Despite mother nature’s best efforts to stop them, the Oyster River Bobcats softball team (14-3) defeated the Laconia Sachems (7-8) 6-1 on Wednesday during the Bobcats’ senior night.
Bobcats pitcher Addy Veno (‘24) got the game going for the Bobcats striking out the first Laconia batter and getting through the first inning smoothly. “That’s what we really focus on, trying to get quick outs, playing really good defense to set the tone as the home team,” said Bobcats coach Chad Michaud.
After falling down one in the top of the second, the Bobcats found their spark, and scored six unanswered runs over the course of the second and the third. This six-run push was ignited from the Bobcats’ crafty baserunning, which had cost them a potential run in the first. However, the baserunning was not the star of the show: star middle-infielder Kate Michaud (‘26) hitting a towering two-run shot to left to put the Bobcats up 6-1.
“It got the team fired up, to jump and add two more runs to the board, it gives you just a little more breathing room,” said Coach Michaud.
As the fourth inning rolled around, the weather did too. Midway through the inning was the first lightning delay, then immediately after the inning came the second one. The game never resumed.
However, NHIAA rules state that Laconia would need to have one more at bat for the came to count as an official game. But luckily for Oyster River, because the game had little playoff implications, the Laconia coaches instructed the umpires to report the score as if they had struck out three times in the top of the fifth, which makes the game long enough to count as an official league game.
Through all this, the Bobcats celebrated four senior players: Addy Veno, Maddy Veno, Maeve Hickok, and Mia Boyd, along with their manager Emilia Cavicchi. “They’re all great leaders, they set the tone and set a really good example,” said Coach Michaud. “It’s been great working with them these past two years.”
Addy Veno reflected on the last game, noting that while she is sad it’s nearly over, the seniors, “all lead the team together and all help keep the energy up.”
The red-hot Bobcats look for their 15th win as they finish out their regular season on Friday traveling to play a struggling Milford team.
– Kevin Kell
Mouth of the River 
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