Search results matching tag 'baseball'

Dunbarton native proved main cog in KSC’s strong play

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:27:00 GMT

BY STUART KAUFMAN

No longer driving baseballs around ball parks, Jeff Perkins is spending his days driving a lawn mower around the well-manicured fields at Saint Anselm as a member of the college’s grounds crew.

The four-year Keene State College standout and Dunbarton native said he enjoys sprucing up the St. A athletic facilities, including the baseball field where, as a player at Goffstown High School, he played several first-round tournament games.

“It’s a really nice field,” said Perkins, “but not as nice as my home field at Keene State.”

You can’t blame Perkins for favoritism. As the team’s centerfielder and leadoff hitter the past four seasons, he not only set Owl career records for runs, 165; hits, 204; doubles, 45; and stolen bases, 56, but, more importantly, he helped lead KSC to a pair of NCAA tournament berths, including a first-ever Little East Conference championship his junior season.

“I would be hard pressed to find anybody who had a better four-year career than Jeff,” said KSC associate head coach Marty Testo. “When I sat down and looked at his numbers, it was unbelievable.”

Named to All-New England, All-ECAC, and All-LEC teams as a senior, Perkins’ success transcended numbers. His range as centerfielder took him to the deepest parts of ball parks, where he’d catch most every ball he could reach. As leadoff hitter, he reached base nearly 60 percent of his plate appearances. Most important, consistency was his calling card.

“That’s the way I always played,” Perkins said. “I’ve never been a hot-shot trying to hit home runs. I just show up and do the same thing every day.” Perkins credits his father, Ken, for instilling in him a plate discipline that left pitchers shaking their heads.

“He got me to understand the importance of getting on base,” Perkins said. “He really opened my eyes to the possibility of playing with limited power and still making an impact on the game.”

After earning all-state honors and helping Goffstown High challenge for Class L supremacy, Perkins refined his skills with the help of Greg LaRocca, a local hitting instructor who once played in the Cleveland Indians organization, and Ken Connerty, a former coach at UMass-Lowell.

Though he had several college options and spent a year Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn., Perkins’ decision to roam the vast expanse of Owl Stadium’s center field brought a smile to the face of KSC coach Ken Howe, who recruited Perkins heavily out of high school and stayed in contact with him while he attended prep school.

“When they first told me about the history of the position at Keene State, I took it with a grain of salt,” said Perkins. “After I realized how important it was, my goal was to carry the torch for four years.”

Perkins’ arrival at KSC in 2006 marked a renaissance in the program’s fortunes. The Owls posted their first 30-win season and tied long-time conference rival Eastern Connecticut for the regular-season Little East championship. However, they lost a pair of hard-fought games to the Warriors in the LEC tournament finals.

“I could sense the disappointment among the upperclassmen,” Perkins said. “I really understood the magnitude for the team to reach the postseason tournament.”

The following year, KSC earned its long awaited at-large berth to the NCAA tournament and, a year later, captured its first outright conference tournament title.

Perkins’ average climbed to .391 his junior season, and the Owls earned redemption in the conference tourney. Climbing out of the losers’ bracket, KSC defeated ECSU, 1-0, with former Goffstown High teammate Jamie Morin tossing a three-hitter. The next day, Keene State swept Southern Maine to win the crown.

Perkins culminated his KSC career with a senior season that included a .453 batting average and team-high 57 runs scored. He hit safely in 35 of 41 games. Perkins consistently let his bat do his talking.

“I’ve always been a pretty reserved, quiet kid,” he said. “It’s just who I am, and sports doesn’t change who I am. If anything, it’s helped me build my character.”

Perkins, who earned his degree in safety studies with a minor in criminal justice, said he will miss his teammates, “from the guys who were on my side on the field to the guys who got cut in the fall. They were there the whole time, supporting me.”

Athlete of the month: Poised 12-year-old excels for D-1 champions

Bedford Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:18:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY
Sponsored by Indian Head Athletics

Kyle Andersson isn’t the biggest athlete on the field, but he managed to lift an entire team of all-stars this summer.

Andersson led Bedford’s 11- and 12-year-old District 1 baseball champions at the plate and on the mound, earning him the Indian Head Athletics Athlete of the Month honor for July.

The signature moment of the summer for Bedford came Saturday, July 11, against Windham in the District 1 finals.

Bedford erased a fiverun deficit to tie the score at 8-8, then Andersson dug in and worked a 2-0 count in the bottom of the sixth and final frame.

“It’s not just the coaches on the team who wanted Kyle up in that spot,” said Bedford’s manager, Henry Veilleux. “Even the other players knew he was the right guy at bat. He can lift a team up, and that’s impressive at age 12. To be able to do that demonstrates that he’ll be a great baseball player.”

