Seacoast softball state title contenders: Our list of 7 teams that could win it all
Last year, York High School and Portsmouth Christian Academy were the Seacoast teams to capture a softball state championship.
Can that total be matched this year?
No team on our list of seven Seacoast high school softball state title contenders has more than three losses. But only one team per division will be crowned state champion.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
DIVISION I
Winnacunnet (14-2)
Games left: 3
The case: The Warriors have two losses all season so far, and both have been by one run — a 3-2 loss at Concord and a 7-6 loss at Salem, teams Winnacunnet could potentially see in the upcoming Division I tournament. The 3-2 loss to Concord was the same score as last year's state championship game at Plymouth State.
But do those teams, or any other team in Division I for that matter, want a matchup with Winnacunnet? Especially against a pitcher like Maddy Eaton, who recently recorded her 500th career strikeout?
"The team this season is much like last year," Winnacunnet head coach Bill Edwards said. "Very competitive and very composed. Defensively, we don’t make many mistakes. The entire defense has made plays and takes great care of the ball."
The Warriors boast a deep roster from underclassmen to upperclassmen. Sophomores Maeva Shapiro (.478, 8 HR and 36 RBI), Lucy Gelbstein, Arden Langmaid and Fenway Schouller, complement junior Lilly Snow, and seniors Joslyn Snow, Chloe Cunningham and Halisa Carter.
"I think the key for us is to not beat ourselves," Edwards said. "When we play a clean game, we're a very tough team to beat, and we have the offense to put a (big) number up on the scoreboard. In the playoffs the teams are all good and anyone can beat anyone. We have to control what we can, and, if we play clean, keep our focus and approach, we should be fine."
Key wins: at Londonderry (4-3), at Exeter (13-3), Merrimack (8-2)
Exeter (13-3)
Games left: 2
The case: The Blue Hawks have won two state championships in the past five years, 2019 and 2022, and look strong again for another title push in 2024. After starting 3-2, Exeter has won 10 of its last 11 games, scoring in double figures in seven of those games with a high of 24 in a 13-run win over Timberlane.
Exeter has a strong senior class charged by Annie Christiana, Summer LeClerc, Kristen Bickford and Edy Crawford.
"We have had a good season to date, dealt with some injuries that have made us a deeper team and had a quality win over a top-four team in Concord, which was our best defensive game this season," Exeter head coach Kristen Morissette said. "The seniors have a lot of tournament experience and didn’t like how the season ended last year ... combine that with timely hits, good pitching, solid defense and a little luck it gives us a chance in the playoffs. We're going to have to stay focused, trust each other and be playing our best softball in June."
Key wins: at Timberlane (24-11), Concord (2-1)
DIVISION II
Oyster River (13-3)
Games left: 2
The case: Oyster River came out strong out of the gate, winning its first nine games. The Bobcats are the only team to beat Coe-Brown, and played well in a 6-1 loss to Division I power Winnacunnet.
A senior nucleus led by Addy and Maddy Veno, along with Maeve Hickok and Mia Boyd, lead the team on and off the field.
"We feel we have played one of the tougher Division II schedules and know that our three losses have been against the two of the top teams in D2 and a tough Winnacunnet team," Oyster River head coach Chad Michaud said. "The strong schedule should help us prepare for playoff competition. Our team has made incremental improvements offensively over the course of the year and have shown we can hit with power."
Sophomores Kate Michaud, Gracy Spirito, Aliza Parks, Sam Bishop, Laura Boughton and Aubrey DeJesus have produced as well.
"We're a deep roster with a lot of situational options off the bench," coach Michaud said. "We have a good 1-2 pitching punch (Addy Veno, Sam Bishop) and each can be difficult to earn runs against. Our keys to playoff success will be to string hits together and play good team defense."
Key wins: Coe-Brown (5-1), Bow (7-6), Merrimack Valley (8-5)
DIVISION III
St. Thomas Aquinas (13-1)
Games left: 2
The case: Aside from STA's 2-1 win over Gilford in the team's second game of the season, the Saints have won every game by at least four runs, showing its dominance at the plate and in the field.
