Spring 2005

WINNISQUAM

Coming off a tough 2004 season, Winnisquam is hoping to make a turnaroundthis spring. The Bears bring back a number of players from last season’ssquad, but they must remain healthy if they are going to make some noise inClass M. Currently, five players are sidelined due to injury and if the listkeeps growing it could be a long season for Winnisquam. "We have a healthy attitude of loving the game," said Winnisquam coach DaveRogacki. "We’re focused on rebuilding the program with fundamentals." The Bears will be looking to make a return trip to the postseason after a2-15 year that saw them on the outside of the tournament looking in.Winnisquam has four healthy starters ready to make their debut in seniorRyan DeRoy (C/SS); and sophomores Bryan Ploof (2B/C), Ernie Woods (OF, P)and Joe Robinson (P, OF). WRHS also returns senior Mark Hebert (2B/OF), junior Kevin Tibetts (C/1B/P)and sophomore Corey Gilmore (P/OF). Also expect seniors Jake Dorval(P/2B/SS), Erik Ellingsen (P/1B) and Chad Laplante (P/OF) and junior FosterSt. Cyr (SS/P) to make major contributions when they return from injuries. For Winnisquam, a host of newcomers could also see playing time this season.Look for junior Marty Samms (P/OF) and freshmen Danny Rose (3B/C), JustinDawalga (P/1B), and Matt Kievit (SS/2B/OF). It will be a test right off the bat for Winnisquam as it hosts Class Mnewcomer Prospect Mountain Monday.

Winnisquam

Division: Class M

Coach: Kevin Dame (3rd year)

Last year: 13-6, lost in quarterfinals

Returning starters: Michelle Labranche, sr., 1B; Chelsea Welch, sr., 2B; Amanda Lowrey, jr., SS; Erin Roark, jr., C; Ashley Reynolds, jr., OF

Top newcomers: Ali Keith, fr., P; Caitlin St. Onge, so., 3B/OF; Kiley French

Outlook: The Bears return four starting infielders who have been playing together for three years now. There should be better team speed on the basepaths, as well as better velocity from the circle, but the Bears lost some pitching experience as well. That means the defense will have to be on its toes as freshman Keith gets her bearings.

"We will have to make the plays behind her while she learns to better spot her pitches," said Coach Kevin Dame, who said is team is "looking to establish a solid lineup and improve every game to compete with a very tough Class M.

Winnisquam 15, Prospect Mountain 2  (April 12, 2005)

TILTON — Ali Keith scattered five hits over five innings, striking out six, as Winnisquam opened its season with a 15-2 triumph over Prospect Mountain in Class M action.

"Ali did a nice job throwing strikes and we made most the plays," Winnisquam coach Kevin Dame said. "Overall I’m pretty happy."

Keith helped her own cause, going 2 for 4 at the plate with a triple and double to drive in four runs. Chelsea Welch went 1 for 2 with two walks, 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Erin Roark went 1-3 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBIs.

Caroline Dehart (single), Ashley Bishop (double), and Heather Hammes (single) all played well for the Timberwolves

"I didn’t feel bad going home," said Prospect Mountain coach Kammi Reynolds. "I actually felt good about the game today. Winnisquam is a top eight team and they had a lot of big hits today. We went in looking to see where we are at and now we know what we have to work on."

Winnisquam 11, Prospect Mountain 1 (6 innings) (April 12, 2005)

TILTON — Coming off a disappointing season, the Bears came out strong in 2005 with the mercy rule victory.

Jake Dorval got it done on both sides of the ball for WRHS, scattering five hits while striking out two and walking only one. At the plate he had two hits and two RBI with a run scored.

Also for the Winnisquam, Bryan Ploof went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, Foster St. Cyr had two hits and two runs, and Dan Rose added a pair of hits with a run scored.

The Timberwolves were paced by Alex Bourdeau who doubled and later scored on a single by Luke Lafreniere. Bourdeau finished with a pair of hits and Austin Atkins and Bryce St. Cyr had the other hits for PMHS.

BELMONT  Sat 4/16

— The Somersworth boys track team took first in a seven-team Class M

track meet and the girls were second on Saturday.The boys won with a score of 109 points. White Mountains was second with 89 and Winnisquam was third at 85. Belmont finished fifth with 68.5 points.Jake Schanck, Brendan Castro and Craig Wheeler all won one event apiece for

the Hilltoppers. Schanck was first in the discus with a throw of 117 feet,

10 inches, Wheeler won the triple jump at 37-10 1/2, and Castro was first in

the long jump with a leap of 18-4 1/4.Schanck was also second in the javelin (142-9), and sixth in the shot put (35-6 1/2). Wheeler was third in the 100-meter dash (11.8 seconds) and the

200-meter dash (23.9 seconds). Nick Curtis was fourth in the long jump (16-1

1/4) and third in the discus (112-8 1/2).The girls were second with 95 points. Winnisquam was first with 129 points. Belmont was third with 71 points.Emily Desharnais won both the 100 and 200 for the Hilltoppers. Her time in

the 100 was 13.2 seconds, and her time in the 200 was 28.1 seconds. She also

took fifth in the long jump (12-9 3/4).Danika Ham won the javelin with a throw of 115-6, and the high jump at a

height of 4-8. She was second in the triple jump at 30-1/4, and third in the

shot put (26-1 1/2).Nikki Drolet took second in the 300-meter hurdles (:56.2), as well as third

in both the 100-meter hurdles (:19.2) and 100 dash (:14.5).The Hilltoppers will be at Newfound on Tuesday.

Winnisquam 2, Belmont 1  April 18, 2005

TILTON — Belmont responded after Winnisquam knotted the contest in the bottom of the seventh, plating three runs in the eighth to salvage a split of a Class M twin bill with a 9-6 triumph.

