Baseball
Attleboro, 3 @ North Attleboro, 7 – Final – North Attleboro got off to a great start with four runs between the first two innings and then delivered a big response late when Attleboro mounted a comeback in the final innings. Jordan Paradis reached on a two-out error with the bases loaded to bring in two runs, and a second error on the same play brought in another as the Rocketeers jumped ahead 3-0. Tyler Bannon added an RBI in the second inning to give the hosts a 4-0 edge. Attleboro rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to make it a one-run game as Owen Taber scored on a wild pitch, Billy Saltmarsh drove in a run with a single to center, and Peter DelPozzo laced a two-out double to right to bring in another run to cut the deficit to 4-3. But North had an immediate response as Anthony Wescott brought in a run on a fielder’s chioce, David Floyd stole home, and Tyler DeMattio made it 7-3 with a sacrifice fly to right. Bannon got the win on the mound, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks, striking out nine in five innings. Paradis and DeMattio each tossed an inning in relief. Freshman Tyler Dunlea allowed four runs (one earned) on three hits and five walks, striking out three in 4.1 innings.
Franklin, 5 @ Natick, 0 – Final – Franklin’s Jacob Jette and James Kuczmiec combined for a shutout performance with just three hits allowed and a total of 13 strikeouts to lead the Panthers to a win over Natick. Jette allowed just one hit and one walk in five innings of work with nine strikeouts to earn the win. Kuczmiec came on in relief to finish the game and struck out four with two hits and one walk allowed. Offensively, Franklin jumped ahead right out of the gates as Evan Raider smacked a two-out double to score Chris Goode in the top of the first inning. An inning later, Franklin struck again with two outs as Ben Jarosz singled and Joe Tirrell followed with a home run to left field to make it 3-0. The visitors added two more runs in the top of the fifth when Goode drove in both Ryan Gerety and Jack Marino, who both walked, with a double.
Softball
Franklin, 0 @ King Philip, 14 – Final (5 Inn.) – King Philip opened the bottom of the first with five straight hits and turned nine first-inning hits into eight runs, and never looked back in a big win over visiting Franklin. Ava Kelley (3-for-3) led off with a double and the hit parade was on as Ava Lanza followed with an RBI single, Meg Sherwood singled, Taylor Regan drove in two with a single, Charlotte Raymond followed with an RBI double, Maddie Paschke then tacked on a two-out RBI, Sarah Cullen smacked an RBI double, Kelley singled again, Lanza drove in another run with a single, and Sherwood reached on an error to bring in KP’s eighth run of the inning. KP added four runs in the third and then two more in the fourth on a two-run blast from Cullen. Jordan Bennett earned the win in the circle, allowing just two hits and no walks with six strikeouts in five scoreless innings of work.
Boys Lacrosse
North Attleboro @ Milford, 4:15
Girls Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 8 @ Mansfield, 10 – Final
Taunton, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 17 – Final – For Taunton, Sarah Clark scored a pair of goals while Cali Melo, Isabella Leite, and Madison Szala each scored once.
Sharon @ Ursuline, 3:45
Boys Tennis
North Attleboro, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames wrapped its best regular season in years with its second straight win over North Attleboro, taking a pair of wins from both singles and doubles action. Seniors Raphael Vache (6-2, 6-0) and Kylash Ganesh (6-0, 6-3) won in straight sets at second and third singles, respectively. Patrick Dolan and Alex Efremidas added a hard-fought 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles and the team of Ben Dias and Alex Vasiliou earned a 6-4, 6-0 win at second doubles. North Attleboro senior captain Will Folan capped an impressive season with a 7-6 (5), 6-0 win at frist singles.
Baseball
Milford, 7 @ Attleboro, 16 – Final – Attleboro senior Christian Dame blasted a grand slam over the fence in the bottom of the third inning and the Bombardiers’ bats exploded for 16 runs in a win over visiting Milford. Milford got off to a strong start with a run in the top of the first and added three more in the second to claim a 4-0 lead but Attleboro’s offense bounced back with a six-run second inning and followed with a seven-run third inning. Dame finished with three hits and six RBI, Danny Johnson also had three hits and five RBI, and Cian Kelleher and Ben Hochwarter (two RBI, four runs) each added a pair of hits. Billy Saltmarsh got the win on the mound while Johnny Pagano struck out four in three innings out of the bullpen.
