By Sapna Pathak
Staff Writer

Haeli Cambell (above) and Hannah Gifford helped anchor the Kearsarge Mountain staff during the team’s 5-2 run in the New England Babe Ruth U10 Regional Softball tournament. (Courtesy Photo)

As they entered this year’s New England Babe Ruth U10 Regional Softball tournament, the girls of Kearsarge Mountain knew they had a secret weapon: their fans.

The club and its home crowd traveled to Lancaster on Monday, July 31, and fell, 6-5, to Brookfield, Conn., in extra innings in the championship game.

The club draws players from Goffstown, Weare, New Boston and Henniker. The girls came home with the second-place finish in the team’s first trip to regionals.

Head coach Mark Cambell said despite the tough loss, the squad’s fan support made the tournament what it was.

“They’re our 11th man,” said Cambell. “No lie, they were the loudest crowd at every game. The girls picked up on it and ‘wham,’ they used that energy.”

Cambell, along with assistant coaches George Gifford and Greg Hartnett, watched the club fight through the district tournament and win the state title to earn the ticket to regionals.

The championship game against Brookfield saw five different lead changes. Kearsarge Mountain struck first with a 1-0 lead after two innings. Brookfield came back to take a 3-1 lead before Kearsarge tied it up in the top of the fourth.

Kearsarge scored two in the top of the sixth but Brookfield tied things at five apiece to force extra innings.

Brookfield pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh with two outs.

“From day one we’ve said we’re going to play our best,” said Cambell. “We’re going to battle until the last out and if that’s good enough to in, then that’s good enough. This time it wasn’t but the fact we got here was huge in itself.”

After its first game was postponed due to rain, Kearsarge Mountain lost, 4-3, to Newtown, Conn., on Saturday, July 29.

A 7-0 shutout over Bedford and an 8-6 victory over Raynham, Mass. rounded out the team’s first day.

On Sunday, July 30, Kearsarge Mountain downed Rochester, the Southern New Hampshire district champs, 4-2. It handed Lou Lever of Lancaster, the Northern New Hampshire district champs, a 6-5 loss and finished the day with a 9-7 win over Litchfield.

The girls put up a 5-2 record during the tournament.

Pitchers Haeli Cambell and Hannah Gifford, both of Goffstown, helped anchor the rotation along with New Boston’s Sara Peirce.

Third baseman Brionna Turcotte, shortstop Emily Olsen and outfielders Erin Trnka and Ashleigh Hartnett represented Goffstown on the roster.

Weare’s Chloe Loos had a strong performance in outfield.

Second baseman Kaitlyn Landry, catcher Elena Rose and outfielder Sarah Philbrick reside in Henniker and rounded out the roster.