High school baseball previews: Defending champs Bow focusing on culture, fundamentals
Bow’s Dillan Abbate holds up the state championship banner after the Falcons beat Souhgean, 13-3, to claim the Division II state title last June in Manchester. Abbate took a ground ball off his left eye in the fourth inning but remained in the game. The Falcons won states out of the fourth seed in 2024; their goal this spring is to double up but as a favorite. Chip Griffin / Photos by Chip
The Bow Falcons celebrate after winning the 2024 Division II baseball championship on June 8. Chip Griffin / Photos By Chip
Bow catcher Owen Webber leaps into the arms of pitcher Sean Guerrette after the Falcons beat Souhegan, 13-3, to claim the Division II state championship on June 8. Webber, an All-State First Team honoree, is back behind the plate for Bow this spring. Chip Griffin / Photos By Chip
Bow’s Owen Webber hits a home game against Coe-Brown Northwood Academy on April 26. Webber, an All-State First Team catcher, is back behind the plate for the Falcons this spring. Chip Griffin / Photos by Chip
Bow pitcher Dillan Abbate stares in for the sign during a game against John Stark on May 1. Abbate, an All-State Second Team pick, is back for the Falcons this spring. Chip Griffin / Photos By Chip
John Stark’s Chase Philibotte delivers a pitch for the Generals against Bow last May. Philibotte was named to the All-State First Team last season and will be John Stark’s ace this year. Chip Griffin / Photos by Chip
Bow baseball celebrates around Colby Smith after Smith scored a run in the Falcons’ 10-2 win over John Stark in the Division II semifinals on June 5. Bow upset John Stark, the No. 1 seed, and went on to win the championship. Chip Griffin / Photos By Chip
Belmont’s Anakin Underhill delivers a pitch against White Mountains last June. Underhill led the Raiders to the Division III championship game last year, but Belmont lost to Monadnock in the final. Underhill is committed to play Division I baseball in college for Sacred Heart University. JOSHUA SPAULDING / Salmon Press
Merrimack Valley’s Jonas Weed delivers a pitch during a game against Hanover last May. Weed is back in MV’s rotation this spring. Courtesy Jay Heath
| Published: 04-14-2025 5:02 AM |
Bow crowned itself Division II baseball state champion last year after a strong playoff run where it upset John Stark in the semifinals and Souhegan in the title tilt.
For head coach Ben Forbes and his Falcons this year, that’s all irrelevant.
That’s not to say it should be forgotten, but just because Bow won does not mean this year will be any easier or that the Falcons (16-5 last spring) will win more games because they won it all a year ago. Right now, it’s all about building chemistry and finding an identity as a team by building around Bow’s hard-work-and-discipline culture.
“All of us have a big focus on pitching and defense, so we want to make sure that we’re as sharp as we can be in those areas. A lot of fundamental skills,” Forbes said.
Now in his 26th year as head coach, Forbes is not one to force a single way of thinking onto his players past preparing them as much as possible. Last season, he said, the team did not find its composure and focus until late May after suffering a tough loss against a team at the bottom of the division. Many of the returnees this year still carry that with them and know what they have to do.
In terms of roster construction, there’s a good mix of returnees in most spots and plenty of pitching, and the few gaps have tough newcomers competing for a spot. Four of Bow’s returnees were All-State players last year: senior catcher Owen Webber (First Team), senior center fielder Brady Lover (Second Team), senior pitcher Dillan Abbate (Second Team) and junior pitcher Jake Reardon (Third Team).
“It’s the culture of Falcon baseball, and those kids know what that culture is, and they are definitely helping to remind our younger players and keep an eye on the brand-new ones to make sure that they’re doing things the way that we do things,” Forbes said of the impact of his leaders.
The biggest spot to fill is second base, and a few freshmen are working out for the spot. Junior Evan Baier moved up from JV to varsity this year and is a utility player who will be useful down the stretch and help push others to play harder. Sophomore pitcher Troy Konstantakos will add depth to the pitching rotation and be a key piece to winning consistently.
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Bow has the pieces in place to have another strong season, and Forbes is feeling good about it. But nothing is given for free in NHIAA baseball.
“I know how it looks when you get overconfident and put the cart before the horse,” he said. “So really, ultimately, I just want the kids to reach their potential as individuals and as a team as the year unfolds and work hard, have fun, enjoy the sport of baseball.”
Division: I.
Coach: Scott Owen (25th year).
