By DICK DUMAIS

For the Citizen

GILFORD — Softball’s second season officially gets underway this weekend for 23 Lakes Region softball players as the 16U and 14U Nor’Easter Softball Teams open their 2003 summer season at the Southern Maine Flame Diamond Classic Tournament in Scarborough, Maine.

The 2002 NH-ASA defending state champion Nor’Easter 16U’s will take on the Middlesex, Mass. Rapid Fire at 8 a.m., followed later by games against the South Portland, Maine Pride at noon, and the Scarborough Southern Maine Flame at 6 p.m.

The 14U’s, who placed third in the 2002 NH-ASA state tournament, will face the Woburn, Mass. Panthers at 8 a.m., followed later by games against the Northeast Athletics at noon, and the Scarborough Maine Flame Black at 2 p.m.

Single-elimination play begins Sunday at 8 a.m. The tournament serves as a tune-up for the NH-ASA State Tournament scheduled for next weekend. This year’s 16U Tournament will be held at the West Side Softball Fields in Manchester. The 14U Tournament will be held at Wheelock Park in Keene.

Head coach Jeff Crowell’s 16U squad has eight returning players from last year’s team, featuring a heavy dose of Lakes Region softball standouts. The Nor’Easter pitching staff will include Gilford High School’s Alyssa Crowell (Class M All-State) and Ali Dumais, along with Franklin High School’s Michele Baca. Gilford High’s Jacqui Feehily and Holderness School’s Ariana Nicolay (Sandwich) will be sharing duties behind the plate.

Other returning veterans from last year’s squad include Gilford right fielder Lacey Simoneau and Laconia High School third basemen Amanda Hackett and shortstop Kara Irwin.

Newcomers to the squad include Bishop Brady’s Abby Cross of Franklin (2B, IF), Winnisquam’s Heather Mayheux of Northfield (OF) and Gilford’s Melissa Huntoon (OF).

Expect Crowell (1B), Dumais (1B), Baca (CF, 2B), Feehily (OF) and Nicolay (1B, OF) to play the field when they are not part of the team’s battery.

Coach Crowell’s coaching staff includes Gilford High School assistant coaches Katie Allen and Megan Huntoon.

This will be Trish LeMien’s fourth year as head coach of the 14U’s that will feature a mixture of veterans and rookies. Look for Brady’s freshmen standout pitcher Chelsea Proulx from Franklin (Class I All-State) along with Gilford’s Felica Bua to lead the team from the mound. Gilford’s Ashley Annis and Raymond High School’s starting first basemen Lindsey Fickett (Nottingham) will share duties behind the plate. Ava Seidensticker (Concord) rounds out the team’s veterans, playing shortstop and third.

New to the team this year include: Belmont’s Caitlin Clary (1B, 3B); Gilford’s Gwen Crafts (OF) and Ally Murphy (OF, 2B); Franklin’s Laura Kaplan (OF, IF) and Ashley Pevine (2B, OF; and Northwood’s Kayla McKenzie (OF, P, 3B).

What LeMien likes best about her team is their ability to play multiple positions in the field. Third-year assistant coach Dan Geoffrey will assist LeMien as the team looks to improve upon last year’s third place finish in the state tournament.

Following the state tournament in Keene on June 27-29, the 14U’s will play in the New England Regionals in Rhode Island (if they qualify) on July 11-13.

After the state tournament in Manchester on June 27-29, the 16U’s will travel to Montreal for the Montreal Cooper International Tournament.

Both teams will resume action on July 18-20 at the Bow "Turn Two" Tournament and finish their season hosting the Nor’Easter Classic to be held in the Gilford/Laconia area on July 25-27.

This year’s Nor’Easter Classic has been expanded to 34 teams, up from 26 teams last year. The three-division tournament (14U, 16U, 18U) will be played on fields in Laconia, Gilford and Belmont. The tournament field includes teams from throughout New England, New York, and Pennsylvania.