The Cardinals celebrate as they wait to greet Gabby Gillette (not shown) at home plate after one of her two homers in BG's 5-2 Division I quarterfinal win at Windham. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Just like there’s nothing like the local high school spring sports season, there’s nothing quite like the Spring Tourney Trail.

This year, with the school calendar basically a week behind from last year, the Trail didn’t begin until after Memorial Day Weekend and extended to the middle of June. It had twists, turns, hot days, cold days, highs, lows, upsets, etc. Get those walking shoes on and be ready for a long hike:

TUESDAY, MAY 27

BISHOP GUERTIN HIGH SCHOOL

The NHIAA didn’t release the tennis team pairings until the morning of the first round, thanks in part to the holiday, which certainly thrill some of the coaches. In any event, the first stop is at the BG courts where the Nashua North boys were taking on the Cardinals in a first round matchup. It wasn’t close, with the Cards routing the Titans 9-0, but North was undermanned. Seems that day was the designated “senior skip day”, a usual late spring high school tradition everywhere, and the universal rule is if you’re not in school academically you can’t compete athletically. Too bad because the Titans did make the tourney after missing out last year on the final day. “We made plans to have some of the younger guys come in,” said North coach Andrew Dutton said. “I thought it as a good year.”

It was a good year for BG, too, except their reward was a trip to Bedford in the quarterfinals to face the Bulldogs. Oh well. “We’re always blessed with that kind of a draw,” BG coach Tom Lizotte said sarcastically.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

NASHUA HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH

After the Silver Knights opener and a tight regular season BG lacrosse game at Rivier, we head up the Everett and stop off at the South tennis courts, where the Panther girls were hosting Keene in the first round of the tourney. A long match, and it didn’t go South’s way as they fell to the Blackbirds, 6-3, ending an otherwise good season. It was a quick stop for photos and to touch base with Panthers coach Karen Cullison, who has done a good job creating interest in the program.

NASHUA HIGH SCHOOL NORTH

Now we move to a happier Titan scene with Dutton, who also coached the North girls, as they cruised past Salem 6-3. North had a great No. 1 in Mary Pappas and she won in singles and also doubles.

Dutton earned his stripes this spring. He took care of the road matches all season for both the boys and girls, ran practices for both, while now former North athletics coordinator Mike Soucy supervised the home matches for both teams. Finally Dutton, a North teacher who told us he lives about 40 minutes away, could coach a home match. Of course where would the Titans go next?

Hanover. The guy could not catch a break.

FRIDAY, MAY 30

PORTSMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

The only other sport besides tennis that has begun its postseason at this time is track and field, why not make a trip to the seascoast on a Friday night, right? Its the Division I boys and girls track championships, held at Portsmouth HS for the second straight year. The strategy is to arrive somewhere midway through, early evening, to catch the key events. But would a parking space be available? We lucked out. Getting out of the car, putting on a jacket – we came prepared – some fans were leaving. “Oh man, I know how you feel,” a guy said to this oblivious scribe. He was talking about the pine pitch on yours truly’s car. OK, so how did you get yours out? “Wash it,” he said. Well, there you go.

As for the event, it was a Nashua North kind of night for the boys, with the Titans taking second, although far from winner Pinkerton. No prob. The drama was in the girls, as the Titans had few moments when they looked like they might pull it off, until Concord speedster Grace Saysaw took over in the 4×400 relay. But Jhanelle Thomas of North won both hurdles to lead the way. “My girls did incredible,” Archer said. Gagnon told his athletes that just because the Astros were pretty much a given to win, “You still have to show up and be confident in your ability.”

The highlights of the boys meet saw Titan wins by Gavin Suchecki (high jump) and Darius Smith (shot put, reclaiming his title), and BG’s Matt Giardina winning again in the 3200, but this time in a Division I record time. “The record is what I was shooting for,” he said.

And we were shooting to beat the crowd before the awards ceremony once the final standings were set and follow the Trail home.

Milford’s Kenyon Sora, left, and Avery Wilson celebrate their third state championship won together this school year. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

SUNDAY, JUNE 1

SANBORN HIGH SCHOOL

Welcome to the Division II Track, and the fourth state title of the academic year for Milford High School. The place was packed.

The Spartan boys were the story. Checking in with head coach Julie Dutton, she had a feeling that Merrimack Valley with its field event domination was going to win it. But really, she was just trying to prepare for the blow if that would happen. It didn’t, as Spartans like Avery Wilson and Logan Korthals wouldn’t let it. Remember, this was the group that with just seven in the winter pulled off a title. For Wilson and Kenyon Sora, it was their third state title of the academic year (soccer the first).

