The Hollis Brookline High School baseball team had plenty of support for its championship win at Manchester's Delta Dental Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Traveling on vacation this summer? We’ve got an early trip for you, and it’s pretty low cost.

It’s one writer’s personal trip around the local high school tournament experience, this time from the spring season.

That’s nearly three weeks of highs, lows, and anecdotes from Nashua to Amherst to Bedford to Plymouth to Manchester to

Exeter.

Remember, this isn’t an account of the whole tournament scene, just those events witnessed by this humble sports scribe.

So pack your things and follow us on the Spring 2022 Tourney Trail:

•••

THURSDAY, MAY 26

NASHUA HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH

The first week of the tournament season featured tennis, and our first stop was the South courts with a local boys quarterfinal rivalry – Bishop Guertin vs. Nashua South. The Panthers ended up with a 6-3 victory but basically decided the match in singles. It was a better showing – and a great season – for the Cards, who had been no match for South, one of the best three teams in the division. But the Panthers had big aspirations. So did head coach Dave Santerre, who was able with the afternoon match ending fairly quickly to make it to the Silver Knights season opener at Holman, as he and his wife are season ticket holders.

Tennis and baseball, a great combo.

•••

FRIDAY, MAY 27

CAMP YOUNG JUDEA,

AMHERST

It’s a small but beautiful complex literally hidden in the woods off Baboosic Lake Road in Amherst, just beyond the Merrimack line, not even a quarter mile from Route 101. You may miss it, like yours truly did, on the first trip there, the clue is the huge parking lot on the right side of the road. Couldn’t be for the Camp, right? Wrong. The grounds are actually across the street. As we drove by and did a difficult U-turn at the intersection of 101, we backtracked, looked down, and saw the tennis courts, way down a hill through the trees. The only thing is finding a way to get there, which we did, following a path down the the hill to where the pool was. See a pool, tennis courts can’t be far away on this Tourney Trail, and there were eight magnificent ones. No wonder the Sabers now play there.

Oh, the event? The high flying Souhegan High School girls tennis team taking on St. Thomas of Dover in the Division II quarters. The Sabers finished the regular season 13-1, the tourney’s top seed, and won 7-2 by sweeping doubles. Head coach Bo Dean gathered his doubles teams before and told them this is where the match would be won or lost. Remember that thought, because we’d be back here in a few days.

•••

MONDAY, MAY 30

BEDFORD TENNIS COURTS

Happy Memorial Day, the second straight year high school postseason The good players giveth, and they also taketh away. Bedford remains a stumbling block for the Panthers boys tennis team, this time in the Division I semis. The Bulldogs ended up with a 7-2 victory, taking four of six singles and sweeping doubles for the second time in two meetings with South. The irony was the two players that kept the Panthers alive with wins, Nos. 1 and 2 singles Santi Somorrrostro and Abinhav Avvaru, were the first doubles team to fall, ending the season. Like the Camp, it would be our first but not last stop at the Bedford courts.

•••

TUESDAY, MAY 31

CAMP YOUNG JUDEA,

AMHERST

The last day of the month ended back at Camp Young Judea with the first of two of the more memorable tennis matches of the season, Alvirne’s 5-4 Division II semis victory over Souhegan that came down to one doubles match at No. 2, with things even at 4. Close your eyes and you would have thought you were at the U.S. Open, as the Sabers No. 2 team of Tylee Jancar and Caroline Drum were facing Alvirne’s No. 2 team of Kenzie Legg and Gabby Cummins. Fans crowded around the fence, or, for the most part, stayed far away on the side of the courts were there were picnic benches, chairs, etc. Chants and cheers galore after every points, and Cummins said, “Your heart’s beating through your chest.”

Lot of pressure for high school kids.Cummins and Legg fought through to a 9-8 win by virtue of a 7-5 tiebreaker. On to the finals. Alvirne was 11-3 during the regular season and AD Karen Bonney revealed that they were always placed in Division II for tennis. but usually opted to move up to Division I. This time they stayed put. Good choice.

Meanwhile, at least we knew how to get to the courts this time.

