Hailey Haskins wasn’t the ace, or even the best hitter on the Franklin High softball team for its Division III runner-up season a year ago. But in the opener on Friday, longtime Coach Skip DuBois called Haskins “a one-woman wrecking crew.”
And for good reason.
Haskins helped get the Golden Tornadoes (1-0) off on the right foot, striking out eight batters over seven innings in the circle and driving in all five runs for Franklin in a 5-1 road victory over Prospect Mountain (0-1).
“Today, she was what I expected her to be and beyond, even for the first game,” said DuBois, who embarked on his 21st season at the helm. “You expect some jitters and things of that nature, but she was in control for the most part. … She was unbelievable, both on the mound, at the plate and everything else. It was just wonderful.”
In the circle, Haskins surrendered just one walk and five hits as she settled into a groove with batterymate and co-captain Anna Doherty. At the plate, Haskins was equally as good. After Franklin stranded the bases loaded in the first inning, Haskins stepped to plate with two on and two out in the second and drove the ball to deep right-center field for a three-run blast. Haskins followed that up by helping her own cause some more in the fourth with a two-run single.
“(Haskins) has been coming along and this year is her year. I mean the mound is hers,” DuBois said. “She has great leadership ability, and she and Anna Doherty are my captains and they’ve just taken off with that and the leadership thing.”
Coming off an 18-2 season last year didn’t mean DuBois was expecting the Golden Tornadoes to continue 2016’s torrid pace into the opener, but he was pleasantly surprised by the crispness Franklin displayed on Friday despite limited practiced time outside.
Haskins was as good as DuBois could have hoped, the defense contributed with a number of outstanding plays and freshman outfielder Hannah Hicks certainly made a good impression in her first varsity start, setting up Haskin’s two run home run with a single and adding another base knock later in the contest.
“The young Hicks girls, she goes into her first varsity game, has two hits, steals a base and just looked as if it was old hat to her,” DuBois said. “Based on what I saw today, I’m obviously highly encouraged. … I’m very pleased with what I saw and I was extremely pleased with the cohesion of the team.”
Franklin is scheduled to host Somersworth on Monday before hitting the road for four straight.
(Jay McAree can be reached at 369-3371, jmcaree@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @JayMcAree.)
Merrimack Valley 3, Sanborn 2
Key players: MV – Ann Bascom (W, 7 IP, 2 ER, 3 K, 6 H; 1-for-3 at the plate), Katelyn Hill (defense), Brooke Palmer (defense), Molly McLaughlin (chipped in a few hits)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride ended a bases-loaded threat in the top of the first inning unscathed then scored a run in the second on a Sanborn error, adding two runs in the third. Sanborn scored twice in the sixth and ended the game with the tying run on second.
Coach’s quote: “Back-to-back close games can be tough mentally. We have several of those this season and we are learning how to win when we aren’t at our best. We didn’t swing the bats up to our standard but our defense won the game for us tonight.” – MV’s Sam York
Records: MV 2-0; Sanborn 0-1
Belmont 3, Berlin 2
Key players: Belmont – Julianna Estremera (2 hits), Shannon Davies (2 hits), Makenzie Donovan (2 hits), Lizzie Fleming
Highlights/key moments: Fleming kept the Raiders in the game, allowing two runs and six hits with seven strikeouts in the circle. A single from Jordan Lavallee in the eighth inning set up the game-winning run as Jordan Sargent drove her in with the walk-off hit.
Coach’s quote: “Much better performance by our pitcher with good defense behind her.” – Belmont’s Bill Clary
Records: Belmont 2-0; Berlin 0-2
Winnisquam 14, Somersworth 5
Key players: Winnisquam – Madysin Skeats (2-for-4, double, RBI, 2 R), Molly Tinker (7 IP, 7 K, 3 BB, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER)
Highlights/key moments: Hannah Max, Ashley Deshaies, Meghan Harmon and Meghan Cote each recorded their first varsity hits as the Bears improved to 2-0 on the young season. Tinker won her second game in as many days from the circle.
Coach’s quote: “We’re doing well at the plate, but our pitching and defense can improve. Offensively we should be good all year.” – Winnisquam’s Kevin Dame
Records: Winnisquam 2-0; Somersworth 0-1
H-D 20, Hanover 3, 6 inn.
Key players: Hillsboro-Deering – Maggie Atkins (9 K; 3-for-5), Melissa Veitch (4-for-5, HR), Jessica Peschel (3-for-5), Nicole Lillis (4-for-5), Danielle Perham (3-for-5)
Highlights/key moments: The Hillcats took a 6-0 lead after the first two innings and just kept hitting on their way to their first win.