Always good, too, to mingle with the crowd in the infield and catch up with some things. There was Justin Hufft and his backpack, following his Pelham athletes as their outgoing AD, as he’s now the AD at Alvirne. There we got the word on who the new Broncos head boys hoop coach would be (Sam Bonney-Liles). But the joy for Milford and Dutton was clear.

“This is a special group of guys we have right now, a special group of guys for sure,” she said.

Think about it, the first week of the trail was done and the other sports pairings haven’t even come out yet.

TUESDAY, JUNE 3

CAMP YOUNG JUDEA, AMHERST

It wouldn’t be a spring Tourney Trail without a trip to the home of the Souhegan girls tennis team, walking down the huge hill, past a great looking pool, and then hang a right to the courts where the Saber girls were ready to wrap up an easy semifinal win over Winnacunnet for the second straight year and return to the finals. “Don’t go over there,” Sabers coach Bo Dean said of an area behind the far courts. “Tick city.”

More like Win City.The Sabers rolled past Winnacunnet, celebrated with snacks after, and that set up a final vs. Portsmouth in two days. “They have goals of winning it this year and they’re going to be really tough,” Warriors coach Paul Whitmore said.

During the match a chat with Souhegan AD revealed that this coming school year there will be no Saber boys on skates during hockey season. A halt, likely temporary, to a program that for a decade plus was a dominant Division III team but forced to co-op with Nashua North due to numbers. North is now with South and there were only a couple of Sabers at best that might be playing. That may change next year after this scheduling cycle ends and a likely partner is the Alvirne-Milford co-op.

Now,to climb that hill past the pool back to the car. Ugh.

WEDNESDAY,JUNE 4

DOVER HIGH SCHOOL

Yes, as the temps warm up, a good day to take a drive toward the seacoast, though there’s no ocean view at Dover High School. The Cavaliers from Hollis Brookline upset Winnacunnet in the Divsion II boys tennis semis so here they were at the land of the eight courts, Dover HS, underdogs against No. 1 Goffstown, which beat them twice during the regular season. The third time wasn’t the charm, unfortunately for the Cavs, in a 6-3 loss. Tell you though, the place is action central. You turn into the drive there are sporting events everywhere. Even the softball field across the street had Coe-Brown playing in a scrimmage. Huh? Lacrosse, baseball,etc.

Tough one for the Cavs, who simply didn’t have the firepower. They were in the semis last year, finals this year, and with many coming back, you’d assume there’s that next step.

“We played amazing this year,” HB’s No.1 singles player Arjun Inakollu said. “Everyone on the team is just amazing, we all tried so hard. I know we can do better next year. We’re going to win it next year.”

They alternate the boys and girls sites so if the Cavs return, it probably won’t be at Dover.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

ALVIRNE HIGH SCHOOL

Welcome to the Division II girls tennis finals, Souhegan vs. Portsmouth on a steamy hot day as the weather changes daily. A little closer than Dover, no?

Getting out of the car after arriving in mid-match, a couple was heading back to theirs. “You missed something,” they said, informing that a Portsmouth player, Clara Daw, had collapsed on the court in the heat near the end of her singles match. They were tending to her when we arrived; word was she wanted to continue in doubles later but was obviously told no.

The show was in a close No. 1 doubles match but the Sabers Callie Perrin/Ori Dart won a tough match and that was the fifth point needed. A team that fell to Oyster River in a one-sided finals a year ago, whose coach guaranteed in March a return trip, was finally champions. A relieved Bo Dean said he was going camping for the weekend. The players were most excited about a fire truck escort with sirens sounding through Amherst to Mont Vernon.

SOUHEGAN HIGH SCHOOL

A two-stop day; the Sabers and Bishop Guertin moved their highly anticipated Division I girls lacrosse quarterfinal to 7 p.m, allowing for dual coverage. The best lacrosse games are low scoring, and this one was just that, Lanai Hickman’s goal giving Souhegan the lead for good, 3-2 at the half en route to a 7-4 win. For the first time in ages a BG team would not be going to the Final Four. A monumental win for Souhegan.

“I’m so happy for my girls,” Sabers coach McKinley Curro-Sbordone said, noting the draw losses were offset by caused turnovers. For BG it had to be disappointing, and Cards coach Callie Santos nearly didn’t make the game suffering from pneumonia. Not good in the heat. Meanwhile, hats off to the Players of the Game: The Sabers training staff who provided yours truly with a much needed ice cold water. But not to self: next time bring the Off.

