Hollis Brookline's Austyn Kump finished the regular season in style, tossing a no-hitter for the Cavs on Wednesday. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

If you’re looking for high school softball success in the state tournaments that begin this week, the guess here is you can take a good look at the Division II tourney.

That’s where Hollis Brookline (13-3) and Campbell (10-6) witll be competing, and reason is simple: pitching.

Alvirne and Merrimack are two to keep an eye on in Division I, and Wilton-Lyndeborough (11-5) can hit the heck out of the ball in Division IV.

Here’s a look:

DIVISON II

We’ll start a division down, because that’s where 400-plus career strikeout hurler Austyn Kump resides, fanning hitters for the HB Cavaliers. Kump is the real deal – her 401 strikeouts entering last week have been in three seasons, because there was no 2020 due to COVID. This HB team is likely to finish in the top four once the pairings are determined – likely fourth, which means no bye but a first round home game against the last qualifier and a home quarterfinal should they advance- and it also has another pitcher in Kailey Disco. All she did during the season was toss a perfect game. And both can hit. Actually, everyone in an HB uniform is.

“One through nine, our lineup has been very strong,” Cavs coach Ashley Skey said. As for her pitchers, it’s no wonder Skey says “I have full confidence in them, that’s for sure.”

Somewhere in this event the Cavs could see Campbell, which is in a jumble of 10-6 teams and it will depend on tiebreakers to see if the Cougars can get even a home game. Theresa Ivas had been their ace on the mound. But oh, the Cougars have a hitter in Maddy Lane. She struggled in the first part of the season but her bat has been red hot.

Remember, Campbell has tourney pedigree, having been a Division III power (lost in last year’s finals) before moving up this year.

“We’re starting to hit better,” first year head coach Rick Gamache said. “We’re going to be in the post season – we just have to be ready for it.”

They got a taste of what it would be like, hanging with a tough expected top seed Kingswood in a 3-1 game last weekend. The Cavs did not play Kingswood this season.

THE PICK: HB over Kingswood. Great pitching.

DIVISON I

Merrimack (9-9) and Alvirne (11-7) look like they’ll finish in the middle of the pack, but not high enough to host in the first round. The Tomahawks have experienced pitcher Avery Hui, while Alvirne has really come alive, five straight wins going into the final week with players like Jaelyn Green swinging a great bat. Pitching will be the key. Bishop Guertin, which has finished at 8-9, is also in, and the Cards just need a complete game. In six of their nine losses, they’ve allowed 10 or more runs. Bailey Doyle and Michaella Bowen are two keys to look at. The strength, though, remains Exeter, Winnacunnet and Concord.

THE PICK: Exeter. Winning program and defending champs.

DIVISON IV

The Wilton-Lyndeborough Warriors are back after a down year or two. And if you don’t pitch well, they’ll hit – the Warriors have eclipsed the 30-run total twice and all of their wins heading into that last week they’ve scored double figures in runs.

And they were playing their best softball as the season hit the home stretch with hitters like Abby Dowling, Ella Morris and Ryleigh Smith booming extra base hits and pitcher Kay Miller taking advantage iin the circle. Watch out for the Warriors, but they have to fight their way through a tough field with two-time defending champ Woodsville at the top.

THE PICK: Woodsville.

Newsletter