12 - July 30, 2010


Pelham~Windham News Pelham~Windham News


Windham 12U Softball Competes in State Tournament


Windham Summer Basketball Prepares for First Varsity Season


Sports Sports


Andrew Kalil controls the ball near half court


by Chris White It’s an old philosophy: the more often you do something, the better you will become at it. That basic mindset has been adopted by the Windham Jaguars’ basketball program this summer as it prepares for its first varsity season as a member of Division 2, formerly known as Class I. “We’ve been getting in the gym a lot,”


Front row: Hannah Klaassens, Jaime Cleasby, Emily Giardina, Cailyn Costa, Alexa Ardolino.


Second row: Kalote Joss, Alyssa Peirce, Katie Mathews, Haley Psareas, Hannah Pesci, Fallon Golden, Rachel Rogers, Leyla Desjardin. Tird row: Coaches Tom Costa, Dave Cleasby, Jason Rogers


by Chris White The Windham 12U softball team competed in


the NH Babe Ruth State Softball Tournament last weekend in Londonderry. The double elimination tournament featured seven teams (Windham, Salem, Merrimack, Litchfield, Monadnock, Londonderry, and Lamprey River) and lasted for three days. Windham managed to play four games in


the tournament, but a 4-3 loss to Merrimack on Sunday ended the team’s bid to make a run at the title. Monadnock went on to win the tournament and will go to New England Regionals this upcoming weekend. Windham used multiple pitchers in each


tournament game as part of a strategy to keep their hurlers fresh and make it more difficult for opposing hitters to keep up. The strategy paid off when Windham opened the tournament on Friday with a 13-1 victory over Londonderry. The game lasted only four innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Jaime Cleasby started on the mound for


Windham and allowed no hits and one unearned run while striking out five batters in three innings. Rachel Rogers came on to shut the door in the fourth, allowing one hit and striking out two. Offensively, the team was led by two hits apiece from Haley Psareas, Leyla Desjardin (four RBI), and Fallon Golden. Cailyn Costa, Hannah Pesci, and Kalote Joss provided hits as well. On Saturday, Windham (the District 6


champion) met its arch-rival Litchfield (the District 4 champion). Windham held a 2-0 lead after four innings, but Litchfield came through with a couple of hits with the bases loaded to score five runs in the fifth. Windham answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 5-4, but that’s as close as Windham would get as it suffered a one-run setback. Windham received two hits each from Costa, Rogers, and Hannah Klaassens, while Golden and Joss offered one hit apiece. “Windham versus Litchfield has turned in


to quite a rivalry over the past few seasons,” Windham manager Dave Cleasby said. “The games are always hard-fought, back-and-forth battles. We were fortunate enough to beat them last month to take the Championship game in the Plymouth Invitational, but they got us back here. Their pitching and defense was very good, and they were the ones who got the timely hits needed to win.” Windham rebounded from the loss later that


day with a 17-8 win over Lamprey River. Cleasby started the game on the hill and pitched the first three innings, giving up only four runs on two hits. Rogers came in to pitch the second three


Windham’s first baseman scoops the ball out of the dirt to get the Londonderry runner in time


innings and gave up only four runs on four hits. Meanwhile, Windham’s offense produced 14


hits. Rogers and Joss led the team with three hits apiece, while Golden and Pesci each provided two. Costa, Cleasby, Desjardin, and Klaassens all had one hit as well. On Sunday, Windham suffered a hard-fought


4-3 loss to Merrimack to end its tournament. Cleasby led the team in hits with two (single, double); while Costa (single, one run scored), Rogers (single, one RBI, two runs scored), Psareas (double, RBI), and Leyla Desjardin (single, RBI) all made contributions to the offense as well. After the tournament, the coaching staff of


Dave Cleasby, Jason Rogers, and Tom Costa said they are proud the team’s effort and accomplishments. Windham will close out its season in the Litchfield Invitational Tournament on July 30 through August 1.


