Woodstock Bites Bulldogs

Woodstock — Loretta Blakeney hit for the cycle during the Woodstock High softball team’s 18-8 victory Monday over Burr & Burton. The junior catcher produced hits during each of her four at-bats and drove in seven runs, lifting the surprising Wasps to 6-2.

“The first few innings were a slugfest,” said Woodstock coach Jane Hoisington. “Things settled down in the fourth and fifth innings when people’s heads got back in it. I think that’s what happens when you don’t have any games or practices over the weekend.”

The Wasps aren’t in the habit of starting the season so well. The program was 0-15 during Hoisington’s first season, 3-11 in her second campaign and 7-10 with a first-round playoff exit last spring. The coach said her five-member junior class and the three seniors who have stuck with the sport through tough times have combined to lift the team’s fortunes.

“When I first came, the softball IQ was a little low,” Hoisington said. “The previous coach had taught them to throw to first base on every infield play, so I had to break them of that habit.

“Our baserunning is better, and we make better decisions at those certain times when there’s so much deciding to be done.”

Woodstock High pitcher Maddie Moore allowed seven hits, none after the third inning, while striking out six Bulldogs and walking none. Moore had four hits as a batter. Burr & Burton, a Vermont Division I team, fell to 1-5.

Blakeney smacked a three-run home run and Hannah Reali had three hits. Kaila Lemmer and Heather Blanchard each had two hits. Wasps shortstop Gabbi Rozumek, also a standout soccer player who plans to compete in that sport at Rhode Island’s Roger Williams University starting in the fall, had one hit.

“These kids have learned a lot of softball,” Hoisington said, noting that Woodstock and the towns from which its high school draw do not have youth softball programs. “We had to teach them to believe in themselves, because two years ago, they were not sure. You get a little success, and it builds on itself.”

So can fans expect a deep Division II playoff run? Hoisington, whose team visits Green Mountain on Thursday, makes no promises, although she notes the program has received a boost from second-year assistant Alyssa Smith, a health and physical education teacher at the school who played at St. Thomas High in Dover, N.H., and at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania.

“I’m cautiously keeping it to one game at a time,” Hoisington said. “There are a lot of good softball teams we’re going to run into at some point, and we just want to give them good games.”

— Tris Wykes

Sunapee 4, Newport 1

Newport — Katie Frederick allowed one earned run, recorded six strikeouts in seven innings and helped herself with three hits and two runs scored as the Lakers stayed perfect.

Lexie Hamilton had two hits and Faith Larpenter added two hits and two RBIs. Meg Frederick had two hits and made four plays at second base to keep the Tigers off the board, including a relay throw to home in the bottom of the sixth.

Newport scored its run in the seventh inning, a triple by Samantha McNeel and an RBI single by Stephanie Carl. Carl recorded six strikeouts and one walk in seven innings. Sunapee (9-0) takes on Moultonborough on the road today. Newport (3-4) plays a doubleheader against Stevens on Wednesday.

Hartford 8, Bellows Falls 7

Westminster, Vt. — The Hurricanes survived a late charge by the Terriers to improve to 6-3.

Hartford led 8-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning before Bellows Falls rallied for five runs to make things a bit close for comfort.

Rachel Loseby turned in a strong all-around game, starting with a two-out diving catch in right field to prevent a Terrier run from scoring in the third inning. Loseby then came on in relief in the bottom of the seventh and recorded the final three outs for the save.

Brooke Hurd started in the circle for Hartford, pitching into the seventh inning while walking five, allowing three hits and striking out two.

Kelsey Mason was 4-for-4 with a double and four RBIs, and Jordyn Pallmerine added two hits.

Oxbow 22, Lamoille 1 (5)

Bradford, Vt. — Mary Bourgeois recorded nine strikeouts in five innings, allowing two hits and one run for the Olympians.

Corrina Oakley had three hits, including a home run, and drove in five runs. Alex Giesing had four hits and two RBIs, and Bourgeois helped herself with two hits, a double and four RBIs.

Thetford 13, Blue Mountain 11

Thetford — Maddy Kingsbury finished off the Panthers’ offensive day with a three-run homer in the the fifth inning, building enough of a lead for Thetford to prevail.

Taylor Hollis recorded six strikeouts and allowed 13 hits in seven innings of work, although she ran into trouble in the final two innings as Blue Mountain’s batters caught up to her.

Woodsville 13, Profile 3

Franconia, n.h. — Alyssa Prest tossed a complete-game six-hitter, striking out eight while walking just one, to lead the Engineers (7-3).

Nikita Duling led Woodsville’s 15-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with three doubles and two RBIs. Gabby Taylor also was 3-for-4 and drove in two. Tori Clough added three hits. The Engineers visit Gorham on Wednesday.