With one swing of the bat Andersson kept his team’s tournament hopes alive, blasting a walk-off home run for a 9-8 win and setting up a decisive third game the next day, during which he hit a critical threerun home run to help Bedford advance to the state championship.

The summer of highlevel, high-energy competition was a learning experience for Andersson.

“I did a lot of things I had never done before – I hadn’t hit a walk-off before, I almost threw a no-hitter. It was a great summer,” said Andersson. “I also learned a lot about not giving up, that anything can happen until that last out. It really helps in not getting down on yourself.”

During his free time throughout the tournament, Andersson worked closely with his father to build his arm strength, and it paid off. The young pitcher threw deep into games nearly every time he took the hill.

Veilleux said one of Andersson’s strengths was his ability to maintain composure in difficult spots.

“He’s very mature, and he never got rattled,” said Veilleux. “He learned a lot this summer and will be an even better player as he moves on.”

Andersson said he is looking forward to one day playing at Bedford High School, then trying to continue his career at the college level.

Veilleux said Andersson has the skills and work ethic that often translate into success on the 90-foot diamond, and added he looks forward to watching him work toward that goal.

“I know he’s going to do very well beyond Little League,” said Veilleux. “He’s going to be fun to watch.”

(Editor’s note: The Athlete of the Month receives a $50 gift certificate courtesy of Indian Head Athletics.)

Bow’s deep D-1 run ends with tight loss to title winners

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:07:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Bedford’s ride to a District 1 championship nearly hit a speed bump, courtesy of a powerful Bow team.

On July 15, Bow’s 11- and 12-year-olds pushed the eventual champions to the limit but lost, 6-4, during the losers’ bracket quarterfinals.

Bow fell behind after the first inning, 3-0, but Colby Fortin began his team’s comeback with an RBI groundout in the top of the third.

Though small ball helped put Bow on the board, the long ball put them ahead in the visiting half of the fifth, when Nate Corriveau and Fortin hit back-to-back home runs to give their team a 4-3 lead.

After Evan Vulgamore led off the inning with a double, Corriveau launched a rocket over the fence, and after a Bedford pitching change, Fortin followed suit.

While the bottom of the frame started quietly enough with a strikeout and two infield singles, Bedford recaptured the lead soon after with a two-out bases-loaded triple that scored three runs.

“I was surprised it was such a hit-fest,” said Bow manager Jamie Vulgamore. “When they went up, 3-0, you just never know how the kids are going to battle back. They answered nicely.”

Despite his team’s elimination from the bracket, Vulgamore said he doesn’t believe it’ll be the last time his players suit up together.

“We’re a small town, so for us to be able to compete against these teams, I don’t see anyone that can keep up with these guys when they get to the high school level,” said Vulgamore.

Team members were Ryan Boldwin, Vulgamore, Corriveau, Fortin, Sam Morrow, Sebastian Strong, Dylan Bibeau, Stephen Panella, Travis Reynolds, Nathan Cunningham, Patrick Hughes, Connor Simpson and Nick Kruger.

Goffstown’s Matty Dobens nine defends crown with its bats

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:00:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

During this year’s Matty Dobens tournament, Goffstown was plain offensive.

The 9- and 10-year-olds tore through the bracket for 78 runs in six games, cruising past the competition for a second consecutive title.

From top to bottom, the lineup showed its offensive prowess, beginning with leadoff batter Ethan Skinner, who was retired only one time this summer.

Skinner was 11-for-12 at the plate and found his way on base 17 of 18 times he dug in.

No. 3 hitter Cody Morel hit at a .769 clip, Jaret Rousseau slugged a home run in addition to his .692 average, and Andrew Biron blazed to three triples while hitting a home run and batting .533.

With the win, Goffstown won its fourth Dobens championship in the last five years, with the only loss coming by a 2-1 margin.

This year’s title run began with a 12-2 victory over Auburn, followed by a 19-1 thumping of Central.

Next came an 11-1 win against Manchester East and a 9-6 defeat of Manchester North, earning Goffstown a spot in the semifinals.

Manchester South gave the locals their closest game of the tournament, but on July 17, Goffstown came away with an 8-6 victory after trailing in the fourth frame, 6-2.

Goffstown chipped away with two runs in the home half of the fourth and four more in the fifth inning before holding on to earn a trip to the finals.

“That was the first time they had been losing in the tournament, and they didn’t put their heads down,” said manager Sean Skinner. “For these kids, it was their first time playing on an all-star team, and they didn’t panic at all.”