•••

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1

SOUHEGAN HIGH SCHOOL, SABER FIELD

The high school girls lacrosse tournaments were underway, and Nashua South was squaring off in a rematch with Souhegan in the Division I quarterfinals. This wasn’t the close, back-and-forth game that it was during the regular season, a 12-10 Sabers win at Stellos Stadium at the end of April. Instead, Souhegan jumped out to a quick lead and more or less coasted to a 16-8 win. From a fan standpoint it was too bad it wasn’t close as this was one of the best South teams in years.

“Oh, absolutely, we had a really good year, just not enough time to clean some things up,” South coach Ciki McIntire said, after gathering the entire team for a talk about their season. “We’ll just keep working next year.”

The Sabers had a great second half of the season. The only problem was they’d end up with No. 1 Guertin in the semifinals, when it was first thought BG, by virtue of a tie with Central Catholic in Lawrence, Mass. would be counted in the standings, dropping BG to the second seed. But the tie, caused by the fact Central Catholic didn’t want to play overtime, was tossed out. BG was top seed, and in the semis the Sabers gave them a scare before the Cards would pull away.

•••

THURSDAY, JUNE 2

HOLMAN STADIUM,

NASHUA

First stop: Nashua North vs. Nashua South baseball, a 2 p.m. Division I preliminary round game, played at an early time as the Silver Knights had a game that night. A rivalry game – first ever postseason meeting between the two – to start the tourney was probably the last thing the No. 3 seeded Panthers wanted to see, as North came in as the 14th seed with nothing to lose. South fell behind 1-0 to start but then took control in the bottom of the first and never looked back en route to a 9-3 win. The Panthers knew they’d get Titan starter Elias Bourque, who kept their hitters shackled in the 1-0 Battle of the Bridge Classic South somehow pulled out, and game-planned for him after not knowing a thing about him the first time. Tough ending for the Titans, but Derek Finlay & Co. will be back next year.

BEDFORD TENNIS COURTS

The early time for baseball worked as up the highway we went to the late afternoon Division II girls tennis finals and a rarity – an Alvirne state team championship. The Broncos have had just a few, but this was the first one in about 10 years and the first for girls tennis since 1998.

A repeat of the semis, in which it came down to one doubles match – this time the No. 3 match, and Alvirne’s tandem of Lindsay Gasdia and Marissa Murphy vs. Portsmouth’s Harini Subramanian and Hasya Karthik. Murphy. Cheers, chants, and in the end, celebratory hugs as the Bronco tandem rallied from 5-1 down to pull out a 9-7 win. The two had joked earlier about what if they had to go through what teammates Cummins and Legg went through. Well….the first of five local spring titles was captured.

On hand to see the event was Jerry Ruigrok, the outstanding Broncos head girls soccer coach but also husband of Alvirne girls coach Jen Ruigrok, who should have a solid team again come this fall. Upon leaving, we couldn’t resist a little thought, as the Ruigroks now have one title. “Pressure’s on, Jerry,” we said, with a chuckle for a response.

•••

SATURDAY, JUNE 4

STELLOS STADIUM, NASHUA

Welcome to Super Saturday, the busiest high school sports day of the year with tournament events in baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, and track.

First stop at Stellos, a couple of quick photos of the South-Pinkerton boys lacrosse quarterfinal, which was 1-1 when we left but the Astros had a quick start and were dominating possession time. Wasn’t a good sign as South goes on to lose 15-3.

HOLMAN STADIUM

Sure, we’d miss maybe part of the first inning as the 11 a.m. Division I quarterfinal between the Nashua South and Exeter baseball teams had just started but with trusty ETV broadcast partner John Collins keeping score, we’d catch up. Getting out of the car, we hear music playing. OK, in between half innings. Then we hear “Now pitching for Nashua South…” Huh?

Walk in and see the scoreboard has six runs for Exeter in the top of the first and it wasn’t over, and South goes down to a 12-2 decision. Lefty starter Nick Shaw couldn’t get out of the first, despite going in with a 1.20 earned run average.

At about the same time, two really good South teams – this was arguably the best post-split Panther baseball squad since the 2005 title team – were stunningly routed in 11 a.m. games. Was there a prom or something the night before?

“Yes,” Panthers baseball coach James Gaj said. “Exeter’s.”

