The 2009 Nor'Easter Softball Classic concluded Sunday with three new tournament champions here in the Lakes Region.

The Maine Frozen Ropes edged Connecticut's America's Game All Stars 7-6 for the 18U crown. Bedford's New England Hornets prevailed in the 16U bracket, edging the Southern Maine Flame 1-0. The Souhegan Smashers rounded things out with a 3-0 win over the Boston Bat Busters for the 14U title.

The three local Nor'Easter teams battled against the Classic's largest ever field of 48 teams this weekend. They also had to overcome the weather, which juggled start times and shortened games throughout the tournament.

"This tournament couldn't have happened this weekend without the help of the Nor'Easter parents, Laconia Parks and Rec, Meredith Parks and Rec and the Laconia Men's Softball League," Tournament Director Dick Dumais said. "It took a tremendous amount of effort to get our fields in playable condition Saturday morning."

Sunday marked the single-elimination portion of the tournament after two days of pool play for seeding. The Nor'Easter 18Us and 16Us each fell in the second round. The Nor'Easter 14Us lost in the first round.

The Nor'Easter 18s steamrolled the Vermont Extreme 10-1 early Sunday before being eliminated by America's Game and Kelli Connors' no hitter. Southern New Hampshire University's Amanda Barton went the distance in defeat, surrendering three earned runs on six hits. She had four strikeouts.

"Amanda didn't have her best stuff," Nor'Easter 18U coach Tom Carr said, "but to get six hits off of her... you've got some hitters."

It was the second time the Nor'Easter 18s played America's Game in the tournament and their second shutout loss to the eventual runners-up. They managed just four hits against AG pitcher Erin Miller Saturday in their final game of pool play. America's Game scored two runs on four consecutive hits in the third inning of Sunday's elimination matchup. It added another run in the fourth and held on for a 3-0 triumph.

"They had fun," Carr said of his group. "They finished the season well and had a good summer. We have a lot of them coming back (next year)."

The 18s had plenty of fun in Sunday's first-round rout. Caitlin Jobin went 3 for 4 with two runs, Danielle Dean had a pair of hits and the Nor'Easters scored three runs in both the third and fifth innings. They led 5-0 after three, plenty of run support for pitcher Caitlin Bill, who tossed a two-hitter with no walks and two strikeouts.

The Nor'Easter 16U team fell 3-1 in the second round to the eventual champion New England Hornets, giving up two unearned runs in the first inning on defensive miscues. Plymouth's Courtney DeCosta was the tough-luck loser on the mound, allowing just an earned run on four hits with three strikeouts.

The Nor'Easter 16s' lone run came in the second inning when Alicia Barney doubled home Whitney Roberts from first base. It was a 2-1 game until the Hornets pushed home an insurance run in the fifth.

The 16s won 4-0 over the Maine Pride in the first round to advance behind Roberts' one-hitter over seven innings. Roberts finished with six strikeouts.

"We played well the first game," Nor'Easter 16U coach Darci Blake said. "It seems like every inning we make an error costs us a run lately — and it cost us in the first (inning against the Hornets).

"We didn't have a lot of strikeouts. We just seemed to hit the ball right at them."

Against the Pride, the Nor'Easters pulled away with a three-run fifth. They loaded the bases on singles by Jenna Marchione and Kirtie Clark and a walk by Roberts. Barney then tabbed an RBI fielder's choice before Faye Roberts and Makayla Blake produced RBI singles. They had gone ahead 1-0 in the first inning on Whitney Roberts' RBI triple.

Coach Seth Gilman's 14U squad was bounced in the first round, 3-2, by the Southern Maine Smashers. The Nor'Easters scored both of their runs in the third inning. Abbie Roy walked and scored on a passed ball and Kim Allen drove home Casey Curly with an RBI single.

Sydney Strout started and took the loss on the hill for the 14s, allowing seven hits. She fanned two and walked none.

"We played OK," Gilman said. "It was a decent tournament. There are always going to be mistakes. Unfortunately, this time they came back to bite us."