The Hollis Brookline girls tennis team was a nice tourney surprise locally, reaching the Division II finals. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

The Tourney Trail always is an adventure.

But walking the tourney journey for the third time this year is an accomplishment, because who knew that when the high school fall sports season began in the fall that we would be able to make it through three seasons.

That is, including the last one. Hope springs eternal, and it was a spring to remember, because for the first time, the stands were packed, as there were few – if any – fan restrictions by the time the tournaments started. No teams had to drop out due to the pandemic, as the vaccines have given all hope and, it appears, health.

This spring’s personal Trail – remember, these are just the events yours truly covered in person, not other events – began at the tennis courts, moved to softball, baseball and lacrosse, and ended at Concord’s Memorial Field.

Here’s your look:

Merrimack catcher Ashlynn Cassety slaps a tag on Concord's Delany Duford during the Division I semifinals at Concord's Memorial Field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

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WEEK ONE

THURSDAY, MAY 27

NASHUA NORTH TENNIS COURTS

This was a quick stop on the trail, as Nashua North was hosting South in a boys Division I preliminary round match, and it wasn’t close. The Panthers and Alvirne Broncos were arguably the two best teams in the area, so the 9-0 final wasn’t much of a surprise. But it was nice to see North back in the postseason under coach Robert Trowbridge.

Nashua North's Alex Meesig turned in the best local pitching performance of the state tournament, eight shutout innings vs. Keene. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

“We didn’t embarrass ourselves, that’s for sure,” Trowbridge said. “Six matches, which we lost, were against three of the best teams in the state. That’s how we got scheduled in this pod arrangement.”

But we love South coach Dave Santerre, who always puts things in witty perspective.

“I get the credit, and I don’t have to hit a ball,” he said. “It’s a great job.”

Off to the Silver Knights season opener, so a brief stop, indeed.

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FRIDAY, MAY 28

NASHUA NORTH TENNIS COURTS

Yes, we’re back. We love the North courts. This time, it was the Division I girls prelim between the Titans and Bishop Guertin, and the Cardinals won 8-1, although the final two doubles matches were rain shortened. A light rain began just as doubles was starting, and North coach Bob Viens was diligent in inspecting the surface as there was some early slipping/sliding. Good call, tough way to end for North, but the Cards lived for another round.

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WEEK TWO

MONDAY, MAY 31

Yes, high school tourney action on Memorial Day. That would never be the case in the past, but with the open tournaments, the NHIAA and its schools needed every day possible to play. And this was a triple stop day:

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STELOS STADIUM

DIVISION I GIRLS

LACROSSE PLAY-IN

BISHOP GUERTIN 18, NASHUA SOUTH 2

Breakfast at Stellos. Remember, this open tournament, like the most of the ones in the fall and winter, were blind draw deals, with often the best teams having to compete in play-in games.

That was the case with the BG girls, and that was a tough draw for Nashua South, as the final was 18-2. The Panthers deserved better, and so did South’s Olivia Johnson, who went down with a knee injury, no contact, early in the second half. A junior, you hope she doesn’t have to sacrifice part of next year to rehab.

“She’s one of their great friends,” Guertin coach Leslie Why said of Johnson’s relationship with her players.

South coach Ciki McIntire was hoping for the best, but thrilled about her team’s 10-win season. “They put together a competitive season without having a season last year,” she said.

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HOLMAN STADIUM

DIVSION I BASEBALL

PLAY-IN

KEENE 6, NASHUA SOUTH 2

Lunch at Holman with fellow media members Chris Detwiler and, of course, longtime mentor Alan Greenwood. But the meal didn’t taste too good for the Panthers, who couldn’t solve Blackbirds pitcher Peter Haas, and, more importantly, Keene’s No. 7 hitter Sharik Khan. Khan hit just .230 during the regular season, but the left fielder had a single, triple and three RBIs.

“I do love this ballpark,” Khan said.

Good thing, as it was the start of Keene Week at Holman – three straight visits to HHS. Would they go 3 for 3? Read on. …

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HOLMAN STADIUM

DIVISION I BASEBALL

PLAY-IN

BISHOP GUERTIN 5,

MERRIMACK 4

The final game of the Memorial Day tripleheader, and it was the best of the day, and a rare one when all the scoring was done in just two half-innings. The Tomahawks grabbed a 4-0 lead in the third, and Guertin got five in the bottom of the fourth and held on. The irony was the game-winning hit was a two-run single by Luke Anderson, who grew up on the Merrimack HS field as his dad, Ryan, used to coach the Tomahawks.