One final note: Getting there a little late, the booth we use at Holman was occupied by umpires Jim Fletcher and Jeff Kleiner. Well, the TV headset was wired in, so they had to move. We would later tell them both that week “It was nice kicking two umpires out for a change.”

Ah, the power of television.

HOLLIS BROOKLINE

HIGH SCHOOL

Next stop, a 4 p.m. Division II baseball quarter between the top seeded Cavaliers and No. 8, upset-minded Kingswood. The Knights nearly pulled it off, but HB, behind the pitching of Padge Mac Seain and Jack Lager, took a 2-0 lead in the first and held on for a 2-1 win. Who knew about HB before the season? Those who follow Division II, that’s who.

“We all had them pegged for either No. 1 or 2, for sure, them and Souhegan,” longtime Kingswood coach Chip Skelley said.

Best spot to watch the game for photos is the HB bullpen, when it’s not being used, of course. We told coach Jay Sartell we were warmed up and ready to go in, but never got the call.

STELLOS STADIUM

Stop No. 4, the Hollis Brookline girls lacrosse team taking on Hanover in the Division II semis, and sure, we may have missed the start but again see the bulk of the Cavs’ 11-9 win over Hanover that puts them in the finals for the second straight year.

We are standing on the far corner of the stadium taking photos as the first half comes to an end and cell phone rings, and it’s Nashua Park-Rec’s Stellos man, Bob Guidaboni. “Hey, Bill Hill wants to say hello.”

That was worth more than a phone convo, but a walk across the field. Turns out HB standouts Alyssa and Sabrina Hill are the daughters of former Nashua South pitching standout/Chicago Cubs minor leaguer Shawn Hill. Bill, his father, was with him, and we hadn’t seen either in several years. Who knew, right?

The final stop on the day’s trail was well worth it.

•••

TUESDAY, JUNE 7

EXETER’S

BILL BALL STADIUM

Welcome to the Division I girls lacrosse finals, with Bishop Guertin taking on Bedford in a highly anticipated game. But once again, the Cards jump out to an early lead and stay in front the entire night, withstanding a Bulldog run, for their fourth straight title. The Bedford student fans mercilessly razzed BG’s Nat Coutu and later goalie Makenna Reekie, but neither paid any attention. You had to feel good for Reekie, who had her second straight big game vs. the ‘Dogs (12 saves) in her high school swan song. It will be strange to see a BG girls stick sport without Reekie (field hockey and ice hockey as well) in goal.

But she’s chose lacrosse, going to Notre Dame College in Ohio. “That’s my sport,” said Reekie, who said she gets more stressed when the Cards would get a big lead because there’s pressure to keep it. She held up more than well.

•••

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8

CONCORD’S MEMORIAL FIELD COMPLEX,

WARREN DOANE FIELD

Probably the next busiest day to Super Saturday, with semifinals in multiple sports plus a championship game.

First stop, the 4 p.m. Division II baseball semifinal game between No. 3 Souhegan and No. 2 St. Thomas of Dover. Fabulous game, most of which we spent talking to former Rivier men’s hoop coach, Dave Morissette, who is always a wealth of info, now the athletic director at St. Thomas. The Sabers put up a good fight but were blanked by two good Saints lefties Sam Grondin and Connor Toriello, ending their quest for a title.

But it ended something else: the absolute incredible career of Souhegan baseball assistant coach (and former head football coach) Mike Beliveau, who had retired from all things coaching except this team. Beliveau, fittingly honored by the Sabers a couple of weeks earlier, was understandably fighting back tears in an emotional post-game scene full of hugs.

He did the school and the uniform proud, and now we get to be jealous following his retirement life through his Facebook posts and hearing his sometime calls to Boston sports talk radio about the Patriots.

STELLOS STADIUM, NASHUA

Back down the highway we go to see Hollis Brookline and Portsmouth renew their girls lacrosse rivalry in a rematch of last year’s title game, which the Clippers won 8-7 with a late rally.

This time, it wasn’t that close as Portsmouth, coached by former Souhegan standout JoJo Curro, fell behind early but then dominated en rute to a 20-7 win. Curro has now won two titles in her first two seasons coaching the Clippers, who are moving on to Division I next season.

