VOLUME 35, NUMBER 42 MARCH 24, 2011 FREE THE WEEKLY NEWS & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL OF MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY Play Ball: Catch-M-All: Kennett High School Two local fishermen embark contributing writer on yearlong quest to catch Shawn Beattie previews and eat every species of 2011 KHS Baseball freshwater fish in N.H… A4 season … A2 A SALMON PRESS PUBLICATION • (603) 447-6336 • PUBLISHED IN CONWAY, NH Page Two Play Ball! A look into the 2011 baseball season at Kennett High School By Shawn Beattie and experience that the Eagles Kennett High School possess allow them to move Special to the Mountain Ear people around on defense and give guys rest, while maintain- AMERICA’S PAST TIME ing a strong team from game has returned. Major League to game. Baseball’s spring training has The Eagles did lose veteran been taking place for the past leaders like Jeff Sires and Mike couple of weeks as teams have Larson to graduation but lead- been playing exhibition games ership may not be an issue for in the Southern region of the the team. “As I’ve gone United States. As the snow through high school I have continues to slowly melt here realized every year that as a in New Hampshire, student player your responsibility athletes at Kennett High changes. Your team depends School begin packing their on you as a leader and a play- skis and sneakers away and er. I feel like I have been able dusting off their bats and to grow as an athlete both gloves. A large number of mentally and physically,” said boys gathered in the Kennett Jacobs. Along with Alex gymnasium on Monday, Jacobs, the Eagles have March 21 to kick off the 2011 numerous players who are baseball season by meeting capable of leading by example with the coaches to go over and that will certainly have a this years expectations on and positive impact on the team. off the field. Assistant coach Rick West The boys will be confined to said he believes the boys have that same gymnasium and a very strong team this year back parking lot of the high that can be a real contender school for the first couple of for a solid playoff spot. Three (Photo Courtesy of Kendra Strong) weeks of the season. However, of the Eagles returning this Kennett junior Josh Drew has a bright future in baseball. This season he will be splitting time at catch- the coaches are not concerned year earned a spot on the New er with senior Alex Jacobs but is capable of helping the Eagles in other positions on the field. because many of the players Hampshire State All Star have been spending time this Team; Nick Massa, Josh Drew, payoff with a successful base- as any other Coach in base- translates to a lot of experi- off-season sharpening their and Nick Kevlin, who also ball season. “I expect us to ball, “We look to be an excel- ence for this year. I also think baseball skills and are already earned Junior All Star make the playoffs as a top five lent hitting team with a strong however, that pitching has the in the swing of things. “A lot Showcase First Team. Many of team,” said senior Alex Jacobs, defense and an effective pitch- potential to be a very strong of us have been meeting to the Eagles are being scouted who will see plenty of playing ing staff. That is what we hope point for us. We have several throw bullpen sessions under by top college programs time as a catcher for the for every year but we feel that pitchers this year, where last the coaching of Ralph Treuel, across the nation, which Eagles. Josh Drew, who will we can really achieve that with year we relied mainly on two. a minor league pitching coor- proves how the amount of tal- also see playing time as a this year’s squad.” As long as all of our pitchers dinator for the Boston Red ent on the roster this year. catcher added, “This year my The Eagles know their hard are used we will be very deep. Sox,” said junior Sean Perley The Kennett Eagles base- expectations are going to be as work isn’t finished and they Our hitting should be solid “This should most definitely ball program has every right high as ever. We have the will need to focus on utilizing too,” added Josh Drew. strengthen our pitching rota- to be confident heading into potential to have an amazing their strengths to ensure a Versatility is another tion for this season and we the season, but only time will team and I hope we don't play-off run. Kennett has a strength for the Eagles this should be showing up with a tell if the boys are contenders waste the talent. I think as number of returning letter- year. Many of the players can wide range of strong, high cal- or pretenders. Coach Burns, long as everyone puts their men this season and many of play a number of positions iber, and competitive pitch- the record holder for most heart into the game we will them are capable of playing with confidence. Nick Massa