Timberlane’s Morrier wins NH Gatorade Player of the Year
Due to part of the nation playing soccer in the spring, she had to wait a little longer than most honorees, but the inevitable is the inevitable.
Recent Timberlane Regional grad Leah Morrier was named the New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year for girls soccer after leading the Owls to the Division I state title in the fall. It was announced on Thursday.
Morrier scored 28 goals and had 14 assists for Timberlane, the last assist being one of the great moments in Owls history as she set up Rylee Donahue’s state title game-winner with an amazing cross.
Mickey Smith, head coach of state runner-up Portsmouth High, noted at the Gatorade Website: “I’m not sure I can express in words just how valuable Leah was for Timberlane. Our whole plan in the state championship was to just try to contain her, which we did a decent job of. But she still got us in the end.”
The UMass Lowell-bound Morrier had a 4.41 gpa and spent time volunteering at an area soup kitchen and as a peer tutor.
NECC’s Bear honored
Northern Essex Community College shortstop Chris Bear was named the NJCAA ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove shortstop as the nation’s top defensive player at their respective position. The Gold Glove team was announced today by the NJCAA Baseball Committee.
The award marks back-to-back years in which a member of the Knights baseball program has picked up a Gold Glove award as Lawrence’s Jairo Vazquez received the award last year as a pitcher.
Bear was also recently named a first-team NJCAA All-American and the Region 21 Player of the Year.
The sophomore had a fielding percentage of .957 as he recorded 77 assists with 33 put outs in 115 total chances. He committed just five errors on the season. He also was involved in turning eight double plays on the season.
He is headed to UMaine in the fall.
Knights add two coaches
North Andover High Athletic Director Steve Nugent recently added two new head coaches to his staff.
Christophe Poirier will be the new varsity swim and diving coach for the Knights.
Poirier swam at St. Michael’s and the University of Toronto.
Also, Jenn Maddaleni will serve as North Andover’s new varsity cheer coach.
The Tewksbury High product also cheered at Southern New Hampshire University.
Agganis Games coming up
A handful of area athletes are headed to the Agganis Senior All-Star Games in Lynn, which commence this Sunday.
Zach Wolinski will represent North Andover in boys basketball, while his recent graduating classmate Brigid Gaffny will play in the softball game.
Andover’s Teddy Gibson and Brady Carlson will play for the North team in baseball.
Central Catholic boys lacrosse will be well-represented with Conor Shanahan, Ethan Mitchell and Mason Bachry all playing for the North. Central’s Shaelagh Green will play for Raider coach Casey Grange in hoop.
The schedule of Agganis games:
Sunday
Girls Lacrosse, 11 a.m.; Softball, 12 noon; Boys Lacrosse, 1 p.m.; Baseball, 2 p.m.
Monday
Boys Basketball, 5:30 p.m.; Girls Basketball, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Girls Soccer, 5 p.m.; Boys Soccer,6:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Football, 6 p.m.