Canton, 6 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Canton scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to break the stalemate and earn a win on the road over rival Stoughton. The Dogs and Knights went back-and-forth, the visitors scoring one run in each of the first, third, and fifth innings with the hosts responding with single-run innings in the second, third, and one in the bottom of the fifth to tie it 3-3. Hayden Rose tossed a complete game for the Bulldogs to get the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits, striking out three. Rose helped his cause at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, including the go-ahead hit in the seventh. Nico Bonanno added three hits and four RBI, plating the two insurance runs in the seventh on a single. Andy Butler added three hits, three stolen bases, and two runs for the Bulldogs.
North Attleboro, 9 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – North pushed across five runs in the top of the third and added a run in each of the next three innings to score a win on the road over Foxboro. Derek Maceda (three runs) and David Floyd (two RBI, two runs) had three hits apiece to account for half of North’s 12 hits on the day. Maceda’s one-out triple sparked a big fifth inning for North, who had three consecutive two-out doubles in the frame. Christian Bates added a hit, a run scored, and three RBI on the day. Anthony Wescott had a strong defensive performance at first for the Rocketeers and Danny Curran tossed five scoreless innings to get the win. Foxboro freshman Nolan Gordon recorded a pair of hits and classmate Mike Marcucella knocked in a run in the bottom of the sixth.
Mansfield, 3 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – Mansfield surged ahead with a three-run fourth inning but King Philip had an immediate answer in the bottom half, plating four to take the lead for good. Conner Zukowski (two hits), Jared Fraone, and Jake Maydak each drove in a run to give the Hornets a lead after 3.5 innings. In the bottom of the half, Rudy Gately drove in both Shawn Legere (single) and Brendan Sencaj (single) to cut the deficit to one, and a single from Dan Nineve brought Gately home to tie it. Nick Viscusi, who had walked, scored on a wild pitch to take the lead. In the fifth, Legere singled, stole second, took third on a single from Sencaj, and scored on a ground ball from Viscusi. Gately got the win on the mound for the Warriors, allowing three runs on six hits and a pair of walks, striking out eight. Sophomore Tommy McLeish struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief, and Sencaj closed the door with a scoreless seventh inning.
Sharon, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames tacked on two key runs in the bottom of the sixth and held off a last-inning comeback bid from Sharon to get the win. Patrick Finnerty smashed a home run to center in the bottom of the first for an early lead, and after a double from senior Andrew Rodgers, courtesy runner Brendan Connolly scored after a pair of ground outs. Sharon cut the deficit in half with a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI from Will Hippler but the Tigers responded with two runs, the latter coming off an RBI double from Nathanial Lewis (two hits). Sharon loaded the bases in the seventh and Dan Okstein drove in two runs to make it a one-run game, but OA’s Jo Jo Gaultier closed the door to secure the win. Nick Clark pitched well for OA, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out nine in five scoreless innings of work.
Softball
Attleboro, 17 @ Milford, 2 – Final (5 inn.) – Attleboro’s offense was on fire from the start, plating eight runs in the first and six more in the second to secure a win on the road over Milford. Kayla Goldrick recorded three hits on the day, including a double and a home run, to pace the offense. Sarah Maher added three hits for the Bombardiers, who totaled 16 hits as a team, and Emily Eby went 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored. Lindsey Perry was the winning, allowing three hits with three strikeouts and one earned run. Milford freshman Olivia Baglione had two hits and two RBI for the Hawks, including her first career home run (solo home run).
Stoughton, 17 @ Canton, 8 – Final – For the second time in the last three games, Stoughton’s offense exploded for double-digit runs, this time in a win on the road over rival Canton. Senior Sydney Menz continued to rake at the plate, going 4-for-6 with three base hits and a triple while Julie Powers added three singles in the win. Kate Bulger pitched in with a pair of singles and Alyssa Edwards had a double and played stellar defense. Kerry Driscoll threw the complete game for her third win of the season.