Last year: 7-13, did not make tournament.
Returning starters: Kaelen Williams, sr., P/OF; Alex Lewis, sr., P/OF; Trevor Craigue, sr., OF/P; Alex Turant, jr., P/INF.
Outlook: With few returning starters, the Tide will have a lot of competition for starting spots early in the season as Concord looks to make it back to the playoffs after falling short of qualifying for the first time in several seasons.
“The kids have been working hard, and we are excited to get going,” coach Owen said. “There will be a lot of competition for many spots early in the year. New Hampshire Division I is always a grind as every team has talent. … There are no easy days in Division I.”
Teams to beat: Exeter, Pinkerton, Portsmouth, Londonderry, Trinity.
Division: II.
Coach: Dennis Pelletier (11th year).
Last year: 17-2, reached semifinals.
Returning starters: Chase Philibotte, sr., P/SS; Joey Dykstra, sr., 3B/SS/P; Hayden Pond, sr., P/CF; Ryder Brown, sr., 1B; Aiden Harris, jr., C/RF; Aidan Williams, jr., OF/P; Ben LaBrecque, jr., 2B/P; Tobin Prieto, jr., 3B; Travis Lisofsky, jr., C/OF; Parker LaClair, jr., 2B/LF.
Top newcomers: Des Bogle, fr., OF.
Outlook: The Generals are coming off an outstanding season, where they earned the No. 1 seed at the end of the regular season but were upset by Bow in the semifinals. Despite returning several starters, John Stark graduated last year’s Division II Player of the Year, Anthony Paolicelli. The Generals will need to replace a lot of innings in the pitching rotation. Philibotte (All-State First Team) remains one of the top right-handed pitchers in the state, but he’ll need some support from seniors Pond and Dykstra (Second Team), as well as juniors Williams and LaBrecque. Harris (Second Team) is also returning after an All-State year.
“The offense should be stronger with 10 players returning who had great summer seasons and worked very hard in the offseason to get ready,” said Pelletier, who was named last season’s D-II Coach of the Year.
Teams to beat: Bow, Souhegan, St. Thomas, Hanover, Kingswood.
Division: II.
Coach: Sean Wheeler (23rd year).
Last year: 9-8, reached prelims.
Returning starters: Landon Abbott, sr., 1B/P; Isaak Davis, sr., SS/P; Reece Clermont, sr., OF/P; Eli Wormald, sr., OF/P; Jonas Weed, jr., OF/1B/P; Seth Norris, sr., 3B/P.
Top newcomers: Jacob Baggett, jr., SS/2B/P; Levi Bourdeau, jr., OF/C; Jack Parris, jr., 2B/P; Matt Herrmann, soph., 3B/C/P; Landon Lauziere, jr., OF/1B/P.
Outlook: Weed returns as the Pride’s ace, with Abbott and Davis round out the rotation. Senior Brayden Harrington will work out of the bullpen, as will Herrmann, Norris and Lauziere. The Pride infield will feature new players up the middle with Baggett, Parris and Davis getting time at short and second. Abbott and Norris will be back at their corner positions. Weed, Wormald, Clermont all will be back in the outfield for MV.
Teams to beat: Bow, Souhegan, St. Thomas, John Stark.
Division: II.
Coach: Joshua Coughlin (15th year).
Last year: 9-9, reached quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Eric Maccarone, so.; Josh Maccarone, so.; Owen Stewart, sr.; Devin Riel, sr.; Andrew Fitzgerald, so.; Zac Bemis, jr.
Top newcomers: Isaac Gioseffi, fr.; Jack Pearson, jr.
Outlook: The Spartans finished .500 last season but pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament when No. 11 Pembroke defeated No. 6 Kingswood in the preliminary round. The Spartans are looking to building off of last year’s quarterfinal appearance. With returnees like Stewart (All-State First Team), Riel (Second Team), Bemis (Third Team) and the Maccarone brothers, they believe they have the personnel to do it, especially in the batting order.
“The offense brings back solid varsity experience that looks to continue the growth they showed last season,” Coughlin said. “All in all, looking to play our best baseball at the right time and see where it takes us.”
Teams to beat: Bow, John Stark, Souhegan, Merrimack Valley.
Division: III.
Coach: Matt LeBlanc (15th year).
Last year: 17-3, D-III runner-up.