Windham’s third baseman makes the throw across the diamond against Londonderry


Windham coach Todd Steffanides said. “The players have been seeing some good competition and they’ve been getting some game experience. That’s been the operation for this summer.” On Monday, July 19, the Jaguars hosted


Merrimack in a scrimmage at Windham High. After winning the first two periods, the Jags led by 12 points at the end of the third, and hung on to lead by one at the end of the fourth, 46- 45. Merrimack took the lead in a fifth frame, though, and held on, 52-51, at the scrimmage’s conclusion. Windham showed a lot of hustle in the summer scrimmage and played well together. The team featured a good mix of rising juniors and sophomores, plus some incoming freshmen. This upcoming season, the team plans to see leadership from rising juniors Mike DiOrio, DJ O’Brien, Scott Priestly, and Steve Dastous. The scrimmage was just one game of a


very involved basketball schedule for the Jags this summer. Windham has also played in tournaments at University of Massachusetts- Lowell and New Hampshire Tech in Concord, as well as playing in a summer league at Rivier College in Nashua. The Jags have played against a variety of solid teams over the course of the summer, including ones from Class I, Class L, and Massachusetts.


Joe Lorenz gets by a Merrimack defender


Danny Cannone brings the ball out from underneath the basket


“We’ve been telling the players since the end of our JV season back in March that we have a tough schedule ahead in Division 2 next year,” Steffanides said. “In order for us to get ready for that, we decided to get our players against good competition at the varsity level this summer, so they have a good idea of what to expect come winter time.” Windham’s players have also been getting to


know each other better through individual and group workouts at open gyms. These sessions have helped players develop physically and improve their skills. The rigorous schedule of games and open gyms are just small steps in Windham’s plan to prepare for the upcoming season.


Windham Little Leaguers Lead NH in Fundraising


by Chris White In addition to


having success on the baseball field this summer, Windham’s Little Leaguers have also been successful in raising money for the Jimmy Fund. They have dedicated their efforts to Windham resident CJ Bemister, who is currently battling cancer.


“CJ has been


fighting the disease for a long time and has really shown us a lot of perseverance,” Windham Little League President Scott Mueller said. “He’s just a very inspirational young man.” Windham’s goal is to raise $20,000 and the group is a little less than halfway there, Mueller said. Windham currently has four teams in the top five for fundraising in New Hampshire. Windham’s highest-grossing team is actually second in New England for fundraising as well. The teams have raised money in a variety of


Windham Little Leaguers who have been actively involved in raising money for the Jimmy Fund this summer


ways, including through raffles, face-to-face contact, and online at WindhamBaseball.org. The team that raises the most money will be rewarded by going to a Red Sox game.


We treat the whole family


New patients always welcome State of the art new dental practice Digital x-rays


The most current up to date sterilization


Most insurance accepted All major credit cards accepted Financing available


Please visit our website; www.PeterArsenaultDMD.com


WE CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILDREN.


athletic mouthguard, for any new patient who


schedules an exam x-rays and cleaning offer for a limited time only


Free custom fit


32 Stiles Road, Suite 208 Salem, NH 03079


NH Grizzlies Baseball


U13s: 2010 Silver Div. Champs CT July 4th Tourn.


U14s: 2010 Platinum Div. Champs AAYBA St. Louis


Cosmetic and esthetic dentistry Dentures, partial dentures, crowns, bridges, veneers, bonding, implants


603-89-TEETH (603-898-3384)


Team dentist for the Lowell Spinners Member of the


Academy of Sports


Dentistry


Health care provider for the Lowell Devils Hockey Team


CJ Bemister and family


Call me today about our full line-up. (Auto. Home. Life. Retirement.)


Gil Jameson


(603) 880-4090 225 Lowell Rd. Hudson


giljameson@allstate.com


Subject to availability and qualifications. Insurance offered only with select companies. Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Allstate Life Insurance Company: Northbrook, Illinois © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company.


for Proms & Weddings!


Great


photos by Chris White


courtesy photo


photos by Chris White


photos by Chris White


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12