Foxboro, 1 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – Kelly Colleran struck out 16 batters, allowed two infield hits, and faced only three batters over the minimum to pick up the win for North. The Rocketeers manufactured a run in the third. Mandi Hanewich got things started with an infield hit and then stole second. Ally Levine drove her in with a single. North got the winner in the fifth. Emma Hanwell walked and Julia Forman bunted her into scoring position. Hanwell would eventually come home on a passed ball. Maddie Bailey had a couple of strong defensive plays at second to help North hold on for the win.
Taunton, 5 @ Franklin, 4 – Final (8 Inn.) – Taunton rallied with a run in the top of the seventh on a solo homer by Angie Lynch to force extra innings and then, after scoring three runs in the eighth, held off a Panthers rally in the bottom half to pull out the extra-innings win. Taunton and Franklin each scored a run in the first, but the Panthers grabbed the lead in the sixth before Lynch tied the game in the seventh. Franklin’s first run came off an RBI single from junior Avery Chalk. Chalk then put Franklin ahead, 2-1, after a fielder’s choice saw Katy Liberman score. Brooke Aldrich went 3-for-4 with two RBI and gave the visitors the lead with a home run in the first, and Kaysie DeMoura (triple) also drove in two for the Tigers. Reece Allen had two hits for the Panthers, while Hailey Fales was 3-for-4 and drive in a pair. Aislinn Lavery went the distance for Franklin, giving up nine hits and four earned runs. Liv Mendonca went six innings for Taunton and allowed seven hits and two runs. Cate Larson picked up the win for the Tigers, pitching two innings of relief, striking out three, and allowing a pair of runs.
King Philip, 4 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – King Philip held Mansfield off the board to pick up a fourth straight win to start the season. King Philip cashed in with a three-run fifth inning and added another in the top of the sixth in the win. Ava Kelley drove in the first run with a sac fly, Taylor Regan drove in Charlotte Raymond (walk) with a single, and Mia Bennett singled up the middle to bring Meg Sherwood (walk) for a 3-0 lead. In the top of the sixth, Raymond smacked a two-out single to plate sophomore Caitlyn Sencaj (double). Jordan Bennett got the win, tossing a complete-game shutout with five strikeouts. The Hornets had eight hits and had runners on base in all but one inning. They left 11 on base, including the bases loaded in the sixth. Callie Lake and Jill Koppy each had a pair of hits for Mansfield, with Lake also making six out in center. Liv Madeira, Alanna Conley, Molly Kucharski, and Olivia DeTrolio each had one hit in the loss. DeTrolio also made a nice play at third in the third inning, cutting down the lead runner at the plate after the Warriors had loaded the bases.
Oliver Ames, 7 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Katie Melendy tossed a one-hit shutout to lead Oliver Ames into the win column for the first time this season as the Tigers took down rival Sharon. Melendy struck out eight in the circle while adding a double and a run scored offensively. After two scoreless innings, Oliver Ames scored in each of the final five innings, including a pair of runs in each the third and fourth innings. Freshman Devon Morris (2-for-3, RBI, two runs) and Madison Monteiro (RBI, run) scored in the third off a hit from Maddie Homer (two hits), and Morris and Monteiro each added an RBI in the fourth to push the lead to 4-0. Freshman Emily Martin drove in a run in the fifth and Sammy Johnson had an RBI in the sixth to score Caitlin Miller (two hits, triple).
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 22 @ Milford, 6 – Final
Sharon, 11 @ Canton, 10 – Final – After a pair of one-goal losses, Sharon ended up on the right side of a close contest with an 11-10 win on the road over Canton. Ben Shocket went 20-for-25 at the faceoff X and added four goals while Brady Daylor had a big day offensive, scoring four times with three assists. Gabe Korn chipped in with a hat trick for the Eagles and Matt Powers made 13 saves in net.
