Exeter, Portsmouth look to make noise in NH Junior American Legion baseball tournament

More baseball is around the corner.

Beginning on July 29, the Junior American Legion state tournament begins, which will feature a total of eight teams, including two from the Seacoast.

Exeter (11-6) enters as the number two seed in its bracket, and Portsmouth (7-10) enters as the fourth seed. Both teams are in District B. The top four teams from District A are also in the tournamenbt.

Along with Exeter and Portsmouth, District B includes first-seeded Salem (12-5) and third-seeded Hudson (8-9).

District A is consists of top-seeded Keene (14-2), Berlin (11-6), Lebanon (10-7) and Plymouth (9-8).

The tournament is double-elimination format and will take place at Gill Stadium in Manchester Friday through Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday, the final games will be held at Holman Stadium in Nashua.

The winner of the tournament will advance to the Northeast Junior Regionals from August 5-7 in Windsor, Connecticut.

Here is a preview of the two local teams.

Exeter's Post 32 looking to make magic

Exeter started its season with a bleak 1-5 record, but after winning 10 of its final 11 games, it is looking to continue its hot play as the tournament begins.

Exeter opens up on Friday as the home team against Lebanon at 3:30.

"We're playing good baseball going into the tournament, which is good," Exeter coach Wayne Young said. "It's going to be interesting to see some of the competition that's out there that we haven't seen during the regular season. I'm looking forward for the boys to just continue to play good baseball, and I have full confidence in their ability."

Last year, Exeter was a younger team, but Young said this team can compete and make a deep run.

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Exeter has five returning players, and came in second place in the tournament last summer.

"I believe we have the depth with hitting, pitching and defense," Young added. "At the end of the day, I think we can be one of the top teams to compete in this."

Exeter has the goal of winning and advancing to regionals, but there's other lessons to be learned as well.

"Just learning the competition and good sportsmanship," Young said. "I think the young men who got to play with me last year got an experience with that, so the five who are returning are really looking forward to continuing what we did last year. We were one game away last year from winning the junior tournament and fell just short. Those young men who were part of that know how it felt to be there and lose that final game, and that's something they told me they don't want to do again."

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Exeter's roster includes Nolan Ash (Sanborn HS), Liam Blake (Exeter HS), Declan Bonner (Exeter HS), Nick Brown (Exeter HS), Michael Caron (Exeter HS), Gavin Duquette (Sanborn HS), Matt Hanna (Central Catholic HS), Jack Harrington (Exeter HS), Shea LaFleur (Exeter HS), Jackson Learner (Berwick Academy), Derek Leedberg (St Thomas), Aedan Messier (Exeter HS), Nick Nigro (Newmarket HS), Caleb Normandin (Raymond), Ben Sabatini (St. Thomas), Luke Sabatini (Sanborn HS), Cam Snee (Exeter) and Evan Tanner (Raymond)     

Portsmouth Post 6 eyes fresh start

Portsmouth had an inconsistent regular season, and coach Matt Gladu is looking forward to starting off on the right foot on Friday.

Portsmouth will play in the first game on Friday at 10 a.m. as the away team against Keene.

"We kind of had some ups and downs during the season, and kind of ended on a little bit of a slide," Gladu said. "But, we're excited that we get a fresh start in the tournament we're playing at Gill Stadium. We have a great bunch of players, and a great bunch of teammates."

Despite a rocky season, Gladu has confidence.

"They've come together pretty well, and they're quality kids," Gladu said. "And they are kids who want to play baseball, and kids who want to come, so it hasn't been that hard from a coaching perspective."

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Gladu mentioned that the goal isn't necessarily "win or bust".

"I wouldn't necessarily say our goal is to win it, I think our goal there is to go and play well, have some fun and try to get everybody involved in the game," Gladu said. "If we happen to win a few games, then all the better."

Portsmouth's roster includes Nick Gladu (Portsmouth), Tucker Huskey (Portsmouth), Joe Zingariello (Portsmouth), Andrew Hudlin (Portsmouth), Finn Melchior (Portsmouth) , Jacob Ringuette (Portsmouth), Isaac Falci (Portsmouth), Owen Moore (Portsmouth), Harvey Reynoso (Hampton Academy), Ryan Clark (Portsmouth) , Cash O'Hara (Winnacunnet), Jackson Larck (Winnacunnet), Ryan Gould (Sacred Heart), Noah Weeks (Portsmouth), Jake Carlisle (Portsmouth), Nick Gakopoulos (St. Thomas) and Arjay Sidney (Winnacunnet).

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter, Portsmouth heading to NH Junior American Legion tournament