RallyNorth.net

Sanborn can't hold early lead, lose in semis

Thursday, June, 11 By Chuck Frye
Staff writer

PLYMOUTH, N.H. — A shaky start can almost be forgiven if one’s starting lineup features three freshmen and four sophomores.

Especially in the Class M state semifinals.

But sixth-seeded Campbell’s play under pressure belied its age.

Conversely, No. 2 Sanborn suffered a momentary lapse of defense that hurt for the rest of the day, wiping out a two-run advantage and leading to a 5-3 defeat yesterday before about 100 fans at Plymouth State University.

The Cougars, 15-4, move on to the final Saturday here against No. 4 Franklin, who starched top seed Berlin, 5-0 last night. The Indians conclude their season at 18-2, with both losses coming against Campbell.

“We were playing great ball, you can’t take anything away from the kids,” Sanborn head coach Dan Carbone said. “In the last few games, we’ve played errorless ball. We just had a couple of mental errors there.”

After surviving a game-starting triple and run scored by freshman Becca Arnone (three hits), Sanborn posted single runs in its first three innings.

Cara Carter’s three-bagger to left-center field brought in Morgan Farmer (fielder’s choice and stolen base) to tie the game.

In the second, freshman designated player Celine Savat had her first of two doubles and scored on Becca Colbert’s single.

Sanborn doubled the lead when Farmer singled, stole second and third then scored when the catcher’s throw sailed into left field, the third of four Cougar errors.

But from there, the Cougars pulled their defense together and Sanborn came slightly unglued.

“I don’t know if it was a little case of nerves,” Carbone said. “How many games can you play errorless ball, you know?”

A Texas League single, two errors and a sacrifice fly in the fourth tied the game.

Arnone led off the fifth with a single and moved to second on a throwing error. Freshman Sam Radcliffe’s perfect sacrifice bunt turned into a single to put runners on the corners, then she advanced to second on defensive indifference.

Nolan lashed a sinking liner to left that Carter corralled on a spectacular diving catch, but Arnone just beat the junior’s throw to the plate to put the Cougars on top.

Radcliffe scored a huge insurance run on sophomore JulieAnne Fernandez’s double that just eluded center fielder Ashley Barker’s dive.

Julia Nolan (7 K’s, 1 walk) retired the heart of the Indian order 1-2-3 in the fifth and the top of the order in succession to end the game.

Krissi Romano relieved tough-luck starter Stacie Blades in the fifth and closed the door just a little too late.

“These 20 kids (on the roster) know what the word ‘team’ means,” Carbone concluded. “Not one kid complained about playing time and every girl that wasn’t starting came and practices like they were starters. I just told them that in 12 years of coaching at Sanborn, this was the best team I’ve ever had.”