North Attleboro, 8 @ Franklin, 24 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Luke Davis scored seven times and Jayden Consigli had six goals, as Franklin scored more than 20 goals for the third straight game to start the season. It was a close game through the first quarter. Davis and Consigli each had hat tricks in the opening 12 minutes, but Matt Antonetti, Connor Ruppert, and Brady Backner each scored for North o go into the first break at 6-3. Franklin broke the game open in the second with four goals in just 1:27. Tyler Sacchetti had the first two, just 16 seconds apart, Consigli fed Connor Sullivan for a rip, and then Davis whipped a lefty shot under the bar to make it 10-6. Consigli fired in a man-up goal and Chris Drake took a hit to find the back of the net and extend the lead to nine. Antonetti made a nice steal on a clearance and scored in the last minute of the half, but Franklin led 12-4. Clayton Billingkoff started the third with a goal for North, but Franklin scored the next nine to put the game away. Davis added three more, and Sacchetti and Consigli each had a pair. Ryan Grasso and Ravin Chaudhury also scored and CJ Perro got his first of the night. Billingkoff got a second to make it 21-6 after three. Antonetti completed his hat trick in the third. Perro would add two more and finished with a hat trick as well. After a tough first quarter, Justin Alexander ended up winning 21-of-28 draws and Matt Corvi made seven saves for the Panthers. JT Gallagher had six saves for North.
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Mansfield, 15 – Final – For Oliver Ames senior Wyatt Fritchman and sophomore Ryan Jaco each scored a pair of goals while junior Noah Isleib made 17 saves in net for the Tigers.
Girls Lacrosse
Milford, 15 @ Attleboro, 5 – Final – Milford evened its record at 2-2 by picking up its second road win of the season, knocking off the Bombardiers. Junior captain Caitlyn Bangert had a standout performance in net for the Scarlet Hawks, turning away 13 shots in the win. Aislinn Bennett (seven goals), Carly Haley (four goals), and Emily Croteau (three goals) led the offense for Milford, who built a 5-0 lead early. Senior Stephanie Goulet also scored in the win for Milford.
Canton, 17 @ Sharon, 6 – Final – Seven different Bulldogs found the back of the net in a win on the road over Sharon. Allie McCabe paced the offense with a hat trick plus three assists, Emily McCabe added five goals, and Devan Spinale also netted a hat trick in the win. Annie McLean and Maggie Dailey scored their first career goals and Canton’s Elyse Broderick made nine saves in the cage. Tess Letendre had a strong game in the Sharon goal, making 13 saves to keep the Eagles in the game. Keira Lydeard led Sharon with four goals and Bailey Garte had the other two.
Foxboro, 10 vs. Hingham, 18 – Final – Hingham outscored the Warriors 10-3 in the second half to pull out the win and hand Foxboro its first loss of the season. Paige Curran, who reached 100 career points last week, and Mya Waryas each scored four goals and each had an assist. Cate Noone and Val Beigel also found the back of the net for the Warriors. Lilli Jones made six saves in the loss.
Franklin, 20 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Franklin hit the 20-goal mark for the third straight game to open the season, this time rolling to a win over the Rocketeers on the road. The Panthers dominated on draw controls, winning 21-of-23 attempts, led by four from Katie Peterson, and three apiece from Peyton Crandall, Kate O’Rourke, and Kaitlyn Carney. Stella Regan paced the Franklin offense — which featured 10 goal scorers — with four goals and an assist. Brigid Earley made seven saves in net for the win.
Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 16 – Final – King Philip secured its third straight win to open the season and second shutout of the year, taking down visiting Taunton. Makenzie McDevitt led the charge with a hat trick while Julia Marsden (assist), Haley Izydorczak (assist), and Abby MacDonald each had a pair of goals. Sammy Cloutier had four draw controls and added a goal as well for KP.
Mansfield @ Oliver Ames, 3:45
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – A doubles sweep plus two more wins from singles action gave Attleboro a win on the road over Milford. At first doubles, the team of Tyler Rocchio and Kyle Neuendorf continued their strong start to the season with a 6-1, 6-1 win and Malachi Jefferson and Connor Coleman teamed up for a 6-2, 6-1 win at second doubles. Ethan Johnson was victorious at first singles (6-1, 6-0) and Arvov Sodhani emerged with a 7-6, 6-1 win at third singles. For the Hawks, Tyler Andreotti earned a 6-1, 6-3 win at second singles.
