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Sanborn finally beats Campbell, earns Class M title berth

Tuesday, June, 08 By Chuck Frye
Staff writer

PLYMOUTH, N.H. — When Sanborn’s strong senior class joined the squad three and four years ago, the team became instant championship contenders.

However, there was one roadblock to statewide glory — Campbell High. The Cougars relentlessly broke the Indians’ hearts, sweeping a pair of one-run decisions this year while winning 5 of the past 7 matchups including last year’s Class M semifinal game.

Meeting once again in the semis yesterday at Plymouth State University, third-seed Sanborn had two ingredients that made all the difference — an early run off Cougar standout Julia Nolan and the dominant pitching of Krissi Romano. With a 2-0 victory that felt bigger than that margin, the Indians will face Franklin Saturday afternoon at PSU for the title.

“Krissi kept them off-balance with her change-up and (catcher) Kara (Morgenstern, who had two hits including a double) called a great game,” said Sanborn head coach Dan Carbone.

“Whatever’s working good in warmups, then we’ll throw it in the game,” Romano explained. “For the last four years, I’ve pitched at least an inning against them in every game we’ve played, so they’ve seen me a lot. I threw everything (yesterday) and it was all working pretty good.”

Campbell could only scratch out two hits and threatened to score just once. Julia Parra grounded a third-inning single up the middle, the only ball to leave the infield all day, and hustled to third on Allie Nolan’s ground out. But Romano stranded her there by fanning Kristen King, one of 12 strikeouts in the game, and getting leadoff hitter Rebecca Arnone to ground out.

By then, Sanborn had all the offense it needed.

After two strikeouts by Julia Nolan (eight total) to start the game, junior Morgan Farmer took the first pitch she saw and deposited it 20 feet beyond the left-center field fence for her 14th career home run.

“The first game of the season (a 1-0 Campbell win with a Nolan no-hitter) was the last time I played her and I was definitely excited to hit (yesterday),” Farmer explained. “Honestly, I have no idea what pitch she threw. I just saw it and swung for it.”

The Indians went small for a clutch insurance run in the third. Ninth hitter Becca Colbert lashed a liner off Julia Nolan’s non-pitching wrist for an infield hit and moved to second on Nicole Foster’s ground out. Marissa Moro came up and placed a perfect popup behind first base for a single that scored a hustling Colbert.

“Julie’s a very good pitcher and we worked on shortening up our swings,” Carbone said. “The second run that we poked over the infield, we practiced that.”

“The coaches are always telling us to watch them as we round the bases,” Colbert said. “I looked up and they were waving me in and I was prepared to go.”

“Honestly, this felt like the final game for us,” Farmer concluded. “We lost to them last year and this was in our minds as the game we needed to win. And maybe we’ll just ride the wave we’re on (to the championship).”

No expectations, big rewards

Belying a pressure-packed semifinal battle, Sanborn pitcher Krissi Romano was cool, calm and collected in a 2-0 semifinal victory over nemesis Campbell.

“Actually, I wasn’t nervous about the game,” Romano said. “I just ignore it, have faith in myself and I’ll be OK.

“I don’t want to work myself up, I won’t throw as well. I really go into every game with no expectations and that kind of saves my nerves.

“I expect nothing, so everything’s good in the end.”