Recent Gary Fitz Columns

C’s still lacking depth

Gary Fitz | Friday, December 2, 2011

Do you believe in miracles? You’d better, if you are dreaming of another NBA title in Boston anytime soon. At their first press briefing following …

Exeter’s Division I conversion complete

Gary Fitz | Sunday, November 20, 2011

When Pinkerton Academy beat Nashua North in last year’s Division I title game, it took nothing more than a quick glance down the Astros roster …

Exeter, Portsmouth, BG in line for titles

Gary Fitz | Friday, November 18, 2011

Before its mid-season loss to Brockton (Mass.), the Pinkerton Academy football team seemed on the cusp of immortality. They were trampling in-state opponents, and by …

South, Exeter have special weapons - the kicking game

Gary Fitz | Friday, November 11, 2011

The sport is called football, but we all know it’s more about running, catching, throwing and tackling than any skills specific to the foot. Still, …

Say no to late season crossover games

Gary Fitz | Friday, November 4, 2011

It’s one thing to play a meaningless football game in Week 1, especially if it’s at least an intriguing match-up, like this year’s clash between …

Let’s settle it at Stellos

Gary Fitz | Friday, October 28, 2011

There are polls and there are standings and at this time of year they are virtually identical. What’s fun is watching the arguments settled on …

Hollis/Brookline boys soccer team title contender

Gary Fitz | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

He certainly didn’t plan it that way, but first-year Hollis/Brookline boys soccer coach Ricky Carvalho could take something positive out of his team’s 2-0 home …

It’s Thurday Night Football at Stellos

Gary Fitz | Thursday, October 6, 2011

There are things we should all know at a certain age, but for one reason or another sometimes we don’t. That’s why I am grateful …

Hollis/Brookline football proves a point over Souhegan

Gary Fitz | Friday, September 30, 2011

Here’s a little hint for anyone who ever attempts to pick the winner in a high school football game: Go with the gut and leave …

Andrews brings national spotlight to Milford soccer

Gary Fitz | Thursday, September 29, 2011

The game was just seconds old, but Morgan Andrews had already announced her presence. The Milford High School soccer player took possession just over the …

No rest for Nashua South’s defense

Gary Fitz | Friday, September 23, 2011

Two weeks ago it gave up over 600 yards of total offense, including close to 500 on the ground against Pinkerton Academy. Last week the …

Volleyball success no secret in Merrimack

Gary Fitz | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

It’s fast, it’s exciting and it’s high scoring – with points lighting up the scoreboard every 10-15 seconds. The level of play has improved dramatically …

History on Gabree’s side for Panthers

Gary Fitz | Thursday, September 15, 2011

It was the golden age of Nashua High School girls soccer, and Kelly Gabree was part of it. A talented player on a team full …

Now, games count

Gary Fitz | Friday, September 9, 2011

If you follow high school football in New Hampshire there were some startling results last week in the season openers, including victories by local Division …

No wait for showdowns

Gary Fitz | Sunday, August 28, 2011

As quickly as we can say “Goodnight, Irene,’’ we can turn our attention to another gathering storm, the upcoming high school football season. Pay attention …

Coach leaves North to go back to H/B

Gary Fitz | Sunday, August 21, 2011

If seemed like a great fit, a young, enthusiastic coach with cultural diversity in his background taking on the diverse, multi-cultural boys’ soccer team at …

GCNE choice not for weak

Gary Fitz | Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Maybe, as soon as members of the New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association learned their championship would be held at the Golf Club of New England …

Mixed reaction to GCNE challenge

Gary Fitz | Saturday, July 30, 2011

Maybe, as soon as members of the New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association learned their championship would be held at the Golf Club of New England …

This week NCC is on display

Gary Fitz | Wednesday, July 13, 2011

What is good advertising for a golf course? If you like long courses that require big hits off the tee and a steady stream of …

Coaching stipends still too low in Nashua

Gary Fitz | Sunday, July 3, 2011

Much has been written over the years about the challenge of being the athletic director for the Nashua schools. You are not only responsible for …

