Local Roundup: Hanover Girls Pick Up Key Victory

Hanover — After losing its previous two games, the injury-plagued Hanover High girls lacrosse team enters the stretch run of the regular season knowing it may need to win out in order to qualify for the NHIAA Division II tournament.

The Marauders got off to a dominant start toward that target on Wednesday, as three players scored their first varsity goals in a 22-1 win over visiting Merrimack Valley.

Four starters are out with injuries, part of the reason junior varsity regulars such as sophomores Anna Kirkpatrick (goal, assist) and Riley Craft (goal) and freshman Eloise Davis (goal, assist) were called up against the Pride.

“We’re up against it now,” Hanover coach Chris Seibel said. “Every game is a must-win.”

Jasmine Lou and Wylie Lucas both scored four times, while Maddie McCorkle notched three goals and one assist. Cate Wagner (two assists) and Miranda Galbraith added two goals each, and Sabin Mitchell scored a goal with an assist. Maggie Lee also scored.

Starting goaltender Katelyn Hurd didn’t face a shot in the first half against Merrimack Valley (1-9), but backup Mariah Kealey was solid while making seven saves.

Hanover plays three of its next four on the road, beginning Friday at Hollis-Brookline (6-3).

Lebanon 17, InterLakes 11

Lebanon — Jessie Hastings scored six goals and Clara Cole and Megan Gradijan each had four goals and an assist to spur the Raiders (2-5) to their second consecutive victory.

“The last 12 minutes were the best lacrosse I’ve seen us play in two years,” said coach Sara Ecker.

Josie Hastings had two goals and an assist, Izzy Peress had a goal and three assists and Emma Hansen had an assist. Lena Nowell made 12 saves, several from point-blank range, for Lebanon, which visits Trinity on Friday.

Rice 15, Woodstock 8

South Burlington, Vt. — The Wasps fell to 1-5 after being knotted at halftime against the Wolves.

Brittney Poljacik scored three times and Izzy Jones had two goals for Woodstock, which was in a 5-5 deadlock at the break.

“(Rice) came out strong in the second half,” Woodstock coach Amanda Hull said. “They scored three times in the first couple of minutes.”

Sidney Pilot and Gina Sorrentino had a goal and an assist each, while Addie Gray scored once.

Maggie Parker made 10 saves for the Wasps, who host Burr & Burton on Friday.

Boys Lacrosse

Hartford 8, GMVS 4

White River Junction — The Hurricanes improved to 5-3.

Reece Thompson had a goal and three assists, Joe Batchelder scored twice, and Andrew Knight and Adam Parker scored one goal each for Hartford. Dawson Nalette added an assist.

Kyle Prior made 17 saves for Hartford, which visits Spaulding on Saturday morning.

InterLakes 11, Lebanon 10

Meredith, n.h. — The Raiders trailed, 11-5, entering the fourth quarter, but their comeback bid fell a goal short.

“We had a chance to tie it with 20 seconds left, but (the Lakers’ keeper) made the save,” Lebanon coach Rob Fett said. “It was an evenly matched game and a fun game.”

Nate Chickering had two goals, three assists and Aaron Damren and Jon Cloud both had two goals and two assists for Lebanon (1-7).

Jack Sandmann added two goals, and Brad Plodzik had a goal and two assists for the Raiders. Goalie Caiden Skakalski made 19 stops.

Baseball

KUA 13, Holderness 0

Holderness, n.h. — Perhaps remembering the team that ended their seven-game winning streak to open the season, the Wildcats blew out the Bulls in the rematch.

Kimball Union jumped to a 3-0 lead early, added four more runs in the second and wrapped up the game with a six-run fifth. Andrew Hadlock had four hits, Arlo Merritt delivered three, and Kyle Hammond and Noah Spaulding slapped two each for KUA. Hammond drove in four runs to go with two RBIs apiece from Merritt and Hadlock.

