The Monitor Sports Podcast

In the first episode since the start of the 2023-24 NHIAA athletics season, Eric and Dan discuss Concord football's season-opening defeat to Londonderry, John Stark rallying from a 27-6 deficit to beat Milford, Bow girls' and boys' soccer starting off strong and more!

Eric and Dan recap the spring sports playoffs, including Concord and Coe-Brown taking home softball championships, Concord and Bishop Brady baseballs' runs to the semifinals, Bow girls' lacrosse capping off a dominant season with a title and No. 5 Hopkinton boys' lacrosse pulling off a surprising championship run.

In the final week of regular season play, Eric and Dan recap some D-III baseball action, including Belmont taking down Winnisquam and Bishop Brady's continued strong play. They also discuss Concord softball's huge win over Exeter, Merrimack Valley softball building momentum into the playoffs and Bow and Hopkinton's boys' and girls' lacrosse teams heading into postseason on hot streaks. Then, Concord baseball head coach Scott Owen joins the podcast to talk about the Tide's season as the team gears up for a playoff run.

With less than two weeks remaining in the spring sports regular season, Eric and Dan highlight Hopkinton and Concord Christian's strong seasons in Division III girls' lacrosse, Concord softball's huge game on Wednesday against Exeter, Bow boys' lacrosse remaining unbeaten and Bow baseball trying to find its stride as the Falcons compete for a playoff spot.

Eric and Dan highlight a strong start to the season for Hopkinton, Coe-Brown, Merrimack Valley, Bow and Concord in softball, provide updates on Coe-Brown and John Stark's baseball seasons in Division II and discuss the dominant starts to the season so far for Bow girls' and boys' lacrosse. Then, Kearsarge athletic trainer Molly McDougal stops by to chat about her role as an athletic trainer, why they're such a vital part to the student-athlete experience and more!

For more on athletic trainers, check out Sunday's story in the Concord Monitor: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Lack-of-Athletic-Trainers-50839026

As the spring season reaches its midpoint, Eric and Dan discuss Coe-Brown softball's 7-1 start to the season, while Concord continues to roll as well. In baseball, they recap the Tide's 4-0 April break that puts the team at 8-2 on the season. Then they chat about MV girls' lacrosse continuing to have a turnaround season, Bow girls' and boys' continuing to roll, and Dan provides some notes on track, tennis and boys' volleyball. Later, Coe-Brown softball coach Dave Allis joins to talk with Eric about the Bears' success this season and the long-term success of the program.

Eric and Dan discuss the 5-0 start for Bow boys' lacrosse, Merrimack Valley girls' lacrosse having already surpassed last year's win total, Concord baseball's 5-2 start to the year and an update on area softball teams including Concord, Coe-Brown and John Stark. Then, Hopkinton girls' lacrosse co-head coaches Gus Madden and Bob Brown stop by to talk about their first years taking over the program after spending years working with the Hopkinton youth lacrosse program.

Eric and Dan are back to talk about spring sports getting underway in the Monitor's coverage area. They discuss Pembroke baseball's win over Merrimack Valley, Bow and Concord softball getting off to strong starts, Hopkinton boys' lacrosse taking down Kearsarge and Bow taking down Hopkinton in girls' lacrosse in a rematch of last year's Division III championship game.

Eric and Dan discuss the Concord Monitor's winter athletes of the season across basketball, hockey, wrestling, swimming, alpine and Nordic skiing and indoor track.

Link to full story in the Concord Monitor: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Winter-Sports-Players-of-the-Season-50283237

Eric and Dan discuss Concord boys' hockey's championship streak coming to an end after the Tide's overtime loss to Bedford in the semifinals, the crazy ending to Bow girls' basketball's championship game loss to Kennett and Pembroke boys' basketball coming up short against Pelham in their championship game. Then, Pembroke head coach Mike Donnell joins to talk about the Pelham game and what made his team so special to coach this season.