Stoughton, 1 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Max Kupferman and Suraj Ramanathan swept at first and second singles, respectively, and the Bulldogs defended home court against visiting Stoughton. Canton’s Kevin Moltenbrey and Charlie Doody won 6-3, 6-2 at first doubles and the team of Max LaRose and Davis Lamb grabbed a win at second doubles, taking a third-set tiebreaker. Stoughton’s Anish Sinha won 6-0, 6-1 at third singles.
Foxboro, 3 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – Foxboro senior Bo Canfield bounced back from a loss in the second set to win the third, completing the Warriors’ singles sweep over North. Canfield took second singles 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, senior Garrett Spillane secured a 6-2, 7-5 win at first singles and freshman Raj Jette took a 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 decision at third singles. North’s Griffin Rodden and Arnav Raghuvanshi teamed up to take first doubles (6-2, 6-1), and the team of sophomore Caleb Cheney and Ashman Gupta prevailed 7-5, 6-4 at second doubles.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Franklin earned a clean sweep, taking all five matches in straight sets in a win over visiting Taunton. Seniors Vayshnav Malhotra (6-0, 6-1), Thomas Broyles (6-1, 6-1), and Drew Mahoney (6-0, 6-0) all had strong showings sweep singles action. Senior Tim O’Keefe and sophomore Jay Gorgas battled to a 6-0, 6-1 win at first doubles, and the Panthers’ second doubles team of senior Aidan Karlowicz and sophomore Ahan Shetty didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.
King Philip, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Sophomore Nikhil Nain and junior Jesse Colchamiro won a pair of tiebreakers to take second doubles in straight sets, completing Mansfield’s win over King Philip. Nain and Colchamiro prevailed 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4), and Mansfield’s first doubles team of junior Benson Delaney and senior Jonah Fine gabbed a 6-2, 6-1 win at first doubles. Neema Khosravani (6-0, 6-0), Kailash Elumelai (6-0, 6-1), Iniyan Karruppusami (6-3, 6-0) combined to lose just four total games in sweeping singles action.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final
Girls Tennis
Milford, 0 @ Attleboro, 5 – Final – Attleboro broke into the win column on the season, taking all five matches from visiting Milford. Senior Ella Lynch-Bartek grabbed a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles, sophomore Maddie Fuscaldo won 6-1, 6-4 at second singles, and junior Zoe Stanley earned a 6-4, 6-2 decision at third singles. Attleboro’s first doubles team of Tina Lam and Saharla Yusuf only lost one game in a 6-1, 6-0 win while the sophomore duo of Kyra Johnson and Presley Biller battled to a 7-0 (9-7), 6-2 win at second doubles.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final – Behind a pair of wins in singles action and another from doubles, Foxboro secured a key 3-2 win over division foe North Attleboro. Athena Li rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, Hailey Kornbluth battled to a 6-1, 6-2 victory at second singles, and Foxboro’s first doubles tandem of Juliana Preston and Abby Costa grabbed a 6-3, 6-4 win.
Franklin, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – A pair of singles wins and a pair of doubles wins was enough to lead Franklin to a victory on the road. Freshman Izzy Trull earned a 6-3, 6-2 win at first singles for the Panthers while senior Sarah Schiavo continued her strong start to the season with a 6-4, 6-2 third singles win. Senior Amulya Jayam and junior Shriya Rasish bagged a 6-3, 6-1 win at first doubles, and sophomore Chloe Essam and junior Allison Bagley emerged from double seconds action with a 6-3, 6-1 win.
Mansfield @ King Philip, 3:45
Sharon, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames got one win in singles and one in doubles to put the Eagles on upset alert, but Sharon took home a win to stay unbeaten in league action. Ale Aguilar won 6-4, 6-1 at second singles and Hannah Faberman added a 6-0, 6-1 third singles win for the Eagles, who also got a point from a second doubles win from Sash Fein and Sophia Oh (6-3, 6-3). OA freshman Hannah Farber secured a 3-6, 6-2, 10-5 win at first singles, and the Tigers’ first doubles tandem of Caroline Peper and Morgan Vasiliou earned a 6-4, 7-5 win.