Returning starters: Brayden Townsend, jr., OF; Owen Waldron, sr., 2B/SS; Michael Collette, sr., P/OF; Eddie Rochenski, jr., OF; Max Ryder, so., INF; Jaxson Embree, sr., C/P; Wyatt Divers, jr., P/INF/C; Wyatt Bamford, so., 1B/3B/P/OF; Anakin Underhill, sr., P/1B.
Top newcomers: Jack Crockford, so., P/3B.
Outlook: The Red Raiders graduated just one player and return their entire starting nine, plus their complete pitching staff from last year’s team that competed for the Division III crown. They hope to capitalize on their varsity experience and their success across other sports as well. Underhill, who is headed for NCAA Division I Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, anchors the starting rotation made up of Divers and seniors Brady Thurber and Collette. Underhill, Collette, Divers, Waldron, Embree and Bamford are the hitting leaders who will look to provide support to the pitching staff and the team’s improved defense.
Teams to beat: Bishop Brady, White Mountains, Conant, Monadnock, Fall Mountain, Kearsarge, Gilford and Derryfield. “New Hampshire’s Division III figures to be very deep and wide open this year,” according to LeBlanc.
Division: III.
Coach: Skip Foy (20th year).
Last year: 12-6, reached quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Winn Thomas, jr., 2B/SS/P; Luke Bedard, so., 3B/P; Owen Thornton, sr., P/SS; Dan Shedd, jr., P/3B; Kolt Gaudreault, so., 2B/OF/P/C; Jack Sheppard, so., P/3B.
Top newcomers: Jack Speiss, sr., P/CF; Cooper Hand, fr., P/1B; Henry Thresher, so., 1B/P; Ronan Hetherman, jr., 1B/C.
Outlook: With several returning starters, five returning All-State players — Thomas (First Team), Thornton (Second Team), Shedd (Second Team), Bedard (First Team) and Gaudreault (Third Team) — and a deep pitching rotation, the Giants are poised for another strong year after consecutive deep playoff runs. Thornton, Speiss, Shedd and Sheppard will lead the pitching staff, and newcomer Hand will spot start/relieve along with Gaudreault, Thomas and Thresher. Sophomore Max Guerra will be handling the staff behind the plate after playing center field last year. On offense, Brady will look for a balanced attack up and down the lineup.
“I know everyone is talking about Belmont, Monadnock and Campbell, but we believe if we keep improving during the season that we will also be in the hunt at the end,” Foy said.
Teams to beat: Belmont, Monadnock, Campbell.
Division: III.
Coach: Robert Armstrong (first year).
Last year: 3-13, did not make tournament.
Returning starters: Joel Belanger, sr., P/SS; Jack Harrington, sr., CF/2B; Ben Perrin, sr., 3B/P; Adrien Cordeiro, so., LF/CF; Lenny Seymour, jr., 3B/P; Jake McClure, so., C.
Top newcomers: Seth Dalphond, fr., RF/P; Isaiah Sawyer, jr., 1B.
Outlook: Armstrong moves up into the head coaching role in H-D’s second season back as a varsity program (the Hillcats were JV only in 2023) after serving as an assistant coach.
“After a few seasons of being a young team and learning how to play together, we are poised with good captains to have a good season,” Armstrong said. “While still young overall with potentially multiple freshmen starting, the team is looking to build off of a great end to last season.”
Teams to beat: Monadnock, Belmont, Conant.
Division: III.
Coach: Kevin Hill (3rd year).
Last year: 4-12, did not make tournament.
Returning starters: Nate Windhurst, sr.; Kyle Buelte, jr.; Tad Stokes, jr.; Devin Allen, so.; Mike Pantano, sr.; Travis Windhurst, sr.; Bronson Ammann, sr.; Mike DePiano, so.; Cody Charron, sr.
Top newcomers: Aiden Clay, fr.
Outlook: After winning just one game in 2023, the Hawks quadrupled their win total last season and are looking to be playoff contenders in 2025.
Teams to beat: Belmont, Campbell, Monadnock.
Division: III.
Coach: Josh Judkins (second year).
Last year: 5-12, reached prelims.
Returning starters: Shea Curley, sr.; Jackson Cote, jr.
Outlook: The Cougars return a deeper and more experienced group than the one that played last year in Judkins’ inaugural season with the team.
“I learned a lot about the players, and we feel good about the season ahead of us,” Judkins said. “Our goal is to compete at the highest level we can and to make a strong playoff push. We have more pitching depth than last year with our freshman group getting a lot of experience last season. Curley and Cote provide our team with upperclassman leadership and will be very strong for us this season. Our overall depth at each position in the field is looking great. This should be a fun and competitive season for us this year.”