“We couldn’t win a draw,” HB coach Linda Haytayan. “There’s no way you can put goals in the net unless you get at least 30 or 40 percent, and we had about two percent. They’re so fast, and so good…I said to JoJo, ‘Thank God you’re leaving Division II.'”

HB will be a likely favorite next year, with several back. Meanwhile, that was a wrap for games at Stellos for the school year.

Next one will be in late August, either soccer, field hockey, or the North-Bedford football season opener on Friday, Sept. 2.

•••

THURSDAY, JUNE 9

NASHUA NORTH’S

TITANS GYM

Welcome to the NHIAA Boys Volleyball semifinals, this match between No. 2 Hollis Brookline and No. 3 Coe-Brown. The division was dominated by No. 1 unbeaten Windham, and there was some thought that perhaps Coe-Brown was on such a roll it might overtake HB. Guess again. The Cavs won a close 25-23 first set, scoring the last four points, and then went on to outscore the Bears 50-30 over the next two sets.

“It’s all about energy with this team,” HB coach Ed Leonard said, adding his team would have no fear of a third match vs. Windham in the finals, which swept them twice.

Note to self: Make sure to bring notebook to event being covered. You’d think a veteran scribe would know better, but special thanks to Nashua athletic director Lisa Gingras for providing yours truly with one. Pays to know people in high places.

•••

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

PLYMOUTH STATE

UNIVERSITY’S

SOFTBALL COMPLEX

We hadn’t been to PSU since 2011 and in the span of three months (HB hockey semis in March), we’ve made two trips. Unfortunately, the local result was the same, as the Campbell Cougars fell 4-2 in the Division III softball finals to Prospect Mountain. Titles are nothing new for the Cougars, but this was Prospect Mountain’s first softball title ever. After the game Campbell coach Eric Gibbons revealed the program would move up to Division II next season, after playing a Division II schedule most of 2021 for pandemic reasons (local scheduling) and liking that competition. Meanwhile, Prospect Mountain coach James Christie was saying how the whole town of Alton was big in supporting the team and how even people where he got gas were wishing his team good luck. Should have milked it for some free gas, we told him.

MANCHESTER’S NORTHEAST DELTA DENTAL STADIUM

Speaking of gas, a long softball final in Plymouth didn’t help for an on time arrival in Manchester for the Division II baseball finals between the HB Cavaliers and St. Thomas. But old friend Bill Macarawictz was the official scorekeeper – again, friends in high places – and we caught up quickly. Then head down to the most comfortable area to shoot photos from, the outdoor luxury area behind home plate (tables and chairs).

The Cavaliers continued their roll, winning their first state title since 2007 behind Mac Seain’s pitching and their nine hits as they made life tough for the Saints’ two lefties in a 7-2 showing.

The special part about this title was it was exactly 30 years ago that HB – well, then just called Hollis – won its first baseball championship.

One of the players from that team, Bob Knudsen, had his son, Gavin, starting at second. Gavin Knudsen made the pivot throw on the game ending 6-4-3 double play.

“It’s unbelievable,” Bob Knudsen said. “Thirty years later, with guys like (Seth) Tebbetts and (Ryan) Coulter and those other guys that we battled through, and Joel (Mitchell) coaching us.

“And now my boys, I coached a lot of these boys growing up. And to have my boy out there making the double play at the end, very special.”

Coulter was the head coach for the Cavs’ last title in 2007, and Sartell worked under him, and the classy current Cavs coach said after that “This is not possible without the efforts of coach Ryan Coulter. He laid the groundwork for HB baseball.”

•••

SUNDAY, JUNE 12

EXETER’S

BILL BALL STADIUM

Back to Exeter for the final stop on the Tourney Trail, the Division I boys lacrosse finals between No. 1 Exeter and No. 2 Bishop Guertin. As dominant as BG has been the last couple of years, the finals are always closer, and Blue Hawks were able to shave two goals off the seven goal difference from the regular season.

Not enough, in an 11-6 BG title, the school’s 11th in boys lacrosse, the second straight year of a Cardinal boys-girls lax sweep.

Great crowd on hand, especially for a Sunday night.

That was a wrap on the high school tourney season, the final stop on the trail. But not before one media member wanted to know who our pick for 2022 football contenders was.

We’ll tackle that in August.