Coach’s quote: “It was a big confidence booster, and that’s good because we’ve got some tough games coming up.” – Hillsboro-Deering’s Shawn Atkins
Records: H-D 1-1; Hanover 0-1
Fall Mountain 8, Kearsarge 3
Key players: Kearsarge – Shannon Breault (1-for-4, run), Katlyn Kleckner (1-for-4, run), Emily Folcik (2-for-4, double), Kate MacLeod (2-for-3, 2 singles), Rachel Breault (hit), Maddie Folcik (7 IP, 8 K, 2 BB, 7 hits, 4 ER)
Highlights/key moments: Kearsarge went up by two runs in the third inning but Fall Mountain struck back with two in the fourth, three in the fifth and three runs in the sixth inning.
Records: Kearsarge 0-2; Fall Mountain 1-0
Newfound 18, Inter-Lakes 5
Key players: Newfound – Hayleigh Letourneau (3 hits, 3 runs), Mackenzie Ryan (HR, triple, 4 RBI); Julianne Marchand (HR, 4 RBI), Kylee Macdonald (HR); Inter-Lakes – Jordan Durand (3-for-3, HR. 4 RBI), Morgan White (hit, run scored)
Highlights/key moments: The Lakers quickly grabbed a pair of runs in the first inning when Durand launched a two-run homer but wouldn’t score again until the fifth. Newfound piled up the runs with four long balls for a commanding lead and rode the arm of Amanda Johnston to the win in five innings.
Coach’s quote: “Our ladies hung in there, did not quit and made a comeback in the fifth with three runs. All in all, a good first outing.” – Inter-Lakes’ Harry Blood
“We weren’t sure how the team’s hitting was going to be with limited hitting off live pitching and they were ready today with 20 hits.” – Newfound’s Corey Johnston
Records: Inter-Lakes 0-1; Newfound 1-0
Sanborn 2, Merrimack Valley 1
Key players: MV – Brian Nylen (6 IP, 2 R), Alan Thompson (1 IP), Kevin Barton (2-for-3)
Highlights/key moments: Despite getting a runner on base in every inning, the Pride couldn’t scratch out more than the solo run, stranding 14 runners on base altogether.
Coach’s quote: “Well played high school baseball game. We just could not get the timely hit.” – MV’s Sean Wheeler
Records: MV 0-2; Sanborn 2-0
Berlin 1, Belmont 0
Key players: Belmont – Cole Contigiani (6⅔IP, 6 K, 0 ER), Chris Marden (single, stolen base)
Highlights/key moments: In a low-scoring contest, Berlin took advantage of a Belmont throwing error with a runner on second base in the top of the seventh to score the game’s lone run.
Coach’s quote: “Thankfully that’s just one game of the many more to come. There’s a lot of positives to take from the game. The pitching and defense was there and once we get our bats going we’re looking to earn a better result.” – Belmont’s Matt LeBlanc
Records: Belmont 0-1; Berlin 1-1
Pembroke 10, Plymouth 7
Key players: Pembroke – Cole Hapgood (winning pitcher, 6 IP, 12 K, 4 hits, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 runs), Quinton Paquin (3-for-3, BB), Justin Legere (2-for-3, 3 runs, 3 stolen bases)
Highlights/key moments: After jumping out to an early 4-1 lead, the Spartans let Plymouth climb back in it and scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-6 lead. Pembroke was able to pick up its first win of the season by plating five runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Records: Pembroke 1-1; Pymouth
Winnisquam 12, Somersworth 7
Key players: Winnisquam – Mike Lowrey (2-for-3, grand slam, 6 RBI), Blaise Ross (3-for-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBI), Alex Mango (2-for-4), Devan Glover (5⅓ IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 5 K), Bryce Corey (5 outs in relief)
Highlights/key moments: Lowrey’s grand slam in the fifth inning gave the Bears an 11-6 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Coach’s quote: “Nice way to bounce back after yesterday’s 17-run loss. The guys did a great job of putting yesterday’s game behind them.” – Winnisquam’s Fred Caruso
Records: Winnisquam 1-1; Somersworth 0-1
Pelham 10, Laconia 1
Key players: Laconia – Thomas Turpin (2-for-3, run), Jake Nelson (RBI)
Highlights/key moments: A safety squeeze off the bat of Nelson drove in Turpin for the Sachems only run. Meanwhile, Pelham tallied 15 total hits to hand Laconia its first loss of the new season.
Records: Laconia 1-1; Pelham 1-0