LACONIA — The Nor'Easter Softball Classic is back and bigger than ever.
After having the annual tournament trimmed to just 38 teams a year ago because of renovations to Opechee Park, the 12th annual event will be the largest ever hosted by the Gilford-based Nor'Easter Softball Club. The Classic, which went from 44 teams in 2006 to 40 in 2007 and 38 last summer, will feature 48 teams.
And the competition will be at the same high level.
"I don't know all the teams that are going to be there, but I know there will be some very good teams," Nor'Easter 18U coach Tom Carr said.
The Classic will feature teams in three different age groups — 18U, 16U, and 14U — playing at fields in Laconia (Memorial Park and Woodland Heights), Belmont (Bryant Field as well as the elementary and high school fields), Gilford (high school), and Prescott Park in Meredith for the first time in the tournament's history. It will feature fourteen 14U teams — nine from N.H., three Maine, two Mass; 20 16U teams — eight N.H., six Maine, four Vermont, one Mass., one R.I.; and fourteen 18U teams — four N.H., three Vermont, three Maine, two R.I., one Mass., one Conn.
Pool play swings into action tonight and resumes Saturday with a total of 72 contests. Single elimination finals are slated for Sunday afternoon (5:30) — 14Us at Prescott Park, 16Us at Bryant Field and 18Us at Memorial Park.
Tonight's action features a triple header at Memorial Park involving the three Nor'Easter squads. The 14U squad will open the action against the N.H. Blizzards at 5:45 p.m. They will be followed by the 16U and 18U teams against the Vt. Bennington Bandits at 7:20 and 9, respectively.
There will also be six other games in Belmont, Gilford and Laconia. Pool play will continue Saturday with 14U's playing in Meredith, 16U's in Belmont and 18U's in Laconia and Gilford.
Nor'easter's Skyla Farguharson (Laconia) tags out a Nashua Nightmares Purple runner during last year's Nor'Easters Softball Classic. The Gilford-based softball club will host 48 teams this weekend in the 12th annual Classic.
(RAY MONGEAU/CITIZEN PHOTO)
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Coach Carr's 18U squad comes into the tournament on a roll, winning nine of their last 10 games. The Nor'Easter's won the Eric Whitten Memorial Tournament in Portland, Maine, two weeks ago and went 4-1 with a tough loss in the semifinals of the Bow Turn Two Classic. After going 3-0 in pool play, they defeated the New England Firebirds from Massachusetts 2-1 behind excellent team defense and a strong pitching performance from Amanda Barton (Franklin, SNHU).
In the second game on Sunday, the semifinals, the Nor'Easters faced a strong Maine Flames team. After leading throughout the game, the Nor'Easters gave up two unearned runs in the seventh that tied it up and sent the game into extra innings. After a scoreless eighth and top of the ninth, the Flames pushed across the winning run with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth.
The Flames will be here this weekend.
"I think our chances are good this weekend," Coach Carr said. "We've been playing pretty well."
According to Carr, his team struggled at the beginning of the summer season with just nine players and most playing unfamiliar positions. The addition of a handful of players, including Concord's Emily Jobin (center field), and players settling into roles have the Nor'Easter squad rolling into their own tournament.
"Defensively, we've started playing a lot cleaner," he pointed out. "Our pitchers have been throwing very well. We're not giving teams four or five outs now."
Like most softball clubs, it starts will pitching and the Nor'Easter 18U's have plenty of strong arms. Leading the way are Barton, Caitlin Bill (Concord), Lindsey Carr (Gilford), and Cody Lyon (Littleton).
Jobin, a quick athlete, has solidified the defense in center. "Emily has made the biggest difference," praised coach Carr. "She covers so much ground out there. ... Shes' getting to a lot of balls that were dropping before."
Other key players for the 18U's are Caitlin Zelonis (Laconia), Megan Bird (Laconia), Danielle Dean (Gilford), Caitlin Clary (Belmont, Assumption), and Lydia Bartlett (Gilford). Barton and Lyon have been able to set the table offensively, slapping the ball around the field, with Clary and Zelonis carrying the big bats.
"We will have to play extremely well and we'll have to have a couple of breaks," Coach Carr said.
The Nor'Easter 16U squad, a young unit with just four 16 year olds, will be looking to take another step in their growth process as they've been inconsistent most of the summer.
"We've started slow, but we've been in every tournament except for the states at the beginning of the year," said Nor'Easter 16U coach Darci Blake. "Our pitching has been incredible, but one weekend we'll do really well and the next weekend we'll struggle. I'm hoping it's because we are young and we'll grow."
The solid pitching has been keyed by Plymouth's Courtney DeCosta and Kennett's Whitney Roberts. Also contributing in the pitcher's circle are Marissa Kotkowski (Winnacunnet) and Alicia Barney (Plymouth). Kotkowski is a key veteran along with Salem's Kirstie Clark (catcher, shortstop, third base) and Missy Caiani (2B, OF) and Inter-Lakes' Kaleigh Richardson.
Other key players to watch are Kennett's Faye Roberts; and Laconia's McKenna Caldwell (OF), Mikayla Blake (1B) and Skyla Farquharson (3B).
"We need some timely hits and we need to play solid defense," coach Blake said.
Seth Gilman, GHS softball assistant coach, guides the 14U Nor'Easter squad into action this weekend. The local team features a solid core of pitchers in Sydney Strout and Molly Dietrich (Gilford); Kim Allen (Belmont); Kasie Tucker (Bow); Jessica Anderson (Franklin) and Samantha Batchelder (Laconia).
Other key players to watch are Abigail Harris (Gilford); Claire Spaulding and Samantha Wilson (Belmont); Casey Curley (Bow); and Abbie Roy (Winnisquam).
The Nor'Easter Softball Club would like to take this opportunity to thank the Nor'Easter Softball Board members, parents of players, softball supporters, umpires, sponsors, Laconia Parks and Recreation, Meredith Parks and Recreation, the Gilford and Shaker School Districts, J&J Printing, Irving Mainway, and anyone who has helped make this tournament a reality. Thanks again for making this tournament a true classic.
