His daughter and her teammates were running for the elevator, headed back to the lobby for more good times with friendly competitors new and familiar.

Meanwhile, Lamprey River’s manager, Ken McLaughlin, as well as the all-star team’s coach, Ken Lavallee, were in a hotel room, forced to review some statistical details that will soon be forgotten.

But memories of the state champions’ trip to Albany, N.Y., for the Eastern Regional softball championship won’t slip away so easily.

The trip, said McLaughlin, has been a refreshing eye-opener. True, the 11- and 12-year-old all-stars have yet to cross the plate in three contests – a 9-0 loss to Connecticut on Saturday, July 26; a 7-0 setback to Maine the following day; and a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Rhode Island on Monday, July 28.

But the girls, added McLaughlin, have crossed paths with some fine athletes and, more importantly, fine people.

“The other coaches are so friendly. They’ve all been here before and go out of their way to make us feel comfortable,” said McLaughlin. “They’re just out here – all of them – to make sure the kids have fun.”

Post-game pool parties, barbecues and impromptu gatherings are the norm, and Lamprey Between the lines, the girls have completed every game save one; the loss to Maine was shortened due to rain on Sunday, July 27.

McLaughlin laughed goodnaturedly while explaining the team’s uncharacteristic lack of hitting and occasionally poor fielding. He also conceded the opposing teams’ pitching has been every bit as good as his two fine hurlers – Sarah Lavallee of Candia and his daughter, Kim McLaughlin. “They’re also all well-coached,” said the elder McLaughlin, who admitted he and Lavallee are being outmaneuvered by mentors with far more experience at this level.

Connecticut, for example, fields roughly the same team that finished third in the nation in 2007.

The Lamprey River girls, who’ve already won the friendship of players from across the region during the trip, have one more chance to return to the Granite State with a game victory.

They were scheduled to face Massachusetts on Wednesday, July 30.