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Salem's softball team (8-2) lost its second straight, 2-0, despite outhitting (nine to six) unbeaten Concord (10-0). Losing pitcher Nora Galvin struck out eight and walked only one, but that one walk, to Paige Hanson in the sixth, proved to be the winning run. "We're in a funk right now where we get runner son base but can't score them," said Salem coach Harold Sachs.

Sarah Frahm blasted her third home run of the season, a two-run shot that sparked an eight-run first as Salem downed Manchester Central 14-2. 

Salem used some late inning heroics to stay undeafeated Thursday. Tied at one, Sarah Bracken led off the seventh with a single and advanced to second on a balk. Jade Morrison then stepped up and drove a single to left, scoring Bracken.  

Sarah Frahm led off the game with a home run and unbeaten Salem (6-0) continued to swing the bat in a 13-1 romp over Bishop Guertin. Julia Gray added a two-run homer and triple and Sara Bracken had two hits and four RBIs. Nora Galvin and Nicole Gubellini combined for the win, allowing four hits while striking out 14.

Nora Galvin threw a one-hitter, striking out 14, as Salem remained unbeaten with a 4-0 win over Spaulding. Julia Gray provided all the runs the Blue Devils would need with a two-run triple in the first inning. 

Trailing 5-2 after three innings, Salem showed no desire to endure its first softball loss of the young season. The Devils got a clutch three-run triple from junior Sara Bracken to rally past Nashua North, 10-5. Sophomore Nicole Gubellini earned the victory and helped her own cause with three of Salem's 16 hits.

SALEM, N.H. — On a team loaded with returning starters, it was a sophomore who keyed a big early-season win for the Salem softball team. Nicole Gubellini, who spent most of last year on the junior varsity, doubled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the sixth inning, igniting a three-run rally before the Blue Devils held on for a 4-3 victory over Londonderry yesterday afternoon. Gubellini then relieved winning pitcher Nora Galvin and recorded the final three outs to earn the save. “We always talk about the fact that this is our ballpark, and we got it together in the bottom of the sixth,” said Salem coach Harold Sachs, the winningest coach in state history, who improved to 464-65. “You have to give the kids credit because (Londonderry pitcher) Theresa (Zwart) held us all game. But when the game was on the line, we hit the ball hard.” The Blue Devils (2-0) gained life in the sixth when Julia Gray reached first despite striking out when the pitch squirted free. Two batters later, Gubellini, who drove in Salem’s first run to tie the score 1-1 with a fourth-inning single, lined a double to right-center, driving in Gray from first. “It was a nice outside pitch, but it wasn’t too far outside,” said Gubellini, who went 2 for 3 after a 3-for-3 effort in a 20-0 rout over Manchester West. “It was either a fastball or a curve that didn’t move too much. I just envisioned hitting it into the gap.” After the double, a walk to Amanda Vaudreuil was followed by run-scoring singles from Sara Bracken and Stephanie Long as the Blue Devils took a 4-1 lead into the seventh. Londonderry (1-1) made things interesting when leadoff hitter Lindsey Bolduc doubled to left, chasing Galvin. “We talked about it, and if the leadoff runner got on, we were going to make the change,” Sachs said. “But if that didn’t happen, you can get stuck kind of guessing when the right time is to do it. ... We’ve used four pitchers in our first two games. That’s what we do. That’s who we are, and don’t be surprised if we use a fifth or a sixth down the road.” Zwart made the score 4-2 with an RBI single and took second on the throw to the plate before Gubellini recorded the first out on a grounder that sent Zwart to third. A Samantha Nitso ground out drove in Zwart, bringing the Lancers within a run, before Gubellini struck out Emily Kraytenberg to end the game. “We have a lot of very talented players,” Gubellini said. “Like coach says, we’re unlimited in talent. I think we can do anything if we put our minds to it. I think we can go out and win it all this year.”

Salem's softball team opened its season with a bang, throwing a three-person perfect game in a 20-0 romp over Manchester West. Nora Galvin and Val Bauer both went two innings, striking out six each, and Brittany Hall pitched the fifth before the mercy rule ended the game. Stephanie Long (4 for 4) led the offense with three doubles and five RBIs, Nicole Gubellini added three hits and Julia Gray slugged a long home run and had a pair of RBIs.