CAL RIPKEN

U12

Nashua West Stars win SVI

The Nashua West U12 Cal Ripken All Stars were victorious in the annual Souhegan Valley Invitational Baseball tournament.

The West All Stars posted a perfect 6-0 record on the way to their first tournament championship.

Despite an injury to one of the team’s key players early in the tournament, every member of the team raised their game, exhibiting timely hitting, aggressive baserunning and some solid defensive play.

During the pool-play portion of the tournament they posted victories over Con-Val (10-1), Merrimack (11-6), Swanzey (5-4) and Hollis (12-9).

In the semifinals, Londonderry put together three hits in the top of the first inning to stake themselves to a quick 1-0 lead, but that would be all the offense they would get for the remainder of the game off of West starting pitcher Mike Osgood, who went the distance in Nashua’s 3-1 win.

Nashua struck back quickly in its half of the first with a two-run home run off the bat of Chris Cruz.

Nashua put an insurance run on the board in the fourth inning with Tyler Watkins doubling home Andrew Thibault with two outs and send West into the finals.

The entire team had an error-free game in the field, highlighted by Mike Habibi’s six assists at shortstop.

Nashua West’s opponent in the finals was another undefeated team, the Hammerheads AAU squad based out of Hooksett. West faced stiff competition from the Hammerheads, who are the 2010 AAU New England Regional Tournament runners-up.

Habibi started off the scoring for Nashua with a solo home run in the first, but the Hammerheads came right back in their half of the first to tie the score at 1-1.

Trailing 3-1 in the third, Nashua tied the game with another Habibi homer, this one with one man aboard.

The West All Stars proceeded to push across one more run with a Thibault two-out single scoring Alex Haight to push the lead to 4-3. With the score again knotted at 4-4, West struck again with two-outs getting a Watkins single scoring Haight.

Owen Miller was inserted into the game to pinch-run and promptly stole second. Patrick Soucy followed that up with another two-out single, giving West a 6-4 lead.

In addition to being the offensive star of the game, Habibi also pitched his best game of 2010 holding off the powerful Hammerheads lineup, pitching out of many jams and making the six runs stand up for a 6-5 Nashua West victory.

Members of the Nashua West U12 All Stars are Brandon Bickom, Jacob Burbank, Chris Cruz, Xavier Emond, Mike Habibi, Alex Haight, Owen Miller, Tyler O’Bryan, Mike Osgood, Patrick Soucy, Andrew Thibault, Tyler Watkins, Jarret Wilson, as well as manager Don Joles and coaches Al Burbank, Jay Osgood and Doug Wilson.

U11

Merrimack wins Skeffington Tournament

The Merrimack 11 year olds competed in the Skeffington Cal Ripken Western District Tournament in Merrimack the week of July 10-15.

Merrimack finished the tournament with a 4-0 record to win the District championship and qualify for the Cal Ripken State Tournament.

The Merrimack boys started off the week with a strong offensive performance against Nashua West winning it 14-5. Strong pitching by Justin Grassini and Ryan Slate, great team defense and a solo home run from Peter Sillich clinched the second game against Milford 1-0.

The next game against Keene was a nailbiter with Merrimack winning it 5-4 when Slate stole home during an intentional walk in the last inning.

Merrimack clinched the title with another strong offensive performance against Keene winning it 9-2.

Merrimack U12 will next play in the NH Cal Ripken Baseball State tournament in Merrimack, July 23-30, where they will compete against seven other teams for a chance to advance to the New England Regional tournament.

BABE RUTH

U14

Nashua 14s advance to state tournament

The Nashua Babe Ruth 14-year old all stars, managed by by Duane Erickson and coached by Rich Loftus, Duane Grandi and Jim Sanderson, advanced to the New Hampshire Babe Ruth State championships by winning the District 2 playoffs in six games played at Holman Stadium and Ledge Street Field.

After posting victories over Concord, Salem and Pelham and a second round loss to Manchester, the Nashua squad had to win both games of a doubleheader against Manchester to take the District 2 title.

In the final, the Nashua 14s shut out Manchester 8-0 in Game 1, and then took the rubber match with a decisive 7-1 victory, behind strong pitching performances by Joe Crowley, Dan Ray and Mike Cadorette.

Rounding out the Nashua roster were Scott Avery, CJ Boykin, Matt Byers, Liam Curran, Brad DeLuca, Chas DeWitt, Matt Fortin, Marcel Laplante, Ryan Mateo, Ryan Milliken, Tim Moreau and Cam Streeter.