The annual Merrimack Invitational was held on Thursday at what is now the John Snell Track, named after longtime Tomahawks track coach John Snell, who is near retirement. (Courtesy photos)

It’s always a big show at the Merrimack Invitational Track Meet, and Thursday’s annual event was no different — except it was held at the newly named John Snell Track, named after the longtime Tomahawks’ track coach is is nearing retirement.

No one on the Nashua North track team is retiring, though, as it was a big day for Jhanelle Thomas plus the North boys 4×400 relay team.

Thursdays are usually quiet, but that wasn’t the case as there were some big lacrosse games, as well as tennis, volleyball, baseball (Souhegan just keeps winning). And Merrimack may have the area’s best softball team.

Here’s the rundown from Thursday Newsday:

BOYS & GIRLS TRACK

MERRIMACK INVITATIONAL

NORTH 4X400 SETS SCHOOL MARK;’ PINKERTON BOYS, CONCORD GIRLS WIN

The Astro boys totaled 132 points, while Nashua North was second at 59 and South third (50). In the girls meet, Concord won at 110, well ahead of North (71) and Pinkerton (68.50)

For the Titan boys, it was a big day for the 4×400 relay team, which set a school record in 3:26.36. Doing the work were Aaron McNair, Mason Dandeneau,Yaxiel Vazquez and Gavin Suchecki. Suchecki continued his fine spring with a win in the high jump (6-0) and was third in the 300 hurdles.

Darius Smith won the shot put at 52-10 while Noah Pasterczyk was third.

Titan Luke Peters took second in the long jump.

For the Panthers, Sawyer Penny was second in the javelin at 169-1 and Daniel Byrne took third in the 1600. South’s foursome of Leo Lopez, Ryan Jansen, Tim Staveley and Marcell Perry took third in the 4×100 relay while Sergio Lopez, Matthew Motherway, Jansen, Revin Olsen and Cam Brien were third in the 4×400.

Alvirne’s Shawn Boudreau got a win in the discus at 174-4 and was second behind Smith in the shot put, while teammate Joey Marcotte captured the 300 hurdles in 39.50 seconds. Shane Plumley was second in the 400.

Merrimack’s Luca Kabel won the 200 in 22.23 seconds and took third in the 100 dash. Kaiden Okowuga was second in the high jump and

Souhegan’s Owen Pisinski was third in the pole vault.

In the girls meet, Nashua North’s Jhanelle Thomas doubled up in the hurdles, winning the 100 hurdles in 14.79 seconds while Tiana Brown was third, and Thomas took the 300 hurdles in 45.60 seconds. She also helped out in the 4×400 winning relay (4:04.19) along with Allison Frye, Rosalie Neveu, Charlotte Wilson and Laura White.

Titan White captured the 1600 in 5:08.76. Brown also was third in the 200.

South’s Chloe Cruz was second in the discus.

Merrimack’s Cassandra Jimeno was second in the high jump while Melanie Bedard took third in the 1600.

BASEBALL

SOUHEGAN 8, OYSTER RIVER 0

Brayden Hickman (2-0) and Alex Trudel combined for the shutout as the visiting Sabers moved to 11-1 atop Division II.

Joe Mayo and Blake Powers each drove in two runs while Hickman and Drew Reagan each scored two runs. Max Hayes and Cam Brown each had an RBI.

Hickman tossed four scoreless, allowing two hits while walking two and striking out six. Trudel had a walk and strikeout in his three frames. Souhegan takes on Lebanon today.

BEDFORD 11, ALVIRNE 1

The Broncos managed just one hit in their third of four games this week, that by Logan Orr, who ended up scoring the team’s lone run.

Their three game-win streak snapped, the Broncos (3-8) will be at Portsmouth today.

SOFTBALL

MERRIMACK 10, DOVER 2

Bayleigh Robichaud had two hits and four RBIs and played solid defense to help the Tomahawks improve to 9-4.

Marissa Nelson pitched a complee game for her sixth win of the year,buoyed by the ‘Hawks’ 12-hit attack, which included her team-high three hits. Cam Bellen, Lily Dion, Oivia Burke, Ashley Senecal, Ally Wyand, Brianna Noonan and Kat Lurhs all had wins.

Merrimack hosts unbeaten Windham on Monday.

