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6.0 years ago by Celina Lariviere

2017 Upper Valley High School Softball Preview

2017 Upper Valley High School Softball Preview

  • The Sunapee softball team celebrates after the NHIAA D-IV championship against Gorham at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, N.H., on June 11, 2016. Sunapee won, 2-1. (Valley News- Sarah Priestap) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Purchase a reprint »

  • Woodstock's Loretta Blakeney. (Valley News - Tris Wykes)

  • Whitchester's Brianna Hillier. (Valley News - Tris Wykes)

  • Hartford's Rachel Loseby. (Valley News - Tris Wykes)

 
Saturday, April 22, 2017

 

Sunapee kept up its dominance of NHIAA Division IV athletics with an undefeated state title last year. Autumn, winter, spring — it doesn’t seem to matter: The Lakers have ended a campaign holding hardware every season except one for seven seasons running.

Eight will take work, but Sunapee has the potential to keep the run going. Four championship-tested seniors back a roster itching to defend last year’s championship. It’ll take someone else’s special effort to knock them off. Oxbow (VPA D-III finalist), Woodsville (NHIAA D-IV quarterfinalist) and Woodstock also are showing promise.

Meanwhile, a bunch of programs are concentrating on construction. Hanover (with a new home field), Mascoma (nearly in one), Windsor and Rivendell all went winless in 2016, and Lebanon has hired its third coach in as many years. All seek the playoffs; all will work on the basics in order to get there.

— Compiled by Valley News sports editor Greg Fennell and correspondent Poody Walsh.

 
Coach: Jessica Belley (2).
Last Year: 0-18, missed tournament.
League: New Hampshire Division III.
Returnees: Seniors — Hee Eun Kim (2B), Hallie Scarbrough (OF). Sophomores — Becca Wilson (P), Daria Gundermann (OF).

Newcomers: Junior — Caitlin Vollmann (OF). Freshmen — Katrina Randall (OF), Kelley Finley (IF), Arabella Meachum-Snyder (IF), Bella Bardales (C), Sophia Nadeau (IF), Emily LeBlanc (OF), Samantha Gibbs (P), Olivia Peterson (OF).

Analysis: After a winless 2016, the Marauders begin the new season with three optimistic notes: They have their own diamond at Norwich’s Dresden Athletic Fields, a hopefully easier schedule in NHIAA Division III and more pitching depth than last year. “Last year, I had only one pitcher; this year, I have two,” second-year coach Jessica Belley said. “Lot of potential for some solid play. Girls are young, but maturing.”

 

Hartford

Coach: Gary Gervais (9).

Last Year: 7-10, lost to BFA- Fairfax in first round.

Leagues: Vermont Division II, Marble Valley League.

Returnees: Seniors — Rachel Loseby (OF/P), Brianna Wardwell (OF/2B), Brooke Hurd (P/SS), Jasmyn Rogers (C/OF), Jordyn Pallmerine (1B). Juniors — Emily Ballou (OF), Kylee Beaucage (3B).

Newcomers: Juniors — Samantha Walz (2B/OF/P), Hannah Ballou (OF), Jessica Roberts (C/OF), Hannah Cooney (OF/3B), Morgan Jones (C/OF). Sophomore — Kelsie Thibodeau (3B/OF). Freshman — Kendyl Boisvert (2B/OF).

Analysis: “We have to replace some key people that played up the middle,” coach Gary Gervais said. “Still trying to find the right people for the right job. Looking forward to watching the players grow and hopefully have a home playoff game. Our hope is to get better as the season goes along.”

 

Lebanon

Coach: Ray Petterson (1).

Last Year: 2-14, missed tournament.

League: New Hampshire Division II.

Returnees: Seniors — Kristen Anderson (P), Sydney Broughton (2B), Sophie Hammond (RF), Madison Tilton (1B). Juniors — Julia Tibbits (SS), Xandra Wishnefsky (3B).

Newcomers: Senior — Kayla Boisvert (UT). Juniors — Madison Hunt (3B), Andrea Field (CF). Sophomores — Brooke Silver (SS), Meghan Olney (LF).

Analysis: The rebuilding of the Lebanon program continues, with Ray Petterson taking over for Kassie Dunkerton as the Raiders’ third coach in as many years. Lebanon has already had some success, getting a win last week over Trinity, Petterson’s first victory as bench boss. “We have a lot of work to be done,” he said. “Probably not going to be a high-scoring season.”

Mascoma

Coach: Bill O’Connell (2).

Last Year: 0-16, missed tournament.

League: New Hampshire Division III.

Returnees: Seniors — Kate Ferland (IF), Ashlynn Moses (IF), Pashents White (OF), Emma Grodan (C). Juniors — Kayla Hammond (IF/OF), Raeleigh Mansur (P/C) , Emma Mulherin (IF/OF), Sarah Ruel (CF).

Newcomers: Juniors — Alyssa Hammond (OF), Abby Duhaime (IF). Sophomore — Morgan Prentiss (IF).

