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| By Steve Jusseaume, Posted 05-05-2011 |
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Rain-infused pollen-infested spring air is so seductive I wish I could capture and bottle it... save it for those dark quick February nights when hope is dim and you just hope the boiler doesn't break down. The Bumblebees are up three games to none against the Flyers. Does this ring any bells? At any rate... Not going to release the Bin Laden photos? What's up with this Obama guy? You just can't trust him, my neighbor says. In fact, Osama Bin Laden was not cornered and shot in the head in Abbottabad last Sunday, but is alive and living in New Jersey with Snooki. The reported death of the man was all a contrivance perpetrated on the American public solely to increase Democrats' 2012 re-election prospects. I know, because I had a vision one late night this week that the alleged death of the world's most infamous terrorist was really a CIA-backed covert operation (by the same people who manufactured that Hawaii live-birth document) and the guy actually shot in that bedroom raid was, in fact, Che Guevara, who was not killed in 1967 but survived until this week, and who actually was the subject of clandestine experiments that reversed the aging process and caused Guevara to actually grow younger. Presumably, the iconic Marxist theorist and activist was about to lead an action against our friends the Pakistanis and had to be, well, eliminated. Which he was. And dumped into the ocean. Seriously, the more I hear from the TV nightly news or read in the NY Times, the more I think we don't know anything about what's really happening. Invisible helicopters? Shooting at men in robes shielded by women? Hot dogs taste good, but who wants to know what's in them? With a little mustard & relish, they taste great. In other news, Regan Hartley of Dover was crowned Miss New Hampshire at Pinkerton Academy in Dover last week. The 20-year old reigning Miss Keene Area was graduated from Portsmouth Christian Academy in Dover in 2009, and is a vocalist. Miss NH will compete in the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas in January 2012. Elsewhere, in high school baseball, in Division I: Nashua South at Nashua North North hosts city rival South Friday in a game for at least bragging right as Nashua's better team, and, for North, to keep its record perfect. Nashua North comes into play this week at 7-0 and atop the Division I standings. Several Division I coaches predicted that North would be a team to beat this season, and the Titans have lived up to advance billing. North defeated Salem and Merrimack, both solid clubs, early in the season. Monday North beat Keene, 4-0. Matt Fortin, Michael Muise, Jake Mellin, and Kelvin Rodriguez all collected at least one hit and one RBI apiece. South played .500 ball early in the season but is currently at 3-6 after slogging through a three-game losing streak that included loses to Londonderry, Spaulding and Concord. There is little surprise among Division I observers that North is playing so well; last year North reached the state semifinals before losing to Salem 2-1. Londonderry at Pinkerton Academy Londonderry comes into play this week at 5-3, though the Lancers have won four of their last five games, including wins over Manchester Central, Nashua South, and Keene. Pinkerton Academy, at 4-4 on the year, has similarly won four of its last five, including wins over Keene, Dover and Alvirne. Last week Pinkerton starter Curtis Lonergan allowed two hits over seven innings as the Astros beat Keene. Shortstop Chris Guerrera was 2-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs in the 5-1 win. Division II Portsmouth at Coe Brown Academy The coverage of Portsmouth high school is sponsored by The Law offices of Jason M Sullivan Portsmouth survived a scare Monday, beating St. Thomas Aquinas 4-3 after falling behind the Saint 2-0 early. Clipper ace Taylor Keegan gave up a two-run homer in the top of first inning to STA's Jordan Bean, but the resilient Clippers scored four in the bottom of the third and held off St. Thomas for their 70th consecutive win, just five wins short of the national record held by Homer, Mich. Keegan finished the game allowing four hits over seven innings. The senior struck out 10 and walked one. He also knocked in Matt Feeney with the eventual wining run on a triple. Coe Brown comes into play with week at 3-4 on the season. The Bears lost Monday to Kingswood Regional 6-5, and were scheduled to play Bishop Brady Wednesday, weather-permitting. In Monday's loss, Kingswood infielder Phil Erwin took a throw from the outfield and nailed the potential tying run to end the game and preserve the win. Andrew Langdon and Brad Crickard each went 3-for-4 for Coe Brown in the loss, and C-B starter Kyle St. Cyr allowed only two earned runs, striking out five, in the losing effort. This is the second meeting of the season between Coe Brown and Portsmouth; the Clippers beat C-B 9-1 on April 15. John Stark at Milford John Stark is winless on the season, with seven straight defeats, while Milford (1-5) earned its first win of the spring Monday with a 10-5 victory over Souhegan Valley rival Hollis/Brookline. With the W, the Spartans avenged a loss to the Cavaliers 8-6 to open the season. Milford, 2-14 last year, came into the season with experience in the outfield and promising pitching. Seniors Matt Scott and John Forte give the Spartans solid defense in the field, while senior infielder Alex Simo can hit the ball. But with underclassmen at key positions, the Spartans are looking to gain experience, improve on last season's record, and build a foundation. Cam Douglas behind the plate and pitchers Brett Stagnone and Logan Danforth, all sophomores, bode well for the next couple years as they gain experience and skill, according to head coach Bret Jepson, who is in his fifth year at the helm. John Stark has suffered losses to Bedford (11-0) and Hollis Brookline (14-6). Division III Mascoma at Conant After a quick 5-0 start to the season, Conant has cooled off, losing its last three games to Mascenic Regional (9-4), Bow (3-2), and ConVal Regional (8-0). Mascoma Valley, at 4-3 on the season, has won three of its last four games. The Royals defeated Monadnock, Fall Mountain and Newfound before falling to Winnisquam 5-4 last Friday. Division IV Gorham at Colebrook (Thursday) This North Country contest should be fun, assuming crews can get the snow off the outfield grass by 4 p.m. Colebrook comes into play this week perfect at 6-0 on the year. The Mohawks have held their opponents to fewer than two runs per game while scoring eight or more runs in four of its six contests, including a 12-2 rout over Lisbon on April 21. Gorham had been on a roll as well, winning its first five games this spring before dropping a 3-1 decision to Berlin this past Monday. Portsmouth Christian at Newmarket After a slow start, Newmarket has come to life, winning its last five games, including both ends of a double-header over Epping this Monday, 7-0 and 7-4. Epping's Evan Botterman tossed a two-hit complete game in the opener and struck out 13 batters. He contributed a hit and scored two runs on offense. Kevin Clougherty recorded a single and an RBI. James Geekie started on the mound and won the nightcap, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, home run, and four RBIs. Mac Crawford got a three-inning save. Portsmouth Christian, the defending Class IV state champ after defeating Pittsburg in June of last year, is unbeaten this spring but has played only three games. The --- have defeated Pittsfield Middle, Farmington, and Epping by a combined 31-8 score. (Steve Jusseaume can be reached with questions, comments or corrections at stevejusseaume5@gmail.com)