Boys Volleyball
King Philip @ Norwood, 4:00
Milford vs. Norton, 5:00
Taunton, 0 @ Brockton, 3 – Final
2021 Record: 5-11 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Steve Dunlea
With a good mix of new faces and experienced veterans, Attleboro is aiming to be in the mix of a loaded Kelley-Rex division. For the Bombardiers, it will lean heavily on a deep pitching staff.
It starts with seniors Billy Saltmarsh, who is committed to UMass Dartmouth, and Cian Kelleher, who is committed to Stonehill. They’ll be joined in the rotation by junior lefty Danny Johnson while senior Jamie Bloch and junior Sean O’Hara lend strength to the relief corps. Sophomore Matt Harvie, sophomore Johnny Pagano, and freshman Tyler Dunlea will also be in the mix to see innings on the mound.
Senior captain Owen Taber (UMass Dartmouth) will be an anchor of the Bombardier defense at second base while juniors Peter DelPozzo and Cooper Johnson, along with Pagano, look to fill in at shortstop as senior captain Evan Houle works his way back from an injury from basketball season. Johnson, DelPozzo, and Dunlea are in the mix for the starting job at third while Bloch (committed to UMaine Farmington) and Christian Dame provide depth at first base.
In the outfield, senior Nate George will cover a lot of ground from his spot in centerfield, and the Bombardiers will rotate between Parket Sacket, Hayden Hagerty, Ben Hochwarter, Danny Johnson, Brody McKenna, and Harvie for the other two outfielder spots. Junior Aidan Hochwarter provides a steady presence both at the dish and behind the plate at catcher.
“The strength of this team is its chemistry,” said Attleboro head coach Steve Dunlea. “We have a great group of returning players who have really worked hard to build a team bond through the pandemic. I give a lot of credit to the captains from last year and this year. Despite the challenges they faced with COVID, they were able to rebuild the chemistry of the Attleboro baseball program that was lost when the 2020 season was canceled.”
2021 Record: 8-7 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round Coach: Ben Shuffain
Canton got off to a great start to the 2021 campaign, winning six of their first seven games but ended up with a first-round exit in the playoffs. With a strong core of returning players plus a couple of promising young players, the Bulldogs are aiming to get back to the postseason again this season.
The Bulldogs certainly have some holes to fill with the loss of a talented senior class and the departure of ace Andrew Middleton. Fourth-year head coach Ben Shuffain will lean on captains Andy Butler and Matt Chafin to lead the charge this season, along with three-year players Nico Bonanno, Matt Quan, and Zach Peters. Chafin was one of the best offensive players in the league last year, finishing second with a 0.442 average.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Shuffain has a lot of options for pitching, with at least a dozen choices to fill out the rotation and relief corps. Jay Kelleher, Hayden Rose, and Owen Lane will all be in the mix for innings on the mound. Matty Lesser, James Young, Jack Digirolomo, and freshman Kyle Redquest will work the infield while the catching duties will fall to Sean Sullivan and Matt Hart.
“We are a very experienced team with a lot of guys with a lot of innings pitched from last season and wins under their belt,” Shuffain said. “With a few of last year’s backups moving into starting roles and the addition of a few younger guys and the experienced upperclassmen this team should have a good season as they will continue to work hard on the field and in the weight room.”
2021 Record: 5-10 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 3 South Preliminary Round Coach: Derek Suess
Foxboro has some of the top returning talents in the league but will look for some of its younger players to provide the depth needed to compete for a division title this season.
Junior captain Sean O’Leary is one of the top arms in the league and has a lot of varsity experience under his belt already. He will be the ace of the staff that will also feature junior Mathieu Sullivan, who made his varsity debut last season, and freshman Nolan Gordon, who has impressed during the preseason. Pitching depth will come from seniors Andrew Peterson, Tom Marcucella, Liam Mulkern, and junior Alex Stern.
