Lamprey River wins three straight in state tourney, needs one for title

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:22:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

Three up, three down.

That’s not describing the end of an inning for the Lamprey River 11- and 12-year-old all-star softball team. It’s an accurate account of the team’s state tournament games to date.

Most recently, the locals mercy- ruled host Pelham, 10-0, on Monday, July 14, behind the nohit pitching of Kim McLaughlin and a potent offense.

“I just can’t say enough about that team over there,” said Pelham’s manager, Steve Notini. “That’s a sound team, a good team. And they’re well coached.”

Manager Ken McLaughlin and coach Ken Lavallee assembled a group of 11 players – five from Raymond and three each from Candia and Nottingham – that quickly became one unit.

“They all play against each other all year, and they just want to compete,” said McLaughlin, who added they respect each other’s talent and enjoy each other’s company. “They don’t care about anything else.”

Lamprey River is, right now, the state juggernaut at this level. Both the young McLaughlin and Candia’s Sarah Lavallee throw hard from inside the circle, making at-bats an uncomfortable experience for foes.

“Sarah’s 11 years old, and she’s accurate (with her pitches),” said McLaughlin, who said Lavallee throws even harder than his daughter, who fanned two Pelham batters in the second, third and fourth innings.

Lavallee recorded 13 strikeouts against two-time defending state champion Auburn on Thursday, July 10. She also doubled in a run against Pelham.

A solid defense, one that didn’t make an error in the shutout win, takes care of most everything else. Catcher Hannah Keefe also threw out a would-be base stealer with a strong throw to second base.

And the team can hit. Lamprey River put up 18 runs to Merrimack Valley’s four in the tourney’s first game on July 9, another fiveinning affair, then ripped Auburn the next night, 11-2.

Audra Jenkins and Kayla Thomas, who started the game on the bench against Pelham, contributed mightily in the earlier wins. Jenkins was 3-for-4 in the two games, and Thomas reached base three times and stole home against Auburn.

In the middle of the lineup is cleanup hitter Gabby Desjardins of Candia. McLaughlin said she catches for Lavallee, plays a solid third base and runs well. She also blasted a triple that produced River’s final run against Pelham.

Sydney Bolduc is the team’s other Candia resident. She drew a walk and scored in the fifth. “She’s a really fast, athletic player,” said McLaughlin. “And she’s really improved her hitting toward the end of the year.”

Autumn Masse and Amelya VanDeWalle hit 1-2 in the Lamprey lineup. Each scored twice down in Pelham.

Brandie Valentine and Meredith Reed patrol the middle of the infield at shortstop and second base, respectively. Reed was robbed of an extra-base hit in the locals’ five-run first inning by Pelham’s left fielder, and Valentine drove in two runs with two singles. They hit seventh and eighth in the loaded lineup.

Lamprey River needs one win to secure the state Little League softball title, but it must wait until

Monday, July 21, to attempt it.

The team is guaranteed to face one of the squads it has already throttled. Staying focused, said McLaughlin, won’t be an issue.

“Every single one of ’em has a sense of the game,” said the coach on a post-game walk to the parking lot. “Their parents deserve the credit for that. They’re so supportive of the girls in everything they do.”

Candia News : Pelham

Lamprey River wins three straight in state tourney, needs one for title