Softball roundup: Broncos, Cards, Cavs reach semifinals

The Alvirne High School softball team became the schools third girls team to advance to the Division I semifinals, while Bishop Guertin pulled off an upset to reach the final four as well.

In Division II, Hollis/Brookline took out the tournament's No. 1 seed to reach the semifinals, while Wilton-Lyndeborough lost in the Division IV quarterfinals and had its 118-game home winning streak snapped.

Division I

Taylor Carbone struck out 13 to lead No. 2 Alvirne to an 8-0 win over No. 10 Merrimack in Saturday's quarterfinals. On offense, Alvirne had 13 hits, three of which came from Brooke Kennedy. The Broncos will now face No. 3 Londonderry, which defeated No. 11 Nashua South 8-0, in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Thursday at Southern New Hampshire University.

The other semifinal will feature No. 9 Bishop Guertin, which upset top-seeded and defending champion Salem 3-2. The Cardinals took an early lead on a home run by Jackyln Dubois before the Blue Devils went up 2-1. But Bishop Guertin scored twice in the sixth inning, thanks in part to a RBI double by Kenzie McCabe.

The Cardinals will take on No. 4 Concord, which defeated No. 5 Spaulding 5-4, in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Thursday at SNHU.

Division II

No. 8 Hollis/Brookline advanced to the semifinals after beating No. 1 Kennett 5-1 Saturday. The Cavaliers scored four times in the eighth inning and Kirsten Bergen pitched well to pull off the upset. H/B will face No. 4 Goffstown, which was a 5-2 winner over No. 5 Portsmouth, in the semifinals Tuesday at 6 p.m. at SNHU.

No. 6 Souhegan had its season ended by No. 3 Laconia, 10-4. The Sabers got two hits and two RBIs from Alli Sumski, but that wasn't enough against the Sachems. Laconia will now face No. 15 Merrimack Valley, which pulled off another upset, this time beating No. 7 Con-Val 2-1. The Sachems and the Pride will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday also at SNHU.

Division IV

No. 1 Wilton-Lyndeborough suffered its first loss of the season, falling to No. 8 Colebrook 1-0 in the quarterfinals. The loss ended the Warriors' home-winning streak at 118 games and ended a streak of six consecutive championship game appearances. Sam Broderick pitched well, allowing one hit and retired the final 14 hitters she faced, but an unearned run in the second inning proved to be the difference.

Colebrook will take on No. 4 Profile, a 7-1 winner of No. 5 Portsmouth Christian, in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Plymouth State University.

No. 2 Woodsville knocked out No. 7 Lin-Wood 4-1 on the other side of the bracket, while No. 3 Groveton defeated No. 11 Littleton 7-1. Woodsville and Groveton will meet in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday, also at PSU.

Alvirne rolls in quarters - Nashua Telegraph

High School Tournament Highlights - Nashua Telegraph

Nervous tension suits Tide - Concord Monitor

Portsmouth softball falls in quarterfinals - Portsmouth Herald