Softball Notes: Lebanon breaks skid with a win over Fall Mountain

Autumn Crowell was already having one heck of a game for herself while digging into the batter’s box in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Lebanon High School’s senior tri-captain took an aggressive approach to her at-bat with a runner on base and two outs, driving the first pitch deep over Fall Mountain Regional High School’s right fielder. One swing, one hard hit and the end to one long drought for the Raiders.

Crowell’s walk-off, inside-the-park home run secured the softball program’s first victory since 2017.

The 24-11 win, courtesy of the 12-run mercy rule, was an emotional one for Lebanon coach Ray Petterson. While the oldest of this year’s squad were only in eighth grade when the losing streak began, Petterson took over the varsity program in the spring of 2017. He’s witnessed all 44 losses firsthand from the Raiders bench.

“I had goosebumps up and down my arms,” Petterson said. “It was intense. It’s been extremely difficult to see so many talented and hard-working girls put forth a valiant effort and just suffer through loss after loss. They were doing everything they could and not getting the result we all wanted. It’s been tough. This was the ultimate high.”

According to Petterson, it’s been mental game to win as much as an on-the-field one.

“It was always being talked about before and after games,” Petterson said. “So in games if something didn’t go our way, the girls might have just said it’s just how it is. We kept stressing to fight for that win. To not just throw your hands up and assume the worst. We want to have fun, but we are all competitive, and we want to be a team that’s competing every game with the best teams in our division. We kept stressing that if we’re always putting in our best effort our time will come.”

That time was Monday, May 10 on their home field.

Crowell (3 for 4, two walks, four runs, six RBIs) already had an inside-the-park homer when she smashed that hard line drive over the outfielder to the right field fence.

The senior first baseman made an adjustment in her stance during that game-winning at-bat, counteracting Fall Mountain’s defensive shift toward the left side of the field. She sent the ball to the opposite field, and the rest is history.

Crowell wasn’t alone on this senior day offensive outburst.

Fellow seniors Cassady Coates (3 for 5, triple, three runs, four RBIs) and Jacqueline Fredette (2 for 4, double, three runs, five RBIs) also shined. Juniors Alyssa Smith-Duff (3 for 4, double, walk, three runs, two RBIs) and Hailey Annotti (2 for 3, walk, two runs) chipped in on a day that Lebanon scored its 24 runs on 15 hits.

The run production gave senior pitcher Kaitlyn Eylander a cushion to work with. She was approaching 150 pitches through six innings of work, striking out eight, but allowing 11 runs (eight earned) on 10 walks and three hits. She pitched the Raiders out of multiple jams to keep the lead far enough apart for Crowell to wrap things up one inning early.

“I don’t know if we’ll ever feel that same excitement and adrenaline rush following a game ever again,” said Petterson, whose Raiders (2-6) followed their first victory up with an 18-8 win two days later in Langdon against those same Wildcats (0-6). “I think we can definitely build a lot of momentum off these two wins. These girls are so strong and so focused. They’re more aggressive in their approach at the plate and in the field. The confidence is showing through more and more each day.”

On Deck

Lebanon looks to extend its two-game win streak on May 17 at home against Kearsarge Regional of North Sutton. It’s the first of a home-and-home set with Game 2 on May 19 down I-89 South at KRHS (0-4).

Staying in Division III for a moment, undefeated Campbell (5-0) and Hopkinton (7-0) look to keep their winning streaks alive on May 17 as well. Both squads will play Division II opponents, with Campbell hosting Sanborn (3-6), and Hopkinton visiting Penacook to face Merrimack Valley (5-2).

There are no unbeaten teams in Division II, but Oyster River (7-1) is looking to rebound from its 7-1 loss on May 14 at Coe-Brown Northwood. The Bobcats draw a tough home matchup with Division I power Winnacunnet Regional (10-2) on May 15.

An interesting home-and-home set to watch in Division I the week of May 17-22, is perennial power Salem (10-1) at Timberlane Regional of Plaistow on Monday and back in Salem on Wednesday.

The Owls (5-4) are a young squad showing improvement each game. Freshman Katherine O’Leary and Alexa Salafia came up big in their most recent win (6-5 over Windham), with O’Leary driving in three runs on two hits and Salafia allowing no earned runs through six innings of work. Facing Salem twice will be a good test as the tournament is fast approaching.

Diamond Gems

Here’s a look at some recent standout performances from around the state:

• Salem leadoff hitter Jen Olson (3 for 3) had two doubles, scored twice and knocked in two runs in the Blue Devils’ 8-0 win over Dover on May 12. Madison Burns also came up big for Salem vs. Dover with three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs.
• Rachel Keisling hit a three-run homer and Olivia Mason went 2 for 3 with three runs and two RBIs to power Pinkerton Academy in an 18-1 rout of Nashua High School South on May 12. Those same Panthers upset the Astros 8-7 just two days earlier.
• Ava McNamara (home run, four RBIs), Emerson Poulin (three hits, three runs, four RBIs) and Addison Lucier (two runs, three RBIs) led Salem’s offense in 23-2 rout of Dover on May 10.
• Sanborn pitcher Payton Hanson helped her own cause, 4 for 4 with four RBIs and three runs scored in an 11-3 win over Milford on May 10. Her sister, Brooke Hanson (2 for 3), chipped in offensively with two runs scored and three RBIs.

To report standout diamond performances, or offer ideas for the softball notebook, send an email to scioneg@gmail.com.