBois (20th year)
Last year: 14-4, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Hanne Nichols, sr., SS/CF/C; Rachael Capri, sr., RF; Breanna Styles, sr., 1B; Kaylee Marshe, sr., P/1B; Allyson Mahurin, sr., 2B; Hailey Haskins, jr., P/2B; Anna Doherty, jr., C/3B; Meghan Johnston, so., IF/P
Top newcomers: Anna Sylvestre, jr., 3B; Mariah Haney, so., IF; Brianna Judkins, so., OF; Ryley Haskins, fr., OF
Outlook: “We graduated four starters last year – three of our four top hitters – and the Div, III Player of the Year, so there are some huge shoes to fill,” Coach DuBois said. “With our pitching staff returning, we should be strong in that department, but hitting will be a big question mark.” The Tornadoes return five starters, but several of them will be holding down new positions, so it may take a while for the defense to gel. “Rebuilding is not the correct term this year, but rather restructuring,” DuBois said.
Teams to beat: Campbell, Pelham, Berlin, Winnisquam
Division: III
Coach: Shawn Atkins (1st year)
Last year: 4-12, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Nicole Mooney jr., SS/P; Gina Costello, jr., CF/2B; Maggie Atkins, jr., P/SS; Emma Moore, sr., 3B
Outlook: “With only having five returning starters, we are a young team with many talent levels,” Coach Atkins said. “Would like to split the season at 8-8; there are some very tough schools in our division and this would be a great turnaround for the program.”
Division: III
Coach: Dan Meserve (10th year)
Last year: 14-4, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Lily Scammon, sr., IF/P; Kasey Smith, sr., IF/C; Alexis Blanchette, jr., P/1B; Caroline Flood, sr., IF; Gabby Lajeunesse, so., IF/P
Top newcomers: Maddie Eborn, so., IF/OF; Alexis Ferns, so., C/OF; Krista Amoth, so., C/OF; Grace Gauthier, jr., IF/OF
Outlook: First team all-state player Blanchette will make the move from first base to the pitcher’s circle and has looked good this spring,” Coach Meserve said. Veterans Scammon and Lajeunesse anchor the infield, with Flood and Smith playing a variety of positions. Felicia Gordon and Samantha Brewer hope to lead the outfield defense. “There will likely be a multitude of different lineups early in the season as the Hawks try to find the strongest combination for a playoff push,” Meserve said.
Teams to beat: Campbell, White Mountains, Conant, Bishop Brady, Winnisquam
Division: III
Coach: David Yazzie (8th year)
Last year: 9-9, reached second round
Returning starters: Maddie Folcik, jr., 3B/P; Ashley Thompson, jr., P/C/IF; Samantha Dow, sr., C/SS; Caroline Beaton, sr., OF; Kate MacCleod, jr., OF
Top newcomers: Emily Folcik, fr., SS; Payten Hebert, fr., 2B; Sarah Young, jr., OF; Rachel Breault, sr., 1B/P; Farrah Wilson, sr., OF; Katlyn Kleckner, jr., OF; Sydner Boyer, so., OF
Outlook: It’s a mix of veterans and newcomers for the Cougars, who are looking to continue the success they had last year. “We have experience returning in the circle, and we had to fill some positions in the infield,” Coach Yazzie said.
Teams to beat: White Mountains, Franklin, Hopkinton, MV
Division: III
Coach: Kevin Dame (14th year)
Last year: 10-8, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Ema Atherton, jr., C/OF; Lauren Bolstridge, jr., 3B; Marissa DeBlasie, sr., SS; Tea Michaloski, sr., OF; Lindsay Raymond, sr., 1B; Molly Tinker, jr., P/2B/OF
Top newcomers: Talia DeBlasie, fr., P/2B; Madisyn Skeats, so., OF/1B; Shannon Goodwin, fr., 2B/OF/C
Outlook: “We have a lot of experience returning, so hopefully we will be able to hit and field the ball,” Coach Dame said. “Our two pitchers will be Molly Tinker and Talia DeBlasie. Molly got some experience last year and Talia was a very solid middle school pitcher. If they throw strikes, we should be able to compete (with) any team.”
Teams to beat: Berlin, Campbell, Gilford, Franklin, Prospect Mountain
Division: IV
Coach: Buddy Carchide (2nd year)
Last year: 0-16, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Alyssa Sullivan, jr., SS; Bobbie-Jean Small, sr., 3B; Arianna Cyr, fr., OF/P; Destinee Ellis, fr., 1B; Kira Wood, fr., C/OF; Makenzie Dumond, 8th-grade, 2B; Megan Callicoat, so., P/U; Peyton Shaw, fr., OF
Top newcomers: Anitrea Provencher, sr., OF; Heather Cole, sr., C; Emily Thompson, so., 2B; Kylee Morel, so., OF/P; Victoria Lee, 8th-grade, U/P; Amber Johnson, 7th-grade, C/OF
Outlook: The Panthers return eight starters from a year ago, but despite the field experience are still very young. Five of those players were middle schoolers a year ago. “Great core of returning players,” Coach Carchide said. “Some very nice young, talented athletes.”
Team to beat: Sunapee