Bishop Guertin girls lacrosse player Lola Dumont reacts to the sound of the final buzzer during the Cards’ quarterfinal loss at Souhegan. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

STELLOS STADIUM, NASHUA

That calendar moving back a week compared to the previous year for tournaments caused a lot of shifts in plans, and that meant Nashua South’s boys lacrosse quarterfinal being moved from Thursday to Friday at Stellos thanks to Dover’s graduation. The Green Wave hadn’t won a tourney game in ages but after a quick start they hung on to eliminate South in the prelims, 14-11, after surging to a 9-3 lead. Tough one for the Panthers but valuable experience.

“I hope that second half proved they belonged here,” Panthers coach Will Delanoy said.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

STELLOS STADIUM

Back again. It wasn’t planned, but Nashua ETV needed an announcer at the last minute to do the Bishop Guertin-Concord boys lacrosse quarterfinal, so why not? This is usually the busiest Saturday of the spring, but the damp weather that was most of the afternoon wiped out all the baseball/softball. The Cards were dominant as usual, winning 19-2 led by Owen Kings five goals. A formality, but also a special one as it was first-year head coach Brian Cameron’s first career postseason win. “Hoping for many more,” he said.

What this day proved was a bear of a sinus infection suffered by yours truly wasn’t quite over as we had during halftime a coughing fit to end all coughing fits. Ugh.

SUNDAY, JUNE 8

Super Saturday instead turned into Super Sunday with a plethora of rescheduled games:

STELLOS STADIUM, NASHUA

Back to Stellos for double duty, Telegraph coverage of the Merrimack-Merrimack Valley Division II girls lacrosse semis plus our NFHS Network broadcast debut. Old hat, right?

But this wasn’t old hat for No. 2 seed Merrimack, and the postseason inexperience showed as MV stormed out to an 8-3 lead vs. a team it had lost to by 10 goals during the regular season. The final: MV 13, Merrimack 10. Afterward, understandably, Tomahawks coach Katie Todd said “I think we came out flat-footed.” Again, this was rescheduled from Saturday not due the pouring rain but to graduation for MV, and when that happens, it always seems to favor the underdog. For yours truly, that signaled the end of any local games at Stellos Stadium for an interesting school year.

WINDHAM HIGH SCHOOL

Off to Windham, our first ever visit to the softball field up on the hill, which looks like a palace compared to the football field it overlooks. Could the Bishop Guertin girls softball team, in a quarterfinal rescheduled for Sunday due to rain, pull off an upset? The answer was indeed yes, as the No. 7 Cards KO’d the No. 2 Jaguars 5-2 thanks in part to two Gabby Gillette homers.

“We lost here earlier in the season and that was a tough game for us,” Cards coach Dakota Bilodeau said. “We learned a lot that game. When we were in left field (after that loss), I said, ‘Hey, we’re going to see them again, and we don’t want to feel like this again.’ I think that was a really big motivating factor.”

On to Plymouth for the second straight year. Meanwhile, good to see former Merrimack AD Jon Hall, the guy in charge at Windham. Heading down the hill, at the bottom BG players were enjoying someone’s birthday cake. We were jealous. Oh well.

Cake or not, a busy weekend ends, and after no local games on Monday, we’re set to take an extensive long distance part of the Trail beginning Tuesday.

The Sabers gather for a group hug moments after the final buzzer sounded in their 12-7 loss to Portsmouth in the Division I finals in Exeter. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

TUESDAY, JUNE 10

EXETER’S BILL BALL STADIUM

Believe it or not, our one and only trip this spring to BBS, and it was to see if the Souhegan girls lacrosse team could end the Portsmouth dominance in the Division II championship game, a rematch of last year’s semis and another battle between sister coaches, McKinley Curro-Sbordone and Portsmouth’s JoJo Curro. It’s been advantage JoJo, but the Sabers had an early 3-2 lead after the first quarter. But in the end, the Clippers were too much, winning 12-7 for their second straight Division I crown.

“It was a great game,” said JoJo Curro. “It was definitely our biggest competition. Our girls wanted competition, and we got it today.”

These two could possibly see each other again here next year.

In any event, farewell to Bill Ball Stadium, see you likely for soccer semis next fall.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11

PLYMOUTH’S CHASE FIELD

We’re here for the Division I semifinals, the furthest stop on the Trail. And it’s a stop that shouldn’t have to happen; you mean to tell us that Chase Field is the only place to hold the Division I semis and finals? There was nothing special about it, and for all the large schools to hoof up to Plymouth is ridiculous. We found out Chase Field is run/owned by a Plymouth softball group, not Plymouth State, which may not matter but the NHIAA’s relationship with colleges further south is apparently not good. That needs to change.

In any event, Bishop Guertin bowed to Pinkerton 5-0 and sophomore Julia Caruso, who was awarded a no-hitter. But one could argue no, because in the sixth the Cards’ Sophie Bilodeau was bunting for a base hit with one on, and no one was covering first whe Caruso heaved the ball that way. She was charged with an error, but Bilodeau woul d have been safe regardless. Oh well, the bottom line was a tough defeat for BG but hey, the Cards have made it to Plymouth two straight years.