Analysis: The numbers are up, and so is coach Bill O’Connell’s assessment of his team, which is hoping to take over a new diamond on campus in the next two weeks. The Royals remain at Enfield’s Shaker Park until then. “Everybody has returned, and we are going to have a full junior varsity team,” he said. “There is hope, promise and experience.”

 

Newport

Coach: Sam McNeel (2).

Last Year: 11-6, lost to Belmont in second round of tourney.

League: New Hampshire Division III.

Returnees: Seniors — Gabby Swanson (OF), Hannah Clark (IF/OF), Hope Hibbard (OF). Juniors — Stacia Dame (C), Kendall Hamilton (CF), Hailey Perry (SS). Sophomores — Megan Howard (3B), Lexy Page (2B), Elizabeth Trombly (LF).

Newcomers: Senior — Kayla Johnson (OF). Junior — Rachel Stark (OF). Freshmen — Lacey McNeel (P/1B), Alyssa Burr (P/1B).

Analysis: The Tigers have some important vacancies to fill, having lost two senior pitchers along with a large part of their defense. “Graduation took the whole infield,” coach Sam McNeel said. “It’s going to come down to how our freshmen pitchers come along. It would be nice to finish over .500.”

 

Oxbow

Coach: Robin Wozny (28).

Last Year: 17-1, fell in championship game to Richford.

League: Vermont Division III.

Returnees: Seniors — Mary Bourgeois (P), Kayleigh Trojanowski (SS), Alex Giesing (3B), Sara Walker (CF), Britteny Brocar (UT), Shannon Boyce (UT). Juniors — Bailee Wheeler (C), Erika Slicer (UT), Alyssa Rollins (P).

Newcomers: Sophomores — Madison Fornwalt (2B), Kaysea Neil (LF), Schyler Hanzas (RF).

Analysis: After going undefeated until running into Richford in last spring’s state final, the Olympians remain capable of achieving lofty goals. “Our expectations are pretty high,” said Wozny during last week’s spring break trip to Florida, where the O’s stayed at the Disney sports complex. “A lot is expected of this team.”

 

Rivendell

Coach: Don Mitchell (2).

Last Year: 0-13, lost to eventual state champion Richford in first round.

Leagues: Vermont Division III, Central Vermont League.

Returnees: Senior — McKenna Binford (2B). Juniors — Sierra Longto (P/3B), Kirstyn Binford (CF), Britnee Sargent (OF). Freshmen — Caitlyn Kilmer (1B), Eadie Molesworth (OF), Katelyn Woodbeck (P/3B).

Newcomers: Seniors — Gabrielle Miles (SS), Jessica Noyes (RF), Lizzie Pozniak (C), Morgan Dexter (LF/1B). Juniors — Meggan Thresher (OF), Taylor Thurston (OF). Eight grade — Natalie Martin (P).

Analysis: The Raptors remain a work in progress, one to which coach Don Mitchell optimistically approaches. Numbers continue to improve, although Rivendell is drawing eighth-grade help for roster depth for a second straight year. Mitchell expects pitching and catching to be strengths as the Raptors search for their first win in two years and their first winning record since 2009.

“They are a fairly talented bunch,” Mitchell said. “We’re looking for a .500 record, maybe better. It’s probably the best team we’ve had in the last five years.”

 

South Royalton

Coach: Roger McCrillis (32).

Last Year: 8-8, lost in first round to Blue Mountain.

Leagues: Vermont Division IV, Central Vermont League.

Returnees: Seniors — Mara Southworth (P/2B), Anna Meeks (2B/P), Courtney Kondi (3B/P/C), Maegan Carbino (1B/OF). Juniors — Grace Pease (SS/3B), Grace Frary (CF). Sophomore — Paige Ballentine (RF/P).

Newcomers: Seniors — Emma Hudson (CF), Katya Brown (LF). Junior — Hulda Havstam (LF). Sophomores — Iris Hudson (C/SS), Mikayla Christie (RF). Freshmen — Macey Carbino (2B/OF), Emily Hemond (OF).

Analysis: The Royals have some rebuilding to do, particularly in the circle. “We have no returning pitchers, and we have a lot of new people in new positions,” longtime coach Roger McCrillis noted. “I think our defense will be OK, and the pitching will come around. If we get close to the .500 mark, it will be a good season.”

 

Stevens

Coach: Melissa Nichols (2).

Last Year: 7-10, lost to Raymond in the first round.

League: New Hampshire Division III.

Returnees: Seniors — Marti Milan (SS), Emma Shea (2B), Amber Duford (C). Juniors — Riley Brown (3B), Alexis Ford (1B). Sophomores — Sarah Ruest (P), Madison Lapsley (P), Katelyn Chambers (CF/1B), Jenna Pond (SS/OF/P), Ashlynn Marsh (LF), Jamie Barry (3B).

Newcomers: Sophomores — Maddie Ferland (1B/3B), Amelia Parizo (UT). Freshmen — Tanner Brown (OF), Ellie Grenier (IF).

Analysis: “I expect this team to pick up where it left off last year, giving their all,” coach Missy Nichols said. “We have two returning pitchers who were very successful as freshmen. Not losing anyone from last year’s team and the experience they gained will only make us stronger as a team.”

 

Sunapee

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