CAMPBELL 6, HOLLIS BROOKLINE 1

The Cougars improved to 4-6 as they held down the Cavs’ offense. Ashley Disco went 2 for 3 for HB while Jenna O’Connor singled and scored the lone Cavalier run.

HB (4-6) hosts Milford on Monday, while Campbell is at Manchester West on Tuesday.

GIRLS LACROSSE

PORTSMOUTH 20, BISHOP GUERTIN 6

The Cards fell to 8-4 after a tough rematch of last year’s finals. The Clippers (13-0) grabbed an 8-3 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, leading 13-3 at the half and 15-5 after three periods.

Abby Lynn had three goals, an assist, and two draw controls while Sarah Brunelle, Bela Dawson, and Mariella Tomasello had a goal each. Emmerson Danish had five saves in the BG goal.

Guertin is at Souhegan next Wednesday.

NASHUA SOUTH 12, DOVER 4

The Panthers reached the double-digit win total (10-4) as Maren Lowell had another six-goal game, while Carly Benzekri had three, Addie Borden a pair and Briley Landsteiner a single tally.

Defense was the story, though, as Panthers Nevaeh Eppolitto, Karina O’Donnell, Lexi McGuire, Karina Santana, Nitzann Alkalay and Maddie Langer played well in front of goalies Lilee Petricca (one save) and Emma Herlihy (four saves).

South is at Londonderry on Monday.

BOYS LACROSSE

DARIEN (CONN.) 13, BISHOP GUERTIN 4

The Cards fell to 9-4 after a tough one with nationally ranked Darien at Bryant University.

Sean McGarry had two goals while Cam Hayden and Owen King had one each and Michael Ponto and Hudson Schmitt an assist each.

Jonah Feliciano had 10 saves in goal.

“They dominated the possession battle in the second half,” Cards coach Brian Cameron said. “Turnovers cost us.”

WINDHAM 11, NASHUA NORTH 3

The Titans are seeking that elusive first win, despite getting two goals from Nick Wilkinson and one by Nico Bottari.

Jack Krulikowski picked up five ground balls while Josh Parsons was incredibly busy in goal with 27 saves.

North (0-12) will try again today vs. Concord.

LACONIA 15,MILFORD 0

Rocco Bartling3 had 21 saves as the bgight spot for the Spartans.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

HOLLIS BROOKLINE 3, BISHOP GUERTIN 0

The Cavaliers remained unbeaten (11-0) , as (Alex Howe had 17 service points and eight kills. James Kelly,Jameson Evelyn and Liam Gagne combined for 14 kills while Sam Hersey (26 assists) and Zac Wu (six digs, 15 service points).

BG (2-8) are at Pinkerton and HB hosts Winnacunnet on Tuesday.

BOYS TENNIS

BEDFORD 8, NASHUA NORTH 0

The Titans had a tough day against the usually dominant Bulldogs, winning just two games throughout execpt at No. 5 singles, where Navein Sribalaharan lost 9-8 (7-4) in a tiebreaker.

Now 5-6, North begins the final week of the regular season at Manchester Central on Monday.

ALVIRNE 5, LEBANON 4

The Broncos got big-time help from the lower end of the ladder as they split singles matches while taking two of three doubles for the win, with the No. 3 tandem of Sam Kudikala/Christian Figueiredo getting the clinching point, 8-5. That snapped a five-match skid for the Broncos,now 4-8.

Sean Mendes/Cole Fitzpatrick also won 8-4, while singles winners were Sean Mendes (8-5), Kudikala (8-0) and Figueiredo (8-1).

Alvirne hosts Plymouth today.

GIRLS TENNIS

NASHUA NORTH 5, BEDFORD 0

The Titans got their fifth win in time before the rains came to improve to 7-3.

Winners (all singles) were by Mary Pappas (8-1), Brielle Baxter (8-4), Gabi Desjardins (8-0), Mariana Cajigas (8-4) and Aleena Reth (8-5).

North is at Londonderry today.

SOUHEGAN 9, OYSTER RIVER 0

The Sabers just keep on winning, as the only close match they had was Tess Jancar winning 9-7 at No. 2. Other singles winners were Callie Perrin (8-0), Ori Dart (8-0), Caroline Drum (8-0), Sophia Yats (8-1 and Emma Perrin (8-1).

Doubles wins were by Callie Perrin/Dart (8-2), Jancar/Drum (8-0) and Yates/Emma Perrin (8-2).

Now 12-0, the Sabers are at ConVal today.