In the first of two battles that went down to the final innings, Winnisquam scored two runs in the top of the seventh to capture a 2-1 victory. With the split, Winnisquam stands at 3-2 and Belmont is 2-2 on the season.

"We didn’t execute all day," said Winnisquam coach Kevin Dame. "We had a lot of scoring opportunities, but we just didn’t capitalize. We really let a lot of good chances go by the board."

Jackie Royea and Ali Keith were locked into a tight pitching duel in the opener. Keith allowed just 1 hit and hit a batter while striking out 2 in seven innings, while Royea gave up 4 hits and a walk while fanning 9.

Belmont broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the sixth when Ebony Phillips scored on two errors. The Bears came right back in the seventh. Erin Roark started the rally with a single and Ashley Reynolds (2 for 3) reached on an error. A sacrifice and an error brought in the tying run before Heidi Miller brought in the winning run with a ground out.

Winnisquam 13, Gilford 3 (6 innings)  April 20, 2005

GILFORD — Winnisquam continues to impress as it ran its record to 3-2 with a solid 13-3, six inning victory over area foe Gilford.

The Golden Eagles dropped to 0-5 in Class M with the loss.

"We’re getting there," said Winnisquam coach Dave Rogacki. "We got rid of the attitude and we’re very positive."

Ryan DeRoy led the way for Winnisquam as he went 2-for-4 and scored two runs. Matt Kievit also contributed as he was 1-3 and scored a run.

Tom Snow (1-3, RBI), Kurt Leach (double, 1-2), D.J. Feehily (2-3, double) and Eric Ostrand (1-3, single) paced Gilford.

Joe Robinson and Ernie Woods pitched well for Winnisquam.

"We got off to a bad start then we played well," said Gilford coach John Lord. "We were working our way back and then we had another bad inning. We had a bad first and sixth innings."

Winnisquam hosts Hopkinton Friday while Gilford entertains Littleton.

Winnisquam 9, Newfound 1 May 2, 2005

BRISTOL — Winnisquam hammered out three home runs and received steady pitching from Chad LaPlante and Corey Gilmore in a 9-1 Class M victory over host Newfound. Winnisquam improved to 4-3 and Newfound dropped to 2-6.

The Winnisquam Bears owned a 1-0 lead when they belted two home runs, including a grand slam by Gilmore, in a five-run third inning. Gilmore went 2-3 with a run and 5 RBIs. Winnisquam also received big games from Ryan DeRoy (2 hits, home run) and Jake Dorval (3-3, HR, 3 runs).

LaPlante allowed just four hits over five innings for the win, while Gilmore gave up just one hit in two innings of work. Mark Hebert played a strong game at second base.

For Newfound, Mike Dade went 2-3 with a double. Julian Carr started on the mound and took the loss. Freshman Garrett Jewell pitched three strong innings in relief, allowing just 1 earned run.

Both teams are on the road Wednesday, Winnisquam at Prospect Mountain and Newfound at Littleton.

In JV action, Winnisquam rallied for an 8-6 win over Newfound. Connor Ouellette and Rob Hallowell each went 2-4 and had several RBI’s. Jacob Weeman had 6 strikeouts before yielding to Zach Lyford who got the win and struck out 5.

Winnisquam 13, Newfound 1 May 2, 2005

BRISTOL — Winnisquam got a hit from every starter in a 13-1 Class M triumph over host Newfound, improving to 5-3 on the season. Newfound slips to 0-8.

The Bears pushed their lead to 5-1 with two runs in the fifth and plated seven in the sixth to put the game away. Erin Roark (2-4, RBI), Heidi Miller (2-4, run, 3 RBIs) and Jenna Goss (2-3, run) powered Winnisquam’s 13 hit attack.

“We came out sloppy after vacation week … we made some base running mistakes,” Winnisquam coach Kevin Dame said. “Our bats really got going, which was nice to see.”

Ali Keith tossed a five-hitter to pick up the win. The freshman pitcher finished with three strikeouts

Thursday, June 2, 2005

WRHS shocks defending champs

BERLIN — There will be a new Class M softball champion this year.
Winnisquam Regional made sure of that , upsetting fifth-seeded Berlin 3-2 in the preliminary round of the tournament on Wednesday.
The 12th seeded Bears now advance to the quarterfinals to face rival Franklin at Plymouth State University on Saturday evening (6:30). Franklin moved on with a 2-0 victory over Campbell.
"It's on to the quarters," said WRHS head coach Kevin Dame. "This is the first real big win in my tenure here. We have beaten the teams below us, but this is the first time, except Hopkinton, that we have beat a team above us. And when you get to Plymouth, anything can happen."
Winnisquam started fast against the defending champs, scoring in the first inning. Chelsea Welch led off the game with a single, and Amanda Lowrey reached on an error. Erin Roark followed with an infield single to load the bases. Ashley Reynolds then hit a grounder to the shortstop, who held the ball as Welch raced home.
The Mountaineers tied the game in the third, but the Bears plated another run in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead. Ali Keith singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and Heidi Miller singled to put runners at the corners. Miller then tried to steal second, and the throw sailed into center field, allowing Keith to score.
"We just came out and put pressure on them the whole game," said Dame.
Berlin tied the game once again in the bottom of the sixth, only to have Winnisquam score the game-winner in the top of the seventh.
Welch singled and Lowrey sacrificed her to second. After an out, Reynolds hit a fly ball to center field that was dropped and Welch raced home.
Keith picked up the win on the mound, allowing five hits and only one earned run. The freshman walked only one and struck out two — both in the seventh inning when it mattered most.