Pitcher Trey Parker made the most of the help, allowing just four hits and a walk against four strikeouts in a five-inning win. After visiting Cardigan Mountain in nonleague action on Saturday, KUA (8-2) will return home on Wednesday to host a first-round Lakes Region League playoff game.

Woodstock 16 Twin Valley 5 (5)

Woodstock — The Wasps collected 11 hits to help beat the Wildcats.

Caleb Webb (double, triple, four RBIs), Owen Tarleton (double, three RBIs, three runs) and Stephen Bianchi (two doubles, two runs, two RBIs) all went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Wasps, while pitcher Sam Mitchell surrendered eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts in the win.

Woodstock (3-4) visits Mount St. Joseph today.

Littleton 10 Woodsville 0 (5)

Littleton, n.h. — The Crusaders’ Derek Walker allowed just one hit and a walk in the abbreviated complete game as the Engineers slipped to 8-3.

Littleton only had four hits itself, but it was helped by 10 walks and a pair of Woodsville errors.

Tyren Hartford had the hit for Woodsville and pitched 2-plus innings of relief.

The Engineers host Groveton on Friday in their regular-season home finale.

Gilford 14, Mascoma 3

Gilford, n.h. — The Royals fell to 1-6.

Adidas Murphy went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, while starting pitcher Brennen Murphy surrendered eight hits and 11 earned runs in 2⅓ innings.

Mascoma hosts Fall Mountain on Friday.

Rutland 13, Hartford 6

White River Junction — The Raiders scored five runs in the sixth inning to break open a tie game, and the Hurricanes fell to 3-5.

“It was just a tough inning,” Hartford coach Jarrod Grassi said of the top of the sixth. “It was a combination where we kicked the ball around, had three errors in the inning and gave up three hits. We just couldn’t overcome it.”

Tyler Hamilton went 3-for-4 with three singles and a run, Hunter Perkins went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Alex Bushway went 2-for-2 for Hurricanes.

Freshman right fielder Jacob Dwinell added his first career hit for Hartford.

Kyle Hamilton allowed six runs on 10 hits with three walks and three strikeouts for the Hurricanes, throwing 94 pitches before being relieved after the fifth.

Fair Haven 11, Windsor 4

Fair Haven, Vt. — The Slaters rapped out 13 hits and took advantage of a key two-out error to build a five-run fourth inning that toppled a tired bunch of Yellowjackets (8-3).

“Our pitching is a little tired; we’re a little tired,” Windsor coach Jamie Richardson said of his team’s fifth game in eight days. “That was our fourth road game in the last six days. I think that’s why we’re a little tired right now.”

The rally broke open a 1-0 game in the home fourth. Fair Haven added a five-spot in the sixth to clinch the victory.

Seth Balch had two of Windsor’s seven hits, and Ryland Richardson doubled off the base of the left-field fence and later scored for the Jacks. Windsor is off until hosting Fair haven on Monday.

Softball

Woodstock 24, Twin Valley 8
Woodstock 13, Twin Valley 2

Woodstock — The Wasps (2-5) swept the Wildcats for their first wins of the season.

Cassie Hill had three extra-base hits, including a homer, with six RBIs in game one and a pair of singles and a triple in game two.

Sammi Yates hit two singles with a double and five RBIs in game one, while Emma Walker had three singles in game one and a triple in game two.

Lizzie Peck pitched both games for Woodstock, striking out four and allowing five hits in game one before striking out five in game two. Peck had a triple in game two to help her own cause.

Kennedy Moore had three singles in game two for Woodstock, which received strong defensive performances all day from center fielder Hill and second baseman Yates.

Woodstock visits Windsor on Monday.

Newport 14, Kearsarge 2 (5)

Newport — The Tigers (7-0) scored double-digit runs for the third straight game to help stay unbeaten.

Six players tallied one hit for Newport, while Lacey McNeel allowed four hits and one walk, striking out four in the abbreviated complete game. Kendall Hamilton had two runs and two RBIs.

The Tigers play a home-and-home doubleheader against rival Stevens on Friday, beginning at 3:30 in Newport.

