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Nashua is the championship city on Championship Day

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Jun 12, 2021

Rivier's renovated softball facility will be the site of today's NHIAA Division I and II softball championship games. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Championship Day, Championship City.

If you want to see high school championship games, this is the place to be as there will be four title games in the Gate City today, weather permitting.

Holman Stadium will be the site of the Division I and II baseball championship games, and Rivier University will be the location for the Division I and II softball games.

Holman’s games will feature Concord vs. Winnacunnet for the Division I crown at 11, and St. Thomas vs. John Stark at 2 p.m. in the Division II title game. The Division I game had been a staple at Holman several years ago before things had been moved regularly to Manchester’s Northeast Delta Dental Stadium on a regular basis some 15 years ago.

However, Rivier University is a newbe at hosting title games. The Raiders refurbished field at the Linda Robinson Pavilion is certainly a great location for such events, and today the Division I game between Concord and Salem at 2 p;m. There is a local team in the Division II game, as Milford will battle Oyster River at 4:30 p.m.

Of course, there are two other big title games for local teams that will take place outside of Nashua. At 2 p.m., Campbell will take on Hopkinton in the Division III softball title game at Concord’s Memorial Field.

And in another 4:30 game, the Bishop Guertin boys lacrosse team will face Exeter in the Division I championship game at Bedford’s Bulldog Stadium.

As for the Rivier softball facility, Pelham used it for a couple of high school games this year – the Pythons played Souhegan in a Division II first round game – and it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Nashua schools use it for a feature game or two (like North vs. South) in the spring of 2021.

A press box, more stands, bullpens, dugouts, etc. were part of the $4.8 million renovation of the two-field area high above the Rivier campus in the spring and summer of 2019.

Raiders softball coach Mike Halloran and his staff made connections with the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association.

“When the Pavilion was being built, the NHIAA had asked us about it, and then there was the whole pandemic thing,” Rivier athletic director Joanne Merrill said. “I think Mike Halloran, our coach, reached out, or one of our assistant coaches made contact. They asked us if we could do it.”

Merrill said the school would love to host other sports like lacrosse and soccer for tournament games in the future. Bishop Guertin has played some regular season and early round tourney games at Riv over the years for soccer and lacrosse at Joanne Merrill Field.

“We would love to have it happen,” Merrill said. “It’s kind of a win-win for us, so we’re happy for sure.”

It’s a good recruiting tool for the Raiders, as they get to show off their facility and their campus.

“I think there’s a lot of people who don’t even know that facility is up there,” Merrill said. “We’re psyched about it.”

There are no students now on campus, there is plenty of parking near the facility, Merrill said, making this the perfect time for Riv to host. The Pavilion has locker room facilities for teams to use as well.

“There’s nothing else going on on campus,” she said. “We’ll see. I’m not sure how many people will be there. It will be interesting to see how it works.”

It will be unlimited attendance, Merrill said. Masks are not required since everything is outside, “but you can certainly wear them if you want,” Merrill said.

BG LAX, CAMPBELL SOFTBALL

The Cardinals are playing in their 16th straight Division I title game, an amazing, amazing feat, and will be seeking their first title since they beat Pinkerton in 2017. In fact, this is the first time the Cards have played an opponent other than the Astros since they downed Hanover in the 2012 title game.

For the Cougar softball team, this will be the end of an era for 10 seniors who have won titles at younger levels, including four straight in middle school. This is a rematch of the 2019 title game in which Hopkinton won, 2-0.

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