By Sapna Pathak
Staff Writer

Lamprey River third baseman Sarah Cooper reacts as Auburn’s Melanie Dusseault gets the safe call. Dusseault scored the second run in Auburn’s eight-run fifth inning. (Hooksett Banner/Sapna Pathak)

Every now and then, a team’s offense explodes, leaving the opposition no chance.

Such was the case with Auburn’s softball all-stars in this year’s New Hampshire District One major league softball championship at Hooksett’s Donati Field on Thursday, July 20.

Their lineup erupted for eight fifth-inning runs against Lamprey River, crowning Auburn the champs and sending the girls to Delaware for the regional round following the 11-1 mercy-rule win.

“I asked them for three more runs,” said Auburn manager Rich Pelletier of entering the fifth with a 3-1 lead. “I asked for three, they gave me eight. That’s how these girls are. Once they start swinging, it just carries over to the next batter.”

As Auburn celebrated near the pitcher’s mound, the girls of Lamprey River, including Candia residents Jackie Kratz and Nicole McKay, walked quietly back to their dugout.

It was then they were told by head coach Kathy Boudreau that this was the title game.

“I didn’t want to tell them this was the championship because they would have been too nervous,” said Boudreau after the game. “I just wanted them to go out and play as if there was no extra pressure on them.”

Auburn struck first when Melanie Dusseault grounded out to score Sarah Cote, and Sam Hennequin hit an RBI single to plate Kayla Komaridis, giving Auburn the 2-0 advantage.

Auburn loaded the bases in the third after Noelle Tobey drew a leadoff walk and moved to third when Heather Pelletier singled and took second on an error. Tobey scored on Komaridis’ bloop hit over shortstop.

But Lamprey River starter Corinne Lemauk escaped further trouble in that inning, then followed with a strong fourth inning.

But Auburn was unstoppable in the fifth. Pelletier, who played a solid center field, scored first on Komaridis’ RBI single. Starter Dusseault came around on an error before Pelletier touched home on a wild pitch.

Taylor Boyd’s RBI groundout drove in Cote, then leadoff hitter Craghead and Katie Rolfe hit back-to-back singles. Tobey’s ground ball hit Craghead in the foot, but the umpires ruled Craghead safe at home “because once the ball passes the first fielder it can hit a runner and it’s a fair ball.”

“We felt one thing but they saw it another way,” said Boudreau. “Once the call’s made, that’s it, you just move on and continue.”

Pelletier’s double drove in Tobey and Rolfe for Auburn’s 10th and 11th runs, ending the contest.

Game notes

Dusseault finished with six strikeouts, four walks and one hit allowed in five innings pitched.

Lamprey River’s only safety was a Renee Gosselin single to right field in the first inning.

On offense, Dusseault collected two hits, one walk, an RBI and two runs scored.

Craghead had three hits with one run scored. Tobey added a hit, three walks, an RBI and scored three times. Pelletier finished with three hits, one run scored and an RBI. Komaridis ended with two hits and two RBI.

Cote had one hit, one RBI and scored once. Hennequin drove in one run and Boyd smacked one hit with one RBI.