Woodsville 17, Littleton 8

Littleton, n.h. — The Engineers (10-1) came from behind twice to win their fifth straight going away.

Morgan Wagstaff (three RBIs, two runs) and pitcher Alyssa Prest (run, three RBIs) both went 2-for-4 and Suzy Bazzell had a triple, three RBIs and two runs for Woodsville.

Prest allowed seven hits, three earned runs and one walk while striking out eight in a complete game for the Engineers.

Woodsville plays its regular-season home finale on Friday against Groveton.

White Mountains 12 Hanover 0 (5)

Whitefield, n.h. — Spartans sophomore Hailey Hicks retired all 15 Hanover batters in an abbreviated perfect game.

Samantha Gibbs pitched 4⅓ innings of relief for the Marauders, retiring the first three she faced in the third.

Emily LeBlanc made a diving put out at second base for Hanover, which visits Hollis-Brookline on Friday.

Rutland 10, Hartford 4

White River Junction — Three hits by Morgan Jones and two from Emily Ballou were not enough as the Hurricanes fell to the Raiders.

Three Hartford pitchers combined for eight strikeouts and eight walks. The Canes (4-6) travel to Mill River on Friday.

Trinity 11, Lebanon 10

Manchester — The Pioneers walked off with a hit in the bottom of the seventh to spoil Lebanon’s bid for its first win of the season.

Meghan Olney drove in three runs for the Raiders. Xandra Wishnefsky and Madison Tilton had two RBIs apiece, and Keira Hines had one. Tilton also combined with teammates Maddie Hunt and Allie Amature to turn a triple play in the third inning.

Hunt walked seven with no strikeouts in a complete game for the Raiders (0-10).

Derryfield 10, Sunapee 2

Sunapee — Three first-inning Sunapee errors contributed to four runs, and the visiting Cougars (7-1) won the first game of a two-day, home-and-home set with the Lakers (2-5).

Ellie Frederick finally silenced the Derryfield attack, fanning the last six batters she faced after a walk in the sixth to open her relief stint. Kalleigh Durkee singled home Frederick in the home first and Hannah Conney delivered Erin Moynihan (triple) in the fourth for Sunapee’s runs.

The two teams meet again today in Manchester.

Gilford 6, Mascoma 1

Gilford, n.h. — The Royals slipped to 2-5.

“We had some hits, just couldn’t string enough of them together,” Mascoma coach Billy O’Connell said.

Alyssa Hammond went 2-for-3, Sam Pecararo was 1-for-3 with a run scored and Theresa Curtis had an RBI fielder’s choice for Mascoma.

Raeleigh Mansur had one strikeout and four walks in a complete game for the Royals, who host Fall Mountain on Friday.

Girls Tennis

Woodstock 4, Stowe 3

Stowe, Vt. — The Wasps won a nail-biter against the rival Raiders on the road.

The No. 1 singles match was especially close, as Stowe’s Skylar Grave eked out a 6-4, 4-6, 11-9 win over the Wasps’ Momo Biele.

“That was probably the best tennis I’ve seen all year,” Woodstock coach Tom Hopewell said.

Grace Frazier (6-2, 6-0), Kenzie Biele (2-6, 6-4, 10-8) and Chloe Noble (6-4, 6-3) got singles wins for Woodstock, and the No. 1 doubles tandem of Lydia Howe and Olivia Marsicovetere prevailed, 6-1, 6-1, to clinch the win.

Hanover 9, Merrimack 0

Merrimack, n.h. — The Marauders (8-1) posted their third shutout in four matches by dominating the Tomahawks (1-10).

Hanover’s top four singles players — Mindy Wu, Bri Laycock, Ellen Lamm and Grace Li — rolled to 8-0 victories. Lamm and Carly Miles also posted a shutout victory at second doubles. Miles and Marta Sanchez accounted for the Marauders’ other singles wins.

