Nashua North players hope to have more celebrations this year like this one after a comeback win over Merrimack in April of 2024. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

Remember the buzz?

No, not fastball up and in, but the excitement and interest the Nashua High School North baseball team gave everyone by reaching the Division I semifinals and taking eventual champion Pinkerton Academy to extra innings.

For a 13th seed, that’s quite a feat.

The trick is to turn that into something this season.

“We have a lot of guys that gained valuable varsity experience during our playoff run last year as underclassmen,” North coach Zach Harris said, “and they will look to take a step forward this year to lead our team. … The Division is very deep across the board.”

Of course, in Division II, we had a finalist a year ago in Souhegan, and the Sabers aim to use their lopsided loss to Bow as motivation for this spring.

“We’ve been talking about it since June 9,” Souhegan coach Chris Metz said, as he lost only two seniors. “They’re ticked off.”

There’s a couple of coaching changes of note. Hollis Brookline’s Jay Sartell felt he had taken the program to its highest level (two titles) and stepped down, with Alex Pratt taking over. Also, Drew Gora, who was the Campbell coach a few years ago, has returned to that role.

Here’s a look at how the local teams shape up:

DIVISION I

Here are just a few of those players North’s Harris was talking about: Seniors Austin Suchecki (outfielder) and Mario Ramirez (catcher), plus junior pitcher-infielder Owen Forcier and of course sophomore reliever Nolan Sullivan.

There are six more key seniors: James Markley (utility), Ty Byrne (P, inf), Ryder Clancy (Utility), Eric McInni (p/of), outfielder Charlie Patterson and p-of Ryan Garon. Juniors Dawson Bolton (infield) and Jayden Beaulieu (p-of) will be key newcomers.

“As in the past, we’ll rely on our pitching and defense to be efficient, make plays and keep us in games,” Harris said.

Nashua South won four games last season, certainly not expected, as a down year was hit with the ‘whatever could go wrong, did go wrong’ syndrome. Key returners include center fielder/pitcher Kosay Tanaka, pitcher/OF Brendan Doughty, pitcher/1B Leo Depaolo, shortstop/pitcher Max Demers and infielder/catcher Collin Kochanek. Outfielder Owen Varley is a key newcomer.

“We’re a young team this year that is relying on senior leadership to set the tone,” Panthers coach James Gaj said. “We’re hoping to put last year’s slide behind us and be a competitive team again.”

The team took an off-season hit, however, when righty flamethrower Grant McCubrey underwent Tommy John surgery and will have to miss his senior season.

Bishop Guertin had a full pitching staff last year but the 12-9 Cards couldn’t get past the first round. Back to lead their mound corps this spring is senior righty A.J. Holmes, who also plays the outfield. Junior Ben Geiger will also see mound time, and plays first. The top three starters appear to be Holmes, Geiger and Logan Kosko.

Other key returners are senior catcher Jordy Delude and senior outfielder Ethan Drouin. Sophomore infielder Gavin Santos is also one to watch. The Cards have some junior newbies in Tyler parks, Nick Wyner (both inf-of) and Liam Ireland (OF), and there ‘s sophomore catcher-OF Nate Bowen.

“Offensively, we will look to put the ball in play more consistently and cut down on our strikeouts,” Cards coach Scott Painter said. “We are also in improved defensive team, with six returning starters. That will give our pitching staff the confidence to attack hitters.”

Merrimack has arms galore with senior righty Ryan Mainey, junior righty Evan Sousa, sophomore lefty Logan Hoag and sophomore righty Jaden Gallano.

Mainey and Souza will also play the infield, while the hurlers will throw to catcher Shay Collins. Senior Jackson Woods (outfielder) and junior inf-of Zach Retey should also be major contributors.

“We’re deep with veteran pitching,” Tomahawks coach Mike Dudash said, “and we’re led by a seasoned group of seniors.”

They could do some things, hoping to bounce back from losing to Bedford in the first round last spring.

Second-year Alvirne coach Coulton Houle looks to see his team, which went 7-12 last year, have some carryover from winning six of its last eight, while there’s only six with varsity experience.

He feels he’s got an anchor in senior pitcher-infielder Mikey Bebris and perhaps the best outfield Alvirne has had in the last decade in seniors Charlie Crawford and Jaxson Polleck and junior Jameson Kruege. Junior catcher Cather Logan Orr plus senior utility man Jaden Lewis are also key contributors. There’s another half dozen that could be impact players as well.

“New talent and a few underclassmen could help bring success to the program,” Houle said.

DIVISION II

Ethan Gaudet will lead the pitching staff, and the Sabers are waiting for a couple to get healthy – including senior Brayden Hickman, who hurt his elbow in the football championship game but can play the outfield and hit. When he’s fully healed, the Sabers will look to see him pitch. “Probably mid-May,” Metz said.

Senior Jaiden Bosquet, a transfer from Guertin, will also be getting healthy and should be a key.

“A lot of our guys have been on the varsity since they were freshmen,” Metz said. “It’s great.We’re older, we’re more experienced. We know where to be, we just have to execute.”

Cam Brown and Matt Silk lead the offense with Hickman, and Drew Regan. And catcher Joe Mayo struck out just once last year hitting fifth. This team should be a contender.

“They got a taste of it,” Metz said. “They’ve been ticked off sinc 1 o’clock on June 8 getting in the vans to go home. I love that.”

The Spartans of Milford are always competitive – and streaky. Senior shortstop/pitcher Bryce Larco is back, along with senior battery mate Logan Howard. Another key senior is outfielder Liam Zahn while junior pitcher-OF Gabe St. Onge, junior middle infielder Ethan Szopa and sophomore first baseman-pitcher Marek Luba are also players to watch.

“The key to success or us s four our pitchers to throw strikes, our defense to mae plays, and offensively put the ball in play and get the timely hits,” Milford coach Todd Robichaud said.

Words pretty much every team lives by, right?

Hollis Brookline have a few familiar names, but 10 of their players on the roster are freshmen or sophomores, so bear the the Cavs as they try to improve.

Key players include senior pitcher-first baseman Dylan Morelli, a third team All-Stater last year who played on the 2022-23 title teams; senior pitcher-OF Paul Gehan (.300 hitter), senior second baseman Tyler Gryniewicz, a top-of-the lineup hitter who is a four-year varsity player, and hard thrower Ian Sinclair, a sophomore who struck out 30 in eight appearances as a freshman.

“It’s a very young team,” Pratt said. “We’re looking forward to an exciting season and watching this young team grow.”

DIVISION III

The Cougars only have four returning starters, and will be buoyed by senior pitcher-ss Luke Delia, juniors Braydon White (inf-p) and Mikey Grace (inf-p-c) plus sophomore Brady Marcott (inf-p).

With just four key players back, “Our season will be characterized by growth, toughness and leadership,” Gora said. “New talent will emerge, and players will have to step up when we need it the most.”

Title threats appear to be Bishop Brady, Belmont, Conant and Monadnock.