“Yeah, obviously that’s are goal every year,” Bilodeau. “It’s a real hard working group and these seniors are really awesome. It’s going to look a little different (next year), that’s for sure.”

CONCORDS MEMORIAL FIELD/WARREN DOAN STADIUM

OK, here’s the deal: We figure that we could catch the bulk of Souhegan baseball’s Division II semifinal vs. Kingswood, as we head south, a perfect stop along the way. What’s a couple of innings between friends? Well…..we forgot about the mercy rule, although the two teams played a 3-1 game (Souhegan) during the regular season. But by the time we showed up in Concord it was 12-1 Souhegan, top five, and one out to go. Gulp. Kingswood did score one more run in the inning, photo of official scorer Duncan Walsh’s book, a celebration photo and there you go. Had it all the way. A special moment for Saber pitcher Jaiden Bosquet, who didn’t pitch last year due to arm woes and transferred from BG, and just pitched his team to the finals. “It’s so easy to go out there every day and rely on such great leather behind me,” Bosquet said. “The guys, we come out every week, and we just perform. … 1-0 every game.”

THURSDAY, JUNE 12

Once again, the heat was on. But perfect for a drive up to the Lakes Region and Laconia, right, as our Trail goes the distance, literally. LHS’ Bank of New Hampshire Stadium was the site of the Division III boys lacrosse semis, defending champ Campbell vs. Plymouth and the game was moved to an earlier 2 p.m. time. It may have been the best game on the Trail, as the Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 lead only to fall in overtime, 7-6. A thriller. But here’s a little media tidbit: We’re all strapped with multiple events at same times, etc., and one paper called yours truly during the game to see if we knew of any photographer who could shoot the 5 p.m. Coe-Brown-Hopkinton semi. Luckily, right next to me was the Plymouth High School photog we had talked to the previous day at the softball semis. But he’d probably be gonzo after the Campbell game, right? “No, I’m a Coe-Brown alum, so I’ll be staying to watch.”

Problem solved.

Souhegan’s Ethan Gaudet celebrates with catcher Joe Mayo after the final out of the Sabers’ 4-3 Division II title win over John Stark at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

SATURDAY, JUNE 14

MANCHESTER’S DELTA DENTAL STADIUM

Well, finally a little closer to home, right? It was great to see the Sabers come away with a thrilling 4-3 win over John Stark in the finals, knowing it was their goal for a year after the drubbing they endured at the hands of Bow the previous year. It was also great to see former Pinkerton AD Bob Royce, who was the official scorer. And Stark coach Dennis Pelletier, who always reminds yours truly we covered him as a player at Nashua High. Gulp.

But what wasn’t so great was the post-game situation. The media was asked to conduct post-game interviews on the concourse as the teams would be told to go up to Section 108, so as to clear the field for the next game and prevent any field damage. Media could, however, take photos on the field. Somewhat understandable, but not ideal. Well, first, yours truly made the mistake of stepping on the grass to take the celebration photo, but quickly moved onto the dirt. Then, while the Sabers were packing up, we were standing right next to Brayden Hickman, who got the mound win, and he was all set. Why not talk to a kid we’ve known for a few years? Once we did, quickly, a Fisher Cats staffer walks up and says, “So, you think you own the place?”

Huh? He also gave another media member a hard time. Some media members weren’t even allowed onto the field. Now, the concourse interviews were fine, except for one thing. A media outlet videos a staged celebration, part of its brand, and usually the losing team is far away. But the Stark kids had to be right there. Again, not ideal.

Still, let’s not take anything away from Souhegan’s great win. But the message remains the same to the Fisher Cats: If you don’t want us there, don’t sign the contract to host.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JUNE 21-22

NASHUA HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH’S FRAN TATE TRACK

We should include this as a Trail stop, it’s a post season event, the NH Decathlon-Heptathlon. And it was a literally part of the Trail, as a nice walk through Mines Falls for the first day was a good way to go. Conant’s Ben Sawyer returned after a year’s absence to win his third title and Manchester Central’s Angela Cenesca performed well in the 800 to surge to the title after finishing eighth the year before. Kudos to South coach Doug Booth, who was filling in as the event director. But that Sunday heat and the 1500 (boys) and 800 meter runs (girls) left some heat victims, for sure.

With that, we headed home, the Trails done for another school year. But the spring was no doubt the longest.

Nashua South’s Preston Bois begins his descent after clearing the bar in the pole vault in the annual Decathlon at the Fran Tate Track. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)