Conant 9, Lebanon 0

Lebanon — The NHIAA Division III powerhouse Orioles swept to their ninth win in 10 matches, topping the Raiders (1-9) at the CCBA courts. Leah Mayes and Fatima Khan gave Lebanon its best shot at a point, dropping a 9-7 decision at first doubles.

The Raiders host Sanborn for a doubleheader today starting at 3:30 p.m.

Boys Tennis

Lebanon 8, Oyster River 1

Durham, n.h. — The Raiders (5-2) bounced back from Monday’s loss to undefeated Souhegan by dominating the Bobcats on the road.

Seamus Hickey’s 9-8 nailbiter at third singles proved the tightest win of the day for Lebanon. Pedro Izquierdo-Sacristan, Owen Johnstone, Cameron Magari and Erik Spaulding posted the Raiders’ other victories. Izquierdo-Sacristan and Johnstone united at No. 1 to key the sweep of doubles play.

The Raiders return to the seacoast for a date at St. Thomas today.

Hanover 9, Merrimack 0

Hanover — The Marauders (9-1) won their ninth straight match to stay among the top three teams in NHIAA Division I.

Hanover didn’t give up more than two games in any of its matches. Will Tarnowski, Chris Lee and Matt Bonner posted 8-0 sweeps in the bottom three singles positions. Lincoln Adam joined Will Blinkhorn for an 8-0 shutout at second doubles, a result Gary Li and Alec McDevitt repeated at No. 3.

Brattleboro 6, Woodstock 1

Woodstock — The Wasps (1-3) kicked off a run of six matches over the next six school days by dropping a closer-than-it-appeared contest to the Colonels.

Second doubles tandem Justin Kopf and Noah Anderson claimed Woodstock’s sole point with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Brattleboro’s Rowan Kidder and Ben Diamondstone. The Wasps had chances to take the match, dropping a 7-6 (2), 2-6, 10-7 contest at first doubles as well as close encounters at fourth and fifth singles.

College Baseball

Dartmouth 12, Middlebury 1

Hanover — Michael Calamari launched a three-run home run, his team-best fifth round-tripper of the campaign, and the Big Green (16-20-1) cruised to its fifth straight win, beating the Division III Panthers (16-16) at Biondi Park.

Six Dartmouth pitchers combined on a seven-hitter. Starter Tyler Fagler worked the first three frames, allowing two hits and hitting a batter but holding Middlebury without a run for the victory.

Up 1-0, Dartmouth used a six-run third inning to take control. Matt Feinstein, Blake Crossing, Steffen Torgersen, Justin Fowler and Bennett McCaskill all accounted for two hits on a 14-hit day for the Big Green.

Dartmouth closes its season with a crucial three-game set at Harvard on Sunday and Monday, with a berth in the Ivy League Championship Series on the line.

Equestrian

Dartmouth’s BattonTo Retire Next Year

Hanover — Dartmouth College equestrian head coach Sally Batton has announced that she will retire following the 2018-19 season.

Next season will be her 29th with the Big Green and her 35th coaching equestrian at the college level. The American Riding Instructors Association instructor of the year in 2008, Batton is currently the fourth-longest tenured head coach on Dartmouth’s staff.

Batton has led the Dartmouth equestrian team to five Ivy titles and has also sent numerous Dartmouth riders to the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association national championships. Olivia Champ was the latest, coming home fourth in the country in Individual Open Fences.

College Softball

Doepking Honored

Princeton, n.j. — Dartmouth coach Shannon Doepking earned her second Ivy League softball coach of the year award on Wednesday, and six of her players landed on the all-league team.

Doepking guided the Big Green to a 16-5 league mark, good for first place to secure hosting rights for this weekend’s league championship series. Dartmouth is 22-16 overall.

Freshman catcher Schae Nelson landed the Ivy rookie of the year award along with a unanimous first-team all-Ivy selection. Pitcher Breanna Ethridge made the first team unanimously as well, and third baseman Morgan Martinelli and outfielder Taylor Ward also earned first-team mention. Pitcher Heather Turner and second baseman Micah Schroder landed on the second team.