Senior captain Tom Marcucella is one of the most experienced players in the league and his versatility gives head coach Derek Suess a lot of options in the infield. Marcucella can play at any of the four infield spots but will spend the majority of his time at first base. Junior Ryan LeClair is back in the mix at shortstop after a breakout season a year ago, sophomore Tyler Prescott is back for his second year with the squad, and freshman Ryan O’Leary offers a solid bat and glove. Senior Kyle Smith and junior Josh Connolly provide solid depth in the infield.
Senior captain and three-sport star Jack Watts will patrol center field for the Warriors and will be flanked by juniors Kenny Mello and Louis Carangelo, all three looking to make an impact with their bats this season. When not pitching, Gordon will also be in the mix for some innings in the outfield and sophomore Shane Henri gives Suess another solid option. Mulkern is the starting catcher with freshmen Ben Angelini and Mike Marcucella in the mix as well.
“We have great leadership from our captains and upperclassmen which has set the tone for the rest of our guys,” Suess said. “The underclassmen have bought in and can contribute right away. We must embrace the daunting challenge of playing in the Hock, and compete with confidence to give ourselves the best chance to reach our goals.”
2021 Record: 16-2 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Final Coach: Zach Brown
Franklin graduated some of the best players in the league after last season, but the Panthers still have a loaded lineup and a deep and talented pitching staff that could result in a very deep playoff run.
Not many teams could lose one of the best hitters in the league (Nate Cooke, 0.429) and one of the best catchers in the league (Jake Fitzgibbons, 0.353) and still boast one of the best lineups in the league but that’s how deep the Panthers are. Jack Marino, Ben Jarosz, and Chris Goode were all among the league leaders offensively a season ago, and Franklin also has sophomore Henry Digiorgio and junior Eisig Chin back after picking up a year of varsity experience. Junior Ryan Gerety, a Northeastern commit, is one of the best fielders in the region and is very dangerous at the plate.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
And after surrendering a league-low 40 runs last season, Franklin returns its entire rotation. Jacob Jette had a great junior season and will be one of the best pitchers in the Hock while junior Alfred Mucciarone will look to build upon a solid sophomore campaign. Relievers James Kuczmiec and Ethan Voellmicke dominated last season, coming in time after time and shutting opponents down.
2021 Record: 8-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Jeff Plympton, Jr.
It was a good start for head coach Jeff Plympton as the Warriors won eight games last season and went to the playoffs, bowing out to eventual state champions Xaverian.
King Philip has the majority of its lineup back and will be looking to make some noise in a very competitive Kelley-Rex division. After averaging almost five runs a game last year, the Warriors have some key bats back in the lineup this year. Senior Shawn Legere is a returning league all star that starts at shortstop and is coming off a season in which he hit 0.386 and scored a league-best 16 runs. Rudy Gately had a breakout sophomore season and will be a key bat in the lineup again this year.
Gately will also be a go-to option on the mound for Plympton after going 4-0 last season, striking out 33 in 34.1 innings of work with an impressive 1.03 ERA. Tommy Martorano also gained a lot of experience last year as a sophomore and will give the Warriors a solid 1-2 punch for its starting rotation.
“We have a lot of arms to roll out if we need them which is great,” Plympton said. “Shawn Legere provides great leadership to the team and demands hard work at practice and games. Our fielding should be strong this year but I’m looking forward to watching our offense. Last year we struggled at the plate but this year looks promising. Last season we notched our first playoff win in over a decade and we look to keep those strides moving forward this year.”
2021 Record: 8-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Chris Hall
With a talented and experienced pitching staff and a list of players eager to make a name for themselves at the dish, Mansfield enters the season with the goal of challenging for the Kelley-Rex division title.
The Hornets were young last spring, and a lot of players earned their first varsity starts on the mound and at-bats. Mansfield has the majority of its team back and will be looking to turn that valuable experience into a successful 2022 campaign. They certainly aren’t shying away from testing that talent with defending state champions Xaverian, Maryland powerhouse Archbishop Spalding, and other top teams on its schedule along with a loaded Hock schedule.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Seniors Anthony Sacchetti, Aaron Blinn, Jimmy Gilleran, and Colby Geddis highlight a deep and talented pitching staff for the Hornets. All of those arms got their feet wet during last year’s season and now give head coach Chris Hall a lot of flexibility with his rotation. There won’t be a drop off as the games go on with four solid options.
