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Dominant effort gives Salem Division 1 softball title

HOOKSETT, N.H. - Mikayla Pacy clung to the state championship trophy with both hands, lifting it over her head with a scream as teammates mobbed her, reaching for their chance to touch the New Hampshire-shaped plaque.

Others turned their attention to the large Salem High flag that stood behind the backstop, hoisting it into the air and running around the infield. And try as he might, coach Harold Sachs was unable to avoid the large cooler of ice water dumped onto him by his players.

After five years, the Blue Devils were back on top of the New Hampshire softball world.

"It's just amazing," said Pacy. "We have just worked so hard, and we were so confident. It's amazing. We are just so honored."

Salem's bats were red hot out of the gates, scoring four runs in the first two innings, and pitcher Camryn Hanninen was never truly threatened as the No. 2 Blue Devils took home a dominant 5-0 victory over No. 5 Alvirne in the New Hampshire Division 1 title game at Southern New Hampshire University.

"We've been waiting our whole careers do this," said senior first baseman Holly Peterson. "It's crazy. We have wanted it so bad for so long, and that it's here is unbelievable. So many people were rooting for us, and we are so happy to bring the title back to Salem."

The win marks the 15th state title in Sachs' 31 years as Salem head coach, and the 18th overall for the program. The Devils last won the title in 2010, the final year it was known as the Class L title.

"I have never wanted anything more than this in my entire life," said catcher Victoria Andrade. "We have worked so hard for this all year and we did everything we could to get here. We felt like we had it from the start, and it was just amazing to finish it."

The win also helped erase the pain of last spring's devastating 12-inning loss to Dover in the title game.

"We watched the film from last year's title game (on Friday)," said Peterson. "We knew we could not feel that pain again. That hurt too much. There was no way were were going to feel the way we felt last year."

Salem wasted no time setting the tone on Saturday, as shortstop Pacy, second baseman Brooke Murphy and Peterson completed a smooth 6-4-3 double play to end a Alvirne threat in the first.

Then, the Blue Devil bats went to work.

Andrade opened the scoring in the first, shooting a single up the middle to plate Pacy. They added three runs in the second, as Brianna Marino and Ashley Conway each doubled home runs and Murphy blooped in a single to score another.

"The last few games we hadn't gotten off to great starts," said Pacy. "But today putting runs on the board early was huge. It gave everyone confidence."

Sachs agreed the early offense was huge 

"It definitely meant a lot to get ahead early," said Sachs. "Then we continued to put the pressure on because with their bats, you never feel like you have enough." 

Salem would score just once more, on a Murphy RBI single, but that was more than enough for Hanninen.

"She was amazing," said Peterson. "She has been killing it all year and she is only a junior. She was great."

Hanninen may have only struck out three, but she was dominant all night. She surrendered just five hits, allowing just two runners to reach second base all night and none to third. Only two Alvirne balls left the infield, and she walked just one.

"I feel like my spin was really working," said Hanninen. "I felt like I knew how to pitch to them and I directed the ball well. There were a lot of nerves, but we fed off that energy."

Alvirne managed one final hit in the seventh. But Hanninen calmly set down the next two, then force a groundout to Murphy at second base to set off a celebration.

"I just ran out and hugged Camryn to show her how much I love her," said Andrade. "I just couldn't believe we did it."

Pacy led the Blue Devils, going 3 for 4, while Murphy and Marino each added two hits each. The Blue Devils then took to the side field to further celebrate their title.

""It's a very special feeling," said Sachs. "Winning the title is a source of great pride for the school and the community. These girls earned it and I am so happy for them."