"This season, we’ve been really locked in and focused," STA head coach McKenzie McGrath said. "We have a strong lineup that has provided quality hitting and our pitching has been great."
The continued emergence of Amelia Anderson — the team leader in average, on-base percentage and hits — and the production by freshman Bizzy Pelletier has been a very bright spot for STA, which suffered its first loss last week against undefeated Prospect Mountain.
Elizabeth Flynn and Abbie Gaynor are also two of the better players in all of Division III. Add in Alaina Bolduc and Emma Toriello, and the Saints have a tough lineup.
"Looking ahead to playoffs, we can’t take anyone lightly," McGrath said. "The key for us will be to play our game and continue to have that tough, gritty, whatever-it-takes mentality with everything we do. We’re a tight unit and there’s no doubt we have the heart and drive to propel us throughout the postseason."
Key wins: Gilford (2-1), Bishop Brady (8-3, 4-0)
DIVISION IV
Newmarket (13-2)
Games left: 1
The case: Newmarket opened the season with a 7-6 loss at Portsmouth Christian Academy, and since then, it's been 12 wins in 13 games for the Mules, who lost in the Division IV semifinals last June.
Newmarket has consistently showed throughout the year that it is one of the better teams in Division IV, and highly efficient at the plate and in the field.
Once again, Kierra Souphakhot has been a dominant pitcher in the circle this season, while Emma Walkowiak has proved to be an offensive threat.
Key wins: Portsmouth Christian (3-1), Pittsfield (4-1, 6-1), Mascenic (4-1), Epping (8-1),
Portsmouth Christian Academy (10-4)
Games left: 2
The case: The reigning Division IV state champions are looking to make it back-to-back state titles after beating Mascenic for the title last June at Plymouth State.
PCA won eight of its first nine games, then lost three straight before winning its last two games. Two of the losses - 3-1 to Newmarket and 3-2 at Pittsfield - were against two of the top six teams in Division IV.
"We've hit it a bump or two," PCA head coach Mark McGuire said. "We're getting ready for the tournament run with each practice. Keys will be to get back to hitting and clean up the fielding. We're a good team and I know we can go far."
The Eagles are led by Lexi Jordan, both in the batter's box and in the batter's circle, along with getting major contributions from Kloe MacKenzie and Eliza Arwood.
Key wins: Newmarket (7-6), Mascenic (11-10), Pittsfield (7-5), Epping (13-9)
MAINE
CLASS B SOUTH
York (12-0)
Games left: 3
The case: 28 games, 28 wins — that's the current streak for the reigning Class B state champions. To start the season, York senior McKayla Kortes threw a no-hitter across five innings as the Wildcats beat Wells, 10-0, and showed they could contend again.
The Wildcats are one of, if not the deepest, team in Class B with a strong lineup one through nine.
"This is an extremely close group that is tournament tested, hold each other accountable and pull hard for one other," York head coach Kevin Giannino said. "Energy on the bench has been excellent all year, but everything will need to be ratcheted up for the tournament. We know some of the best teams and pitchers in the state lie ahead. We take a lot of pride in our hitting prowess, hit up and down the lineup, but defense, pitching, staying healthy and a little luck as always will be the key."
Freshman Sarah Orso has stepped in as the No. 2 pitcher behind Kortes and is batting over .500 with double-digits in both RBIs and runs scored.
Nya Avery, Maddie Fitzgerald, Ava Brent, Emily Estes and state championship game hero Bella Santini are just a few of the names representing a strong Wildcats team poised for a repeat.
"We're as deep and talented as anybody," Giannino said. "The girls have a nice swagger about them and are driven to secure the No. 1 seed and defend their title."
Key wins: Wells (10-0, 15-4), Greely (17-5)
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 7 Seacoast softball teams ready to make state championship run