Hollis/Brookline girls teams welcome challenges

Gary Fitz | Tuesday, May 31, 2011

It is coming off back-to-back championships and three finals appearances in the last four years. But last Thursday night in Amherst, the Hollis/Brookline girls lacrosse …

New Guertin coach brings high profile

Gary Fitz | Tuesday, May 24, 2011

It was the kind of hypothetical question that made everyone, including the occupants of the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association offices in Concord, a little …

Merrimack, South playing better than records indicate

Gary Fitz | Friday, May 20, 2011

Thursday afternoon, like he has many times this spring, Nashua High School South softball coach John Racicot told his Panthers he thought they were a …

Lax power swings back to Pinkerton – for now

Gary Fitz | Tuesday, May 17, 2011

All you need to know about how much the landscape has changed in New Hampshire boys lacrosse in the last half dozen years could be …

Painful performance puts Celtics in deep hole

Gary Fitz | Wednesday, May 11, 2011

If Paul Pierce had made the tough shot to win the game in regulation, or if the Celtics had successfully run the pick-and-roll play outlined …

Garnett leads the Celtics back into the series

Gary Fitz | Sunday, May 8, 2011

He’ll turn 35 in 11 days, and there are more miles on Kevin Garnett, who joined the league fresh out of high school, than most …

Most distance runners are ‘Above the Rivalry’

Gary Fitz | Wednesday, May 4, 2011

It was the late 1970s, and two of the state’s top distance runners squared off in the mile run on a cinder track at Keene …

Even with changes, pitching still key to winning in softball

Gary Fitz | Saturday, April 30, 2011

The primary reason the pitching rubber in high school softball was moved back 3 feet this spring was safety. On a screaming line drive hit …

Celtics know they have to kick it up a notch

Gary Fitz | Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Boston Celtics avoided what could have been an embarrassing loss to the Knicks on Tuesday night with a 96-93 victory. They barely escaped with …

Rines reigning in records at SNHU

Gary Fitz | Thursday, April 21, 2011

MANCHESTER – Merrimack’s Tim Rines is closing in on all kinds of records for the Southern New Hampshire University baseball team. The senior captain about …

‘Other’ O’Neal shows up for Celtics

Gary Fitz | Tuesday, April 19, 2011

We give Danny Ainge credit for a lot of things, including championship banner No. 17 that hangs in the rafters of the TD Garden. From …

It’s time for Celtics to find their ‘on’ switch

Gary Fitz | Tuesday, April 12, 2011

We’re waiting for Shaq. We’re waiting for Jermaine O’Neal to prove he isn’t the incredible stiff who played against the Celtics in the first round …

C’s rest hopes on Shaq

Gary Fitz | Wednesday, April 6, 2011

All you really have to know about the man, the very big man, that Celtics fans and perhaps the Celtics themselves seem to be pinning …

Just try ignoring March Madness

Gary Fitz | Friday, April 1, 2011

It was an experiment conducted under close supervision. The subject – that would be me – would completely ignore the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, a.k.a. …

Coaches wrong on multiple MVP picks

Gary Fitz | Saturday, March 26, 2011

There is a problem – there has long been a problem – with how many coaches associations in this state pick their all-state teams and …

It’s time for NHIAA shot clock

Gary Fitz | Wednesday, March 23, 2011

They were trying to win a basketball game, not make a statement, but Milford High School boys basketball coach Dan Murray and Bishop Guertin boys …

Mitchell deserving of 2nd chance to celebrate

Gary Fitz | Friday, March 18, 2011

It was the game Milford High School senior Mike Mitchell had always dreamed about. The state championship, over two thousand people in the stands reacting …

Hudson catching guru commands loyalty

Gary Fitz | Friday, March 11, 2011

They are lovingly referred to as the tools of ignorance, the equipment, a mask, chest protector and shin pads, worn by baseball and softball catchers. …

Division II’s best player calls Souhegan home

Gary Fitz | Friday, February 25, 2011

The true test of any outstanding athlete is how they perform in the biggest games. So we submit Souhegan junior point guard Jane White’s line …

Let’s hope Goffstown, Milford meet again

Gary Fitz | Thursday, February 17, 2011

Reporters at high school events learn one lesson early. If you want to make statistical references in your story, you’d better keep them yourself. Generally …