LACONIA — It was a solid start to the Nor'Easter Softball Classic for the host club squads as they took two of three in a triple-header held here at Memorial Park.
The 12th annual Classic, which went from 44 teams in 2006 to 40 in 2007 and 38 last summer, features 48 teams playing in three different age groups — 18U, 16U, and 14U. The games will be played 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.
The Nor'Easter teams sandwiched two victories between a tough loss. The 14U squad opened things with a solid 4-2 triumph over the New Hampshire Blizzards. After the Nor'Easter 16U team dropped a tough 9-2 decision to the Vermont Bandits, the 18U Nor'Easters posted a 3-0 win over the Vermont Bandits.
"It's a good start to the tournament," Nor'Easter 14U coach Seth Gilman said. "It's our tournament and we got to watch the other Nor'Easter teams play, and to win is a bonus."
Pool play resumes today with a total of 63 contests. The 14U's will play at Prescott Park, while the 16U's will be in Belmont, and the 18U's in Laconia and Gilford. Single elimination finals are slated for Sunday afternoon (5:30) — 14Us at Prescott Park, 16Us at Bryant Field and 18Us at Memorial Park.
On Friday, Amanda Barton was outstanding in the pitcher's circle as the Nor'Easter 18U squad ended the first night of action in the big weekend with a solid victory. It was there 10th triumph in 11 games.
Barton allowed just two hits. The former Franklin High star, current pitcher for Southern New Hampshire University, struck out five in the first two innings including the side in order in the second.
The Nor'Easters scored the only run Barton would need in the second inningon a key two-out RBI single by Caitlin Bill. The local squad tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh inning.
Nor'Easter first baseman Mikayla Blake makes the catch as Vermont Bennington Bandit's Tori Rumbolt runs through the base during Nor'Easter Softball Classic action Friday. Rumbolt was safe on the play.
(Alan MacRae/for the Citizen)
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In the opener, the Nor'Easter 14U's received a stellar pitching performance from Sydney Strout in turning back the Blizzards. Strout scattered five hits (all singles) over seven innings, striking out six and walking none while allowing two runs (1 earned) for the win.
"Sidney pitched very well and we played very well defensively," Gilman said. "We made the plays we're supposed to make."
The Nor'Easters got on the board first, putting together a couple hits to push a run across in the second inning. Molly Dietrich, who was outstanding at second base, led off the inning with a single. She moved to second and scored on a fielder's choice by Sam Batchelder.
Vermont pulled even in the fourth only to watch the Nor'Easters storm back to take a 3-1 lead with solo runs in the fifth and sixth frames. Stout singled and took second on a passed ball before scoring on a Kim Allen RBI single. Strout helped her own cause as she knocked in the eventual winning run in the sixth with a single, scoring Claire Spaulding who ignited the rally with a single.
The Bandits pushed a run across in the sixth, but the local squad put another on the board in the seventh. Allen singled and Dietrich reached on a bunt single before Allen scored on a fielder's choice by Abby Harris.
It was a rough start in the second game and the Nor'Easter 16U squad, featuring eight first time players, could not recover. The Vermont Bandits took advantage of a handful of errors in scoring five runs in the first inning.
"What did I tell you last night? We had to play good 'D' and get some timely hits," Nor'Easter 16U coach Darci Blake said. "We didn't. We gave them five runs in the first and I think one was earned. And we had just five hits and three came in the last inning."
Vermont led 9-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh as the Nor'Easters also struggled at the plate. The Nor'Easters finished with five hits, all coming in the final two innings.
In the seventh, the local squad put together three hits to score both their runs. Kirtie Clark opened the inning with a single and Alicia Barney followed with an infield single. Both moved up a base on a fly out to left field and scored on a single by Mikayla Blake, making it 9-2.
Courtney DeCosta pitched well for the Nor'Easters, allowing eight hits over seven innings with three strikeouts and one hit batter.
"DeCosta pitched a good game. She didn't give up any big hits, no doubles or anything," pointed out coach Blake. "We're just not playing well right now. The first inning has been killing us all summer.
"We'll make some changes in the field and try to sure things up (today)," she added.
McKenna Caldwell and Whitney Roberts had the other two hits for the Nor'Easter 16's.
All three local teams will play twice today, at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The 14U's will play the Maine Riptide and N.H. Souhegan Valley Smash in Meredith, while the 14U team will be at Bryant Field in Belmont to play the Maine Frozen Ropes and N.H. Hornets Sting. The 18U squad faces the Maine Riptide and Conn. America's Game All-Stars.