Ethan Skinner took the mound in the finals against Manchester North on Monday, July 20, earning the victory in a 19-5 decision.

Though it was the hitters who propelled the team to the championship, the pitchers did their share, allowing 23 runs in the six games, less than four runs per contest.

Team members were Skinner, Jacob Hunt, Morel, Rousseau, Tyler Santoro, Dylan Hyers, Justin Pinard, Biron, Jeremy Barss, Tyler Riendeau, Ryan Currier, Matt Woodward and Jackson Brannen.

“This will hopefully for these boys set their expectations for next year and the years coming up,” said Sean Skinner. “Goffstown has a good reputation for success, so hopefully this will get the ball rolling.”

Goffstown 9 and 10s relentless in taking state title

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:57:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The rain and the hits kept coming for Goffstown’s 9- and 10-year-old Little League baseball all-stars, even when their coach wanted both to stop.

In the third and decisive game of the state championship series against Portsmouth on Wednesday, July 29, Goffstown, to say the least, started quickly.

After surrendering two runs in the top of the first inning, Goffstown struck for nine runs before a single out was recorded.

However, with a steady rain falling, both teams were aware of the chance the game would be stopped.

According to Little League rules, if the first inning has not been completed, the game is started over from the beginning.

If the opening frame is completed, the game resumes at the point weather halted it. So after opening a wide lead, manager Steve Bond instructed his team to swing at any pitch close to the strike zone.

“When we told the kids to do that, they looked at us in shock,” said Bond. “It went against what we had taught them, but we were worried that all of those runs were going to be erased.” Thirteen runs later, the inning ended after Goffstown ran into two outs.

“As a coach you’re not relieved to get outs,” said Bond. “But in this case we were.”

Ultimately, the weather didn’t shorten the game, but the mercy rule did, with Goffstown winning, 16-3, in four innings. A seven-run fifth inning for Portsmouth on July 25 led to an 8-3 loss for the locals, who needed two wins for a state title.

On July 26, Goffstown earned the first one by a 3-2 margin, setting up the winnertake- all finale.

Colby St. Pierre absorbed the loss in the opening game, but he earned a complete-game win in the closing contest. Bond said having three teams win titles during the 50th anniversary of Goffstown Junior Baseball was the perfect end of the summer.

“Goffstown has great tradition at all levels, and it really starts at the beginning,” said Bond. “This was really the icing.”

Championship team members include Cam Bond, Ryan Hall, Dakota Mulcay, Mickey Bridgeman, Nate Proulx, St. Pierre, Camden Gagnon, Ian MacDonald, Sam Heidenreich, Taylor Post, Alex Gamache, Robby Girardin and Jordan Cassette.

Goffstown 10 and 11s are state champs for third straight year

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:53:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Windham was knocking on the door, but Dylan Skinner and Kyle Jalbert slammed it shut.

Goffstown’s 10- and 11- year-old baseball all-stars saw their four-run lead cut to one. Then, with two outs, Windham was poised to knot the score at 7-7 during the title game July 25.

Windham’s batter lined a single to center field, and the would-be tying run came charging around third. But Skinner fired home, Jalbert blocked the plate, the runner was out, and the lead was safe.

In the home half of the frame, Goffstown added three insurance runs and posted a 10-6 win for a third consecutive 10- and 11-year-old state championship.

Jalbert also threw out a runner at third earlier in the inning, and Goffstown manager Ken Perron said the two plays were the critical moments of the game.

“Those plays took them out of the big inning, or a bigger inning than they had,” said Perron. “It also propelled us, gave us some momentum, and allowed us to score some big runs.”

Goffstown won all five games it played in the tournament by a combined score of 51-9, with the tilt against Windham its slimmest margin of victory.

Though they the fell behind 3-0 after the top half of the first, the local all-stars bounced back quickly when Connor Walsh launched a two-run home run to pull his team within one.

In the bottom of the third Goffstown struck for five more runs, capped by an RBI single from Jacob Lambert, a run-scoring walk from Jason Thomas and finally a fielder’s choice by Jalbert.

Thomas started on the mound for Goffstown, allowing five runs in four-plus innings of work, striking out six. Perron said the key to his team’s dominating performance was its care-free attitude during games.

“They were so loose the whole time, so loose that I think the coaches were more nervous than the kids,” said Perron. “We told them from the beginning that they were very good. This win will only make them better.”

Members of the state champion team included Peter Steckowych, Kyle Chisholm, Connor Walsh, Kyle Perron, Kyle Lecour, Lambert, Mike Bailey, Josh Lacerte, Jason Thomas, Jalbert and Skinner.