Whitcomb-Rochester 13Black River 8

Rochester, Vt. — The Mountaineers amassed 14 hits in what Whitchester head coach Ray Colton called his team’s best game offensively so far this year.

Leadoff batter Lindsey LaPerle had three hits, including a double and scored five runs. Hailey Meers had four hits, including a double, and added five RBIs; Avery Palmer added three hits, three runs scored and three RBIs; and Laura Vaillancourt had two hits and two RBIs.

Vaillancourt pitched seven innings, walked seven, allowed seven hits and recorded seven strikeouts.

Whitchester (3-6) will travel to Blue Mountain on Thursday.

Manchester West 14, Lebanon 12

Lebanon — Sydney Broughton hit two home runs and Maddy Tilton hit one home run for the Raiders.

Kristen Anderson pitched a complete game. Daisy Haley added a triple. Lebanon’s defense was able to turn two double plays, and the Raiders’ offense had its most productive game since a 17-1 win over Hanover on April 22.

Lebanon (1-6) travels to Milford on Wednesday.

Newfound 19, Mascoma 7

Bristol, n.h. — The Royals scored seven runs for the third time this season, falling to Newfound.

The Bears won for the third time in five games. Mascoma (0-10) continues its search for a victory on the road against Kearsarge on Wednesday.

Baseball Sunapee 13, Newport 3

Newport — The Lakers scored eight times with two outs in fifth inning to widen the gap against the Tigers.

Cade Robinson led the offense with three hits and three RBIs, Will Austin added three hits and three RBIs, and Mike Platt had two hits and two RBIs for the Lakers. Austin also recorded seven strikeouts and four walks, surrendered three hits and allowed two earned runs in seven innings of work. Ben Robinson added one hit and three RBIs and Matt Nangeroni had a hit and two RBIs.

Sunapee (8-1) travels to Moultonborough today.

Woodstock 9, Long Trail 5

Woodstock — The Wasps picked up their first victory after beginning the season with six losses. The Mountain Lions tumbled to 1-4.

Kyle Weirether belted a three-run home run during the first inning for Woodstock, and Devin Mumford had three hits and an RBI. Starting pitcher Joe Bianchi went four innings and reliever Cody Chase the last three. The pair combined on a seven-hitter.

Woodstock hosts Twin Valley on Wednesday.

Woodsville 14, Profile 3

Franconia, n.h. — The Engineers (7-3) piled up the runs in beating the Patriots.

Eric Thornton led the attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and two stolen bases. Mike Dennis was 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Seanon May added two hits and scored three times.

Seth Hannett pitched the first five innings to pick up the victory, allowing just two hits and no earned runs while striking out three. Zach Moore added two innings of relief, fanning two.

Woodsville visits Gorham on Wednesday.

Souhegan 14, Lebanon 2

Lebanon — The Sabers broke it open late to hand the Raiders (2-7) a tough loss on their home field.

Lebanon led 1-0 after two innings and was within three runs through five before Souhegan pulled away. Derek Griffin started for the Raiders, pitching 5 innings and allowing seven earned runs.

Andrew Hadlock was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Alex Bitler had a triple. Lebanon visits Windham this afternoon.

Mascoma 9, Newfound 5

Bristol, n.h. — The Royals broke things open with four runs in the fifth inning to pick up a much-needed victory.

Derek French started for Mascoma (3-7) and went the first 5 innings, striking out four, walking four and allowing one earned run. Jordan Deford and Tyler Warner combined to close things out in relief.

Anthony Sperry was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. Ethan Brueckner was 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs. Jonny Raymond had two hits and drove in two. Oscar Brueckner was 2-for-3 and scored a run.

Mascoma visits Stevens this afternoon.

Milford 9, Hanover 5

Norwich — Playing for the first time in nine days, the Marauders fell to 3-5 with a lost to the Spartans at the Dresden Athletic Field.

Kyle Silovich allowed four hits and seven earned runs over 2 innings for the loss, with Jake Brendel, Charlie Goodrich and Marc Hampers relieving. Will Smith had two hits and two RBIs, Moises Celeya added two runs and two hits, and Brendel had one run and one hit. 

The Marauders (3-5) travel to Souhegan on Wednesday.

Lamoille 9, Oxbow 2

Bradford, Vt. — The Olympians (3-6) were their own worst enemy, committing six errors in falling to the visiting Lancers.

Eddie White pitched the first five innings for Oxbow, giving up nine hits and nine runs, only two of which were earned, while striking out two.

The Olympians, who mustered just three hits of their own, will visit Northfield today.