ers.” Along with team-orient- wins as a New Hampshire have a chance to rank high in more than one position. “ One will be relied on to give ed off-season workouts many, coach has been the head man the standings, and hopefully of our strengths this year is the Kennett a lot of solid innings players have been playing ball for over 40 years and has the make a run in the post season. amount of returning letter on the mound but can play the for separate teams and partici- opportunity to reach his 500th We have a lot of talented kids, men from last year, as well as outfield tremendously as well. pating in several baseball career win this season. The and we are deep in just about having a good defense and Also, Alex Jacobs and Josh camps. “I know several kids Eagles have an overall record every position. There's no offensive team” said junior Drew can play a few different have been working out since of 491-296 and finished last reason at all why we shouldn't Austin Weber. Coach Burns is positions and will be splitting fall in preparation for base- season at 9-7; ninth in the be able to be one of the domi- returning five seniors, Nick time at catcher. “I honestly am ball,” said junior Josh Drew. “I state. Coach Burns said he nating teams this year.” The Kevlin, Alex Jacobs, Vince confident wherever I am personally went to a camp this hopes to improve upon that players are not the only ones Patch, Adam Murata and last placed on the field,” said winter at the Pirates spring this year. You can check out who expect to be successful year’s 10th player award win- Jacobs “Josh is a good catcher training facility in Florida to the Eagles in their season this year. Head coach Bob ner Matt Gadomski along and I am confident in his abil- help prepare for the spring opener on April 11, when they Burns is feeling good about with four juniors, Josh Drew, ity to take charge, he works season coming up. I feel like take the road to match up his team’s chances as well. “If Sean Perley, Alex Milford, hard and deserves to play.” that helped me a lot and got against Berlin. The boys will our pitching staff is as strong Austin Weber and one sopho- Perley has experience in the me back into the swing of wear their pin stripes at home as pitching coach Quint thinks more, Nick Massa. “I agree outfield and infield, while baseball.” for the first time on April 13 it will be then we should be with Austin in the sense that a Weber and Gadomski can give The Eagles feel confident against Saint Thomas Aquinas headed for another winning strength will be returning let- the Eagles speed on the base that the hard work they have and again on April 15 against season.” Coach Burns believes ter man this year. We had a paths and covering the field put into the off-season will Plymouth Regional. he has the same expectations young team last year, which defensively. The versatility On the Cover Inside Index Humpty Dumpty & Friends Valley Feature Valley Folks & Focus.........Page 7 Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway held the second annual Rachael Brown learns new facts about the Passages..............................Page 9 Cranmore Mascot Jam on March 19. Their own C-More the Penguin health benefits of the maple’s sap with stops was joined by Keeko the Monkey from the Red Jacket Mountain View's at Remick Museum, Believe in Books Sugar Roundups...........................Page 12 Kahuna Laguna Waterpark, Oakie the Acorn, from Oakhurst Dairy of House and Weston Farms ..............Page A8 Out & About .....................Page 13 Portland, Maine, Murray the Moose from Ragged Mountain Resort in Rockpile .............................Page 14 Danbury and Humpty Dumpty of Story Land in Glen for day of fun Downstream activities and competition. Haley Andrews (left), of Marblehead, Mass., Contributing writer Darron Laughland is The Great Outdoors .........Page 17 and Skyler Anderson (right), of Hollis pose with Story Land mascot back with kayaking adventures throughout Calendar.............................Page 20 Humpty Dumpty at Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway. the Valley. Ice out time is game on for white- On The Slopes ..................Page 24 (Dennis Coughlin Photo) water paddlers ...............................Page A15 Page 2 - The Mountain Ear, Thursday, March 24, 2011 KHS Profiles Kennett Eagles: Local student selected to Emmaline Ashe running full speed ahead attend National Student By Hannah Wright influenced Kennett High School you? Leadership Conference Special to The Mountain Ear EA: Bernie [Livingston] Brooks Sanderson, DURING THE PAST has taught me daughter of Bruce and three years, student athlete that what mat- Kathy Sanderson of Emmaline Ashe has been an ters most is North Conway is a jun- active part of Kennett High doing the best ior at Kennett High School in many ways, but you can do in School.