Windham 10 and 11s push Goffstown before dropping title game

Salem Editor — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:16:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Goffstown’s 10- and 11- year-old Little League baseball team is powerful. In the state title game, Windham nearly caused a power outage.

Despite trimming Goffstown’s four-run advantage to one in the fifth inning on Saturday, July 25, Windham was unable to take the lead and eventually fell, 10-6.

Windham gave Goffstown its closest game of the tournament and nearly tied the game, but the would-be equalizing run was thrown out at the plate in the top of the fifth inning.

Jake Yennaco’s two-out double in the fifth brought the locals within 7-6. Mike Tardif then singled to center field, sending Yennaco charging toward the plate, but the throw from the outfield was perfect, and Yennaco was out by a wide margin.

“I would still send him if I could do it again. He just made a good throw,” said Windham manager Bruce Yennaco. “There were a few momentum-changing plays in the game, but that’s how we have played all year. We’ve been playing aggressively.”

Close tournament games were familiar to Windham, which went 5-2 while taking the losers’ bracket. The locals collected three one-run victories, with no win coming by more than three.

Windham took an early 3-0 lead after Will Bresnahan lined a two-run double into the gap, then scored himself on an errant throw from the outfield.

Goffstown, which answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, seemingly took control of the game with a five-run third inning.

But Andrew Calandra began Windham’s fifth-inning rally with a single.

Johnny Monahan worked a walk, and Calandra scored on a wild pitch following a Goffstown pitching change. Bresnahan earned a base on balls and stole second, with Monahan taking home on a successful double steal.

Yennaco said he was impressed with the grit his team showed in coming back during its final game, also with the resolve it showed throughout the bracket.

“The fact that so many games were so close just shows how tough they are, and how much determination they have,” said Yennaco. “This experience will help them as they play next year, and on into high school.”

Windham team members were Chad Desautels, Dougie Deluca, Bresnahan, Riley Magee, Jake Yennaco, Tardif, Marco Allanach, Chris Murphy, Max Souter, Jack Crowley, Monahan and Calandra.

Salem American wins four straight to take Fraser Tournament

Salem Editor — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:14:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Brett Barrett helped Salem American’s 11- and 12-year-old all-star baseball team end the Fraser Tournament in style.

Barrett, the starting shortstop, made a diving stop in the hole, then threw to first baseman Pat McCarty, who picked the ball out of the dirt, capping a 14-0 win over Manchester North and the tournament victory on Friday, July 24.

Salem pounded out the 14 runs on 14 hits, and Josh Perreault pitched four innings, striking out six batters for a mercy-rule complete-game victory. In Little League District 1 play and the Fraser and Salem tournaments, Perreault threw 19 innings and allowed no runs.

Barrett, who collected two hits and three RBI, led the offense, while Austin Hall drove in two runs, Justin McQuarrie added three hits and two runs scored, Trevor Couture delivered two hits, and Matt Meisner, Bob Dortona, Derek Britner and Dan Barbin had one hit apiece.

In consecutive losses in its first two games of District 1 play, Salem managed just two runs, but in four Fraser games the team racked up 41.

Manager Gary Barbin said his team’s approach at the plate in the Fraser Tournament was the same as during district competition, despite the run differential.

“We did everything we did in districts, except the bats just came alive,” said Barbin. “In district play if you get a tough draw and the bats go silent, you’re going to get a quick exit.”

Almost as impressive as American’s offensive explosion against North was its ability to shut down the Manchester bats, which produced 37 runs in three games entering the Fraser championship.

Perreault limited the opponents to two harmless hits during the four-inning game.

Salem knocked off Nashua, Derry National and Auburn before cruising to victory in its last contest.

“Getting them up and excited for every game and practice was easy,” said Barbin. “They still had that bad taste in their mouth after districts, and this was able to help them get that out a little bit.”

The Salem roster included Dan Barbin, Barrett, Britner, Couture, Dortona, Hall, Andrew Hulshult, McCarty, McQuarrie, Miesner, Perrault and Anthony Salvo.

While it wasn’t the trophy American players had hoped to earn entering the summer, Gary Barbin said the experience of winning the Fraser bracket still improves his players’ development.

“It’s still very good baseball,” said Barbin. “It was exciting that with the caliber of play we faced that we were able to come out on top.”

Bedford 11 and 12s edged by state champion Portsmouth

Bedford Editor — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:32:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The sixth inning of the second 11- and 12-year-old Little League state championship game was a familiar one for Bedford fans.