Tough one for ‘Hawks pitcher Dylan Brander, who had just one bad inning. Great one for BG, who had plenty of fans on hand.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1

BISHOP GUERTIN’S

ELLIOTT FIELD

DIVISION I PLAY-IN

NASHUA NORTH 10,

BISHOP GUERTIN 3

A much closer game than the final score indicated, as the Titans and Cardinals were deadlocked at two in the top of the third before the Cards broke things open against the one-win Titans with five in the bottom half. A great day for BG catcher Maddy Bowen who went 4 for 4 with a single, two doubles, homer and six RBIs.

It was a tough one-win year for the Titans, but outgoing North coach Jenna Gianelli was happy how they competed in that game. The best scene of the entire Trail: the Titans gathering for a final team photo with their mascot, a golden retriever who loved the camera.

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BG TENNIS COURTS

DIVISION I QUARTERFINALS

HANOVER

Not a bad twinbill at BG, as just a hop, skip and a jump across the parking lot was the Division I girls quarterfinal match between the Cards and Hanover. Like softball, it was scheduled for Memorial Day, but postponed due to the weekend-long rain.

Tough courts at BG. First of all, there are only three, and second, by a certain time players on one side will have the sun in their eyes. Oops.

But it wasn’t the same dominat BG, as they lacked the depth they needed against the really, really good teams. The Cards got singles wins by Hannah Gilbertson at No. 2 and Abby Linskey at No. 6, but needed to sweep doubles and got swept instead. BG coach Barry Ndinya knows he needs more depth next year. And maybe some new courts not facing the sun?

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2

MERRIMACK HIGH SCHOOL

DIVISION I PRELMS

MERRIMACK 5, BISHOP GUERTIN 4

Great game, great view. Unique experience.

First of all, if you haven’t been to a high school softball game at Merrimack, the field is down a hill to the left of the main building. Waaaay down a hill, not a fun walk back. We know people, so the KingMobile was allowed to make its way down.

Second, it’s a great field. They’ve cleared out an area above a big center field wall so fans can stand and watch, almost like the Monster Seats at Fenway Park, but a heckuva lot cheaper (like $0). Merrimack coach Greg Cochrane suggested it to yours truly as a great photo spot, as the sun is behind it.

The Tomahawks ended up rallying in the fifth and sixth for the win, as freshman pitcher Avery Hui wiggled out of trouble, and the game ended with an out in a rundown in-between second and third. It meant a return to the field, and our favorite vantage point, on Saturday vs. surprising Nashua South.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3

HOLMAN STADIUM

DIVISION I BASEBALL PRELIMS

KEENE 3, NASHUA NORTH 0

It was, until the no-hitter thrown by Concord’s Jonah Wachter in the finals, the best-pitched game at Holman Stadium this spring. Alex Meesig for Nashua North and Keene’s Zach Mooers. The two were locked in a scoreless duel for eight innings until the ‘Birds got to the Titan bullpen in the ninth for three runs. No one had even reached third for the majority of the game, which even more incredibly for a high school extra inning game took just two hours.Amazing.

You had to feel bad for Meesig, who pitchd his heart out. Mooers got some late relief help from Kahn, who continued to enjoy friendly Holman. Mooers said it was the best he threw all year, “by a mile.”

The game was what high school baseball is all about.

“How about Alex Meesig (101 pitches), and the performance he put on for eight innings,” Harris said. “If I were to be told Alex Meesig went out and threw seven scoreless, I would’ve thought we came out on top.”

Tough ending, but what a game.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 4

BEDFORD TENNIS COURTS

DIVISION II GIRLS FINALS

WINDHAM 9, HOLLIS BROOKLINE 0

The last time we had ventured to these courts, just down the hill from Bedford High School, the Hollis Brookline boys suffered their second-straight loss in the finals, this time to Portsmouth.

Unfortunately, the girls didn’t fair much better, but in the year of COVID, they weren’t too crushed, because they didn’t expect to get this far in the first place when the season began.

