SOFTBALL

Souhegan Valley Storm win U10 state title

The Souhegan Valley Storm U10 softball team won the southern New Hampshire Babe Ruth State championship last weekend in Londonderry.

The team was able to complete the tournament with a 5-0 record against some of the best teams in southern New Hampshire. The tournament began with wins over Lamprey River and Londonderry. The Storm then faced a tough Litchfield team. Through four innings the game was close, but the Storm broke through with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to win by the final score of 8-3 and advance to the championship game.

In the championship game the Storm faced a tenacious Londonderry team for a ticket to the New England Regional tournament. It was another tight contest through three innings with a score of 8-6, but again the Storm offense surged with more hits, including two home runs. The final score was 16-6.

The U10 Storm continues to receive contributions from all players. Great pitching, strong defense and timely hitting have helped them to a 16-4 record through four tournaments this season, which includes two championships and one runner-up finish. The team advances to play in the New England Babe Ruth Regional tournament in Pittsfield, Mass., the weekend of July 30. They will play against seven other teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. Before that, they will take part in the Merrimack U10 Invitational.

BASKETBALL

NH Flames U14 finish 13th in Division II nationals

The New Hampshire Flames U14 team recently competed in the National Championships at the ESPN

Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., from July 5-10. The competition started with pool play on Tuesday which saw the Flames play a solid defensive game holding the Georgia Sting to 18 points in a 28-18 victory.

Caitlyn Perry led all flames scorers with nine points and had help from Summer Choate with five.

On Wednesday, the Orlando Blaze were the opponents and had a 14-point lead with six minutes left in the second half when the Flames went on a torrid run capped off by a 3-pointer with three seconds left in regulation by Perry to tie the game at 58. In the overtime, the Flames outscored the Blaze 12-7 to capture a thrilling 70-65 win. Perry led all scorers with 31 points hitting five 3-pointers along the way, along with eight points from Genevieve Gosselin and seven points from both Sarah Voorhis and Choate.

In the afternoon game, the opponents were the Arkansas Elite, who head coach Michael Perry stated were the best team that the Flames have ever competed against and it showed as they eventually would go on to win the Division II National championship. The Flames had it tough and were beat soundly 60-37. Jen Gaudet led the offense with eight points. Finishing second in their pool, the Flames advanced on to the double elimination championship bracket.

On Thursday morning, the Flames took on the Bearcats from Georgia and lost a tough 51-41 decision.

Perry and Choate both had seven points with Ally Thompson and Sarah Amrein each collecting six points.

In the afternoon game, the Atlanta Cagers were the opponent and the Flames came away with another thrilling victory, 63-61. Perry had 13 points while Voorhis chipped in with 11, Choate added nine, Gosselin eight and Kelleigh Murtagh seven.

It all ended on Friday morning with a loss to a very good Boston Showstoppers team.

The game was actually tied 25-25 at the half, but the Flames could not buy a basket in the second half and went on to lose and be eliminated, 53-27.

Perry led the Flames’ effort with 13 points while Murtagh added six, helping the team to a 13th-place finish nationally.

The team consisted of players Sarah Amrein, Brianna Angelini, Jayla Brennen, Summer Choate, Jenn Gaudet, Genevieve Gosselin, Kelleigh Murtagh, Caitlyn Perry, Ally Thompson, Sarah Voorhis and Brooke Waye. The coaches were head coach Michael Perry and assistant coach Peter Thompson. Assistant coaches Gary Murtagh and John Choate could not attend the Nationals due to prior commitments.