Trailing by three runs, the local all-stars made their usual comeback attempt. But this time, the rally fell short, and Portsmouth advanced to the regional Little League tournament in Bristol, Conn., with a 7-6 win on Sunday, July 26, at Windham’s Griffin Park.

Bedford also lost the previous day to Portsmouth, 4-0.

Kyle MacDonald led off the sixth-inning rally in game two with a walk, but the next two Bedford batters were retired. To anyone unfamiliar with Bedford’s all-star exploits, Portsmouth, at that point, seemed a cinch to represent New Hampshire in regionals.

Yet as they did all summer, the Bedford players fought, and Aidan Wheeler kept the line moving when he was hit by a pitch. Kyle Andersson brought the team within two runs thanks to an RBI single, and another run scored on a wild pitch.

His team trailing by a run, cleanup hitter Ryan Bliss sent a charge through his teammates when he roped a line drive. Despite the solid contact, the ball landed in the glove of the Portsmouth shortstop, ending the comeback.

“He hit the ball right on the screws,” said Bedford manager Henry Veilleux. “We were in the part of the lineup that we wanted to be in. They battled back, and the bottom of the sixth inning was typical of this team.”

In order to earn its matchup with Portsmouth, Bedford erased a five-run deficit against Windham and beat the winners’ bracket representative in consecutive games.

The second game with Portsmouth turned into a home run derby, partially aided by a steady breeze blowing out toward center field.

Portsmouth launched four home runs, and Bliss and Mac- Donald sent pitches over the fence for Bedford, with Mac- Donald’s drawing the score to 5-4 in the fourth inning.

The hard-hitting Andersson, who allowed four runs in 5-2/3 innings on the mound during game-one action, was held in check at the plate until his final-inning RBI.

“They were very aggressive with the way they approached him,” said Veilleux of his No. 3 hitter. “They had to pitch him like that because they knew they had Ryan Bliss standing behind him.”

Members of the team included Nick Angelini, Wheeler, Andersson, Bliss, Brett Veilleux, Brett Silva, MacDonald, Matt Tierney, Patrick McGinley, Ryan Lang, Tyler O’Brien, Robert Rizos and Kyle Fink.

Despite the loss, Henry Veilleux said his squad felt fortunate to have extended its season so deep into the summer.

“There are only 27 kids in New Hampshire who got to play in these games this weekend,” said Veilleux. “They realize they are pretty darn lucky, and it’s something they will never forget.”

Tough start in losers’ bracket final means end to Salem National’s season

Salem Editor — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:46:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Salem National’s bats went silent in its final two games, but the locals still made plenty of noise during the Little League District 1 baseball tournament.

The 11- and 12-year-olds were eliminated following an 8-3 loss in the losers’ bracket final to eventual District 1 champion Bedford on Thursday, July 16, ending a lengthy tournament run that included four victories.

While Jeremy Bagley allowed four first-inning runs, he also showed a great deal of composure, settling into a groove in the middle innings and giving his team a chance to come back.

In its previous game, a winners’ bracket final loss to Windham, Salem was blanked without managing a single base runner.

“You just can’t start the game slow,” said National manager Paul Soucy. “This is the second game in a row, and it did us in. But I was still proud of the way we fought to stay in the game.”

John Cerretani did his best to help Salem climb back within striking distance, launching two majestic solo home runs; one landed well in the woods behind Goffstown’s Villa Augustina field.

Cerretani also delivered an RBI single in the top of the first that temporarily gave his team a 1-0 edge.

“You’d love to have a few more John Cerretanis on your team,” said Soucy. “We ran into a combination of quiet bats and great pitching. We knew that’s what we were going to be in for, and good pitching beats good hitting.”

Despite his team’s elimination, Soucy said he believed this was the best performance of any Salem team in District 1 play.

Unfortunately for Salem, the game served as redemption for Bedford after National handed the champs their only loss of the tournament, 3-2, on July 9.

After knocking off Salem, Bedford conquered Windham in consecutive games to earn a match up with Portsmouth, the District 2 representative.

Twelve-year-old members from this year’s National team were Cody Soucy, Ricky Covino, Cerretani, Bagley, Jason Michalsky, Tyler Pickett, Reed Grubbs, Jake Shepley and Jacob Genest. Paul Soucy said the deep run should help the players as they move to the 90- foot diamond.

The team also featured three 11-year-olds – Kenny Calabrese, Dominic Palermo and Zach Martineau. Soucy added these ballplayers, all eligible for all-star play in 2010, gain an obvious edge.

“We had some kids who were new to this level of baseball. For the kids staying at this level, the experience is second to none, and this season was a great way for the 12-yearolds to end their Little League careers,” said Soucy. “This was just a tremendous group of boys to coach.”