Ali Marousek and Callie Aspinwall both have aspirations to play lacrosse in college, and each took a big step toward that goal last weekend.
Marousek and Aspinwall, junior midfielders who play for Portsmouth High School, were among the 20 players on the Upper New England team that competed in the Women’s Division National Tournament in Maryland on Saturday and Sunday. The team is made up of high school players who were selected following a tryout in April.
“I can tell (early) who'll be the future players who'll likely make those teams," Portsmouth coach Cindy Fitzgerald told the Portsmouth Herald. "They're special athletes. They just have a certain focus. Both Callie and Ali are still at the beginning of their potential. They have the potential to be incredible players."
Marousek and Aspinwall helped Portsmouth win the Division III state championship in 2007 and 2008. The Clippers won 11 of their first 12 games this season, which is the program’s inaugural season in Division II.
"It's a huge honor, obviously, and it's such an accomplishment to know that I'm able to play at that level," Marousek said.
"I hadn't really heard of (the tournament) until I got midway through my freshman year," Aspinwall said. "I wanted to work for it because it was a great opportunity."
This is the fourth consecutive year the Portsmouth program has had at least one representative in the tournament.
"All the college coaches will be there," Fitzgerald said. "It's a huge weekend. If you want to play college at the Division I level, which both of these girls do, you need to play in this tournament."
Baseball: Daboul collects 100th victory
Mike Daboul won his 100th game as Winnacunnet’s varsity baseball coach when the Warriors defeated Manchester West, 9-2, Wednesday.
Daboul, who guided Winnacunnet to the Class L championship in 2002, also earned his first varsity victory against West in 2001.
Daboul said Winnacunnet’s triumph over Nashua in the 2002 championship game is the one victory that stands out during his tenure. Winnacunnet was without ace Brian Clifford for that contest.
"The state championship in 2002 was huge," Daboul said. "That was my first state championship as a head coach."
Other noteworthy baseball items:
• Portsmouth raised its Class I record to 13-0 by beating Oyster River, 21-1, Friday. The Clippers led 21-0 before the Bobcats recorded an out in the second inning. The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Portsmouth has had its last seven games shortened because of the mercy rule.
• Gorham, which is 14-0 in Class S, is the only other unbeaten baseball team in the state. Opponents have failed to score more than two runs against Gorham in 10 of those 14 games.
• Newmarket senior Mike Fritz has recorded 62 strikeouts in 31 innings this season. He struck out a career-high 18 in a victory earlier this spring. Fritz plans to play for Division III Keene State College next season.
Boys Lacrosse: Kearsarge suffers first loss
Pat O’Connor’s goal with 2:02 remaining in regulation finalized the scoring and helped Hollis-Brookline hand Kearsarge its first setback of the season, 8-7.
Hollis-Brookline goaltender Alex Martin made 38 saves in the victory.
The Cavaliers and Cougars are both 12-1 and trail unbeaten Monadnock Regional (13-0) in the Division III standings.
Girls Lacrosse: Top seeds nearly set
With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, Londonderry (Division I), Winnacunnet (Division II) and Hollis-Brookline (Division III) are in the best position to claim the top seeds for the state’s three girls lacrosse tournaments.
Londonderry (14-0) and Hollis-Brookline (11-0) are the only unbeaten girls lacrosse teams in the state, Winnacunnet is 13-1 and will finish first if it avoids a second loss. Winnacunnet’s only setback came against Portsmouth, which is in second place with an 11-1 record.
The Division I, Division II and Division III tournaments will each begin at home sites on June 4.