“We were just so excited to even have the opportunity to play,” HB’s No. 1 singles player, Delaney Weimer, said. “All we were really focused on at first was enjoying our last season together. Then, we started to win, and we said, ‘Wow, OK, we got this.’ And we changed our mentality.”

“None of us had ever been in the playoffs for tennis before, so it was exciting just to keep pushing through the playoffs.”

Case in point: Weimer was getting toasted by the Jags Jess Thibodeau before rallying to lose just 8-6. They take their tennis seriously in Windham. Parents were challenging first-year HB coach Dalia Paradie’s talking to players during breaks, etc. At the time, the Jags were blowing away the Cavs, it was pretty ridiculous. But the Jaguars left with a well-earned plaque, and the Cavaliers left with a good feeling of a job well done.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 5

STELLOS STADIUM

DIVISION I BOYS LACROSSE QUARTERFINALS

BISHOP GUERTIN 18,

NASHUA SOUTH 4

Super Saturday has arrived. The day began with about a half hour at the BG-South boys lacrosse game, just a few photos and only the first quarter, as J.J. Murphy kept winning faceoffs and the Cards kept scoring. Different levels, and they’ll have to fix this in the next couple years in this sport, where there’s a big disparity. But the heat was on, and yes, the big sign at the entrance said the Nashua School District’s mask rule was as well.

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NEXT STOP: HOLMAN

STADIUM

DIVISION I BASEBALL

QUARTERS

KEENE 9, BISHOP GUERTIN 4

Yes, a hot day at Holman, but the Keene bats were the hottest part as they grabbed a 6-0 lead in the first inning. The Cards mounted a bit of a comeback, but Peter Haas survived not having his best stuff for Keene, which advanced to the semifinals.

Three trips to Holman, three wins for the Blackbirds, who for one week in June 2020 owned Nashua baseball. Yikes.

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NEXT STOP: MERRIMACK HIGH SCHOOL

DIVISION I SOFTBALL

QUARTERFINALS

MERRIMACK 4,

NASHUA SOUTH 0

A tale of two pitchers. First, it was great to see the Panthers get this far, to the quarterfinals. Second, one could see how special it was for sisters Avery and Lindsay Hui to play together, the latter being a senior third baseman. Avery twirled the shutout, but one had to feel bad for South pitcher Natalie Ward, who had a great season but suffered heat exhaustion by around the fifth.

And, yes, we watched part of the game from our center field view. This time, the parents and fans were more into the game than talking about everything else a few days earlier.

Best thing: The dark storm clouds that were approaching stayed away until the game could finsish.

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NEXT STOP: BEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL’S BULLDOG

STADIUM

DIVISION I GIRLS LACROSSE SEMIFINALS

BISHOP GURTIN 11,

BEDFORD 9

Well, those storm clouds weren’t as kind, as it poured on the way to Bedford, and the rain was still coming down lightly upon arrival just after 6 p.m. The problem, though, was lightning, and teams have to wait 30 minutes with no bolts in sight before taking the field. You see a bolt, and the clock reverts back to 30 minutes. Souhegan and Bedford were playing a boys lacrosse game, that got delayed, three times, so the Cards and Bulldogs didn’t begin their epic battle until close to 9 p.m. Fun, fun, fun.

But in the end, it was worth the wait. Guertin led 5-1, trailed 7-5 at the half, then 8-7, and scored four unanswered and got their draw problem solved with Katie Campel taking the draws in the second half.

The fog began to form just above the field turf at Bulldog Stadium, and Guertin put on a stall with about two minutes left. They were challenged – just like the Cards’ dominant girls hockey team was by Hanover back in March.

But if anyone remembers that night in Hanover, there wasn’t a huge crowd because of pandemic restrictions. But at Bedford, you heard the roar of the crowd for both teams. It was refreshing and fun.

On to the finals, but as it hit 11 p.m., it was time to go home. Super Saturday was certainly super in a lot of different ways. But a few more hours of writing and posting awaited, as Saturday spilled into Sunday.

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WEEK THREE

TUESDAY, JUNE 8

EXETER’S BILL BALL

STADIUM

DIVISON I GIRLS LACROSSE FINALS

BISHOP GUERTIN 20,

PINKERTON 3

More rain. A steady light rain fell throughout the contest, but the Cards were pouring it on the Astros. It was a who’s who at the gate pre-game; NHIAA Executive Director Jeff Collins, Pinkerton athletic director Brian O’Reilly and old friend and Division I boys lacrosse All-State assistant coach of the year Bryon Murphy (game director).

