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Exeter receives 2 major awards as N.H. all-state softball teams named
Two prestigious high school awards are headed to Exeter High School as Kristen Beebe earned the Division I Softball Pitcher of the Year, while teammate Annie Christiana was named Division I Player of the Year.
Both were also named to the Division I all-state first team.
“Very happy for both Kristen and Annie on their pitcher and player of the year selections,” Exeter head coach Kristen Morissette said. “They work hard and it’s well deserved. They would tell you that they couldn’t do it without their teammates and they always put the team first. These two players make our team run, and good thins happen when they are on the field.”
Morissette added, “(Beebe) has been dominating in the circle, throws strikes and has tremendous composure. Annie is a tough out and loves the game. She has unbelievable softball IQ and is fun to watch.”
Additionally for the Blue Hawks, Emma Plourde was named to Division I all-state second-team.
“Emma is also very deserving of her second-team selection,” Morissette said. “She has caught majority of the innings this year and has a great relationship with all the pitchers, She’s a tremendous leader and has had a good year offensively. All-State is always tough and deserving players are left off. We had some that had great years and didn’t make the team, but it’s all about the team success with them, and that’s what I love about this team.”
DIVISION I
Three more Seacoast softball players earn two first-team selections
For Winnacunnet, Maddy Eaton and Kate Gagne were selected to the first team, as was Spaulding’s Kylyn McLaren.
Gagne led the Warriors in slugging percentage, and Eaton had 187 strikeouts with an 1.18 ERA.
“(Gagne and Eaton) have been huge on and off the field as players and captains keeping the team up and together through the grind of the season,” Winnacunnet head coach Bill Edwards said.
Spaulding’s Addison French was a second-team selection.
Winnacunnet’s Maeva Shapiro and Lucy Gelbstein, Portsmouth’s Abby Nersesian, Dover’s Aaliyah Lafleur and Spaulding’s Julia Ziadeh were all Division I honorable mention picks. Shapiro, Winnacunnet’s starting catcher, led the team in homers, doubles and RBIs, and was second in slugging percentage. Gelbstein led the team in hits and batting average.
“(Shapiro and Gelbstein) have stepped up huge as freshman and delivered,” Edwards said. “I think you’ll hear a lot about these two over the next three years. I’m super excited to see how much more they’ll grow as they’re both are extremely hard workers and perfectionists.”
DIVISION II
Two Bobcats receive second-team honors
Oyster River’s Gracy Spirito and Kate Michaud were named to Division II second team, while Addy Veno was an honorable mention selection.
Spirito had an average of .400, an on-base percentage of .450 and led the Bobcats with 30 hits, and 22 RBIs.
“As a freshman, she started every game for Oyster River at third base and played excellent defense, making the routine plays, but also making difficult plays others wouldn’t make,” Oyster River head coach Chad Michaud said.
Michaud had a batting average of .452, and an on-base percentage of .573. She had 28 total hits – 16 for extra bases, and 23 RBIs. She also had 10 stolen bases on 10 attempts.
“As a freshman, she started every game at shortstop and played great defense, making plays with great range and hustle,” Michaud said.
Veno pitched 95 innings, allowed 81 hits, struck out 78, had an ERA of 2.06, and hitters had a .219 batting average against her.
“She was the heart of our team carrying the bulk of the pitching load,” Michaud said. “Her pitching highlight of the year was a 10-inning shutout in a 3-0 win against Coe-Brown. The most remarkable thing about Veno’s pitching is that she only started pitching early in her sophomore year.”
DIVISION III
St. Thomas Aquinas put together a great season in Division III, highlighted by first-team selections Ashleigh von der Linden and Abigail Gaynor. Elizabeth Flynn was named to the second team and Amelia Anderson was an honorable mention selection.
Also in Division III, Somersworth’s Danna Dyer and Gabby Lensky received second-team honors, and Aby Lambert was an honorable mention selection.
DIVISION IV
Newmarket’s Kierra Souphakhot was voted as the Division IV Pitcher of the Year and was named to the Division IV first team. Teammate Gia Tilton was a second-team pick, and Isabelle Mendez was an honorable mention selection.