Division: III.
Coach: Fred Caruso (19th year).
Last year: 2-14, did not make tournament.
Returning starters: John Shear, sr.; Ethan Carter, sr.; Nik Puffinburger, sr.; Jake Twombly, sr.; Justin Tardif, sr.; Ben Wood, sr.; Mike DeFosse, sr.; Dio Katsigiannis, jr.
Top newcomers: Brady Colby, jr.; Carter Lloyd, fr.
Outlook: After missing the tournament for just the second time in 18 years, the Bears are eager to hit the field and get back to the postseason.
The Bears struggled on the mound last season, but the senior pitching corps has “worked extremely hard in the offseason,” according to Caruso. Seniors Shea and Carter, along with freshman Lloyd, will lead the pitching staff. Winnisquam’s defense looks solid, returning its entire outfield of Twombly (left), Puffinburger (center) and Tardif (right). Carter will play shortstop when he isn’t pitching, and Wood is solid at second base. Katsigiannis and Shea will anchor third and first when not on the mound. DeFosse, junior Dakota Sousa and Lloyd give Winnisquam options at catcher. Junior AJ Barton and senior Jake Cross provide depth off the bench. Shear, Carter and Puffinburger will serve as captains.
“Our winter workouts were well-attended, probably the best attendance we’ve had ever,” Caruso said. “They’re hungry and want to put last year behind them.”
Division: IV.
Coach: Josh McCallister (first year).
Last year: 10-7, reached prelims.
Returning starters: TJ Charbono, sr., INF/P; Connor Faherty, jr., OF/C; Daniel Stopyro, so., C/INF; Annabelle Syvertson, so., INF; Caleb Funk, so., OF; Andrew Doyle, fr., INF.
Outlook: The Kingsmen begin the season with a young yet experienced squad with six returning starters. Charbono will spearhead the offense along with Doyle, Stopyro, Syvertson and Funk. Faherty, returning after a season-ending injury during the 2024 season, provides power to the middle of the lineup. Charbono, Doyle and Stopyro are all returning with varsity experience on the mound, while freshman Jackson Barton is a solid lefty who will immediately contribute as a pitcher, along with fellow newcomers Isaac Hall and Ethan Lemay.
Division: IV.
Coach: Kyle Kaplan (third year).
Last year: 3-13, did not make tournament.
Returning starters: Harrison Kaplan, Matt Nason, Brayden Turner, Cody Gray, Tyler Bennett, Kourtney Kaplan, Thomas Nason.
Top newcomers: Vinnie Tilton, Danny Blodgett-Fralic, Jason Lemieux, Liam Cook.
Outlook: After going winless in 2022, the Tornadoes have improved steadily, going 1-15 in 2023 and 3-13 last season. The Kaplans, Nasons, Bennett and Gray lead the offense, while Franklin has a strong outfield with Harrison Kaplan at center, Turner in right and Tilton in left.
The infield also should be strong, with Matt Nason (first base) and Thomas Nason (third) holding down the infield at the corners and Kourtney Kaplan or Gray at second base. Turner, Tilton and Cook will rotate at shortstop. Pitching could be a weakness for the Tornadoes without a bona fide ace, but Turner and Harrison Kaplan could have breakout seasons. Tilton, Cook and Lemieux can have an impact right out of the gate and will handle the other pitching duties by committee. Franklin is also young at catcher with freshman Blodgett-Fralic showing a willingness to learn and hustle.
“We have a team full of kids that love the game and want to be here,” coach Kaplan said. “I think we have a strong group of returning players with a good mix of immediate-impact freshmen. The goal is to keep ourselves in games, keep ourselves out of the position of beating ourselves. If we can do that, we will win more games and put ourselves in the playoff conversation.”
Teams to beat: Sunapee, Portsmouth Christian, Concord Christian, Woodsville, Littleton, Mascenic.
Girls’ lacrosse: Hopkinton pulls off comeback against Bow and earns first victory, 14-8
High schools: Lovett’s 2 HR leads Coe-Brown softball over Oyster River in championship rematch, plus Monday’s area results
Athlete of the Week: Anakin Underhill, Belmont High School
Track & field: John Stark’s Douzanis, MV’s Paquette and Bow’s Hou set meet records at 29-team Sanborn Invitational