What was missing at this event, as well as so many others? Masks. Some of us in the media wore them when doing post game intereviews, etc., but the fear of the winter was gone.

This was just incredible domination. The Astros scored first, blinked, were down 7-1, and it was over as Guertin got the fast-tempo Bedford wouldn’t allow in the semis. Remember, these girls finals are usually one or two goal affairs, but not this one.

“We played our best game of the season when it mattered,” Cards junior Rylee Bouvier said. “We weren’t taking Pinkerton lightly; we just executed our plan.”

Yikes. It was the end of the Lindsay Hult Era for the Cards, the three sport (field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse) a four-year fixture – and relevant one at that, an impact player from day one.

Her brother, Cam Hult, was on hand, up from Florida, and revealed he’s working on becoming a police officer in the middle part of the state.

Never hurts to know another law enforcement guy you covered, right?

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9

CONCORD’S MEMORIAL FIELD

DIVISION I SOFTBALL SEMIS

CONCORD 5, MERRIMACK 2

It was a hot, humid day in which the allergy level was incredible, to the point where yours truly had vision/contacts problems, but we carried on. My extra pair of eyes, none other than softball umpire turned spectator Bill Soubosky, relaxing in a lawn chair by the fence behind third base. Over on the baseball field, Concord and Nashua killer Keene were playing, so it was a busy day.

Unfortunately for the Tomahawks, it was their last day of a memorable season, as Concord’s five-run fifth put them in the finals against Salem. Tough to see the Hui sisters hugging, knowing this was their last time together on the softball field after getting the chance for this one season as high school teammates.

Good moment after the game, though, as Concord coach Duke Sawyer was honored for getting his 300th win. Also good to see former Concord Monitor sports editor Sandy Smith, now a Tide assistant coach. Told her they’d like Rivier’s digs for the finals.

“We’ll like it even better,” she said, “if we win.” Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, as Salem got its national record 19th state softball crown a few days later.

On to Stop Two.

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BEDFORD’S BULLDOG

STADIUM

DIVISION II GIRLS LACROSSE FINALS

PORTSMOUTH 8, HOLLIS BROOKLINE 7

Tough one. The Cavaliers set the tempo, slowing down the Clippers’ fast break and led 4-2 at halftime, 5-2 early in the second half – and 7-5 after Alyssa Hill’s goal with just over nine minutes to go.

But it wasn’t to be. In girls lacrosse, officials can really dictate the outcome with foul calls that turn into restarts and free shots, and the Clippers finished the scoring, the game-winner coming from Charlotte Marston with 1:32 left.

It was a tough way to go out, especially for outgoing Cavs coach Jim Maxwell, who is leaving the area. He was understandably a man of few words after, saying, “We played amazing, I’m proud of every one of them.”

The other entertaining factor was the crowd, lively and really into it – Hollis Brookline fans usually are, win or lose.

But you take this game and the girls semifinal BG played vs. Bedford, it showed good, competitive lacrosse can be played. Farewell Bedford until next school year.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 12

CONCORD’S MEMORIAL FIELD

DIVISION III SOFTBALL FINALS

CAMPBELL 18, HOPKINTON 6

The final stop on the Trail. This was a day circled for a couple of months, and it was just a question of how many local teams would be left. There were three: the Cougars and Milford softball, plus, as expected, BG boys lacrosse.

But for yours truly, tough to pass up the only chance all year to see the Cougars, who dominated even against a ton of Division II teams, thanks to the regional scheduling.

They were worth the trip. Campbell can simply mash, 16 hits to turn a 7-6 game into a blowout. Chloe Steiniger had a day to remember, driving in seven runs with a double and two homers, and a sac fly.

Ten seniors who had been together in all kinds of weather since they were maybe 8 years old went out in style with a great ending. Call them the Bash Sisters.

Anything unusual? The public address system wasn’t working early on, so fans sang the National Anthem. Again, no masks – in fact yours truly forgot his in the car.

Afterward, Campbell coach Eric Gibbons sat under a tree, relaxing and watching his players get their picture taken. He already was talking about next year. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

And that was it. The Tourney Trail for this humble scribe ended for the the spring of 2021, and the incredible, memorable New Hampshire school year of 2020-21.