The big challenge for the Hornets a season ago was offense, scoring a division low 57 runs. With a strong offseason under their belts, there are a lot of names eager to step up and improve that number. Sacchetti, Gilleran, Geddis, and classmates Andrew Slaney and Jared Fraone will try to lead the way while juniors Conner Zukowski, Sam Martin, Caden Colby, Aidan Jones, and Rocco Scarpellini are all in the mix. Sophomores Connor Curtis and Jake Maydak both played varsity last year and could be impact players right away. Behind the dish, Aidan Jones and Wyatt Bolduc are battling for the starting spot at catcher after the Hornets lost senior Liam Anastasia to an injury.
“The keys to success this season rely heavily on every player doing their job,” Hall said. “The Hornets bring a well-rounded roster to the table and expect to compete all season long. Pitching and defense continue to be a strength for the Hornets. Offensively, the Hornets look to use a variety of talent to score runs and win baseball games.”
2021 Record: 5-9 2021 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Alex Dion
There were some growing pains for the Hawks a season ago with a young squad, but with just five players graduated from a year ago, the Hawks are hoping to be a contender in a deep Kelley-Rex division.
Head coach Alex Dion plans to get contributions from all four classes this season, starting with a strong group of seniors that cover the field. Tyler Lane and Grant Scudo will see time in the outfield, Justin Luchini mans first base, Alex McColl can play in a number of spots in the infield, Cole Forrest is a versatile weapon, and John Denegris is an option on the mound.
The rotation will be anchored by junior Evan Cornelius, junior Tyler Caldon, and sophomore Anthony LaPierre. Cornelius started every game for the Hawks last season and will play at first when he’s not on the mound. Caldon and LaPierre, both right-handed pitchers, are up from the JV squad and have impressed in the early going.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Offensively, sophomore Keith Lee picked up valuable experience after starting nine games as a freshman last season. He will start behind the dish and be one of the most important bats in the lineup. Sophomores Damien Carter and Sean McGee also started last season and will make up Milford’s middle infield.
“I am excited about the potential that this group has,” Dion said. “With strong senior leadership and varsity players in all four grades we have an opportunity to compete this year and for years to come. This is a great league and I have a lot of respect for the other teams in it. It starts on the mound and if we can get quality pitching out of the arms that we have here we have a chance to compete. We will have to win games in a variety of ways and I believe that we have the athletes to do that.”
2021 Record: 12-5 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal Coach: Mike Hart
After splitting the division title a season ago, the Rocketeers enter the 2022 campaign with a chance at winning back-to-back division titles for the first time in 30 years.
Replacing ace Dennis Colleran won’t be easy but North Attleboro has some solid arms on the mound including senior Danny Curran and senior David Floyd, who missed last season. Curran went 2-0 last year and struck out 22 in 23 innings of work with a 3.65 ERA. Head coach Mike Hart also has pitching options in senior Anthony Wescott, and juniors Jordan Paradis, Derek Maceda, and Ayden Delaney.
One of the big reasons the Rocketeers had such success last season was their offense, which scored a Davenport division 110 runs. Maceda was one of the best bats in the league and will patrol the outfield for the Big Red along with Curran, Paradis, and senior Christian Bates. In the infield, Floyd will be joined by classmates Brody Rosenberg, Gavin Wells, and Nik Kojoian, and senior Tyler Bannon will patrol shortstop. Junior Aidan Conrad had a breakout season starting behind the dish a year ago.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
“We’re going to look to put a lot of pressure on other teams offensively,” Hart said. “We have many capable pitchers who can provide quality innings. We feel our defense will limit mistakes and not give many runs away. If we want to have a successful season we will need contributions from everybody on the roster on a daily basis. We will rely on our senior leadership and experience to guide us through the season. We need guys to excel in their role and focus on the job at hand.”
2021 Record: 9-6 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round Coach: Joe Abarr
After earning a share of the Davenport title last season, the Tigers have the pieces in place to make another run at the division crown this year.
A combination of veterans and new faces eager to make an impression gives head coach Joe Abarr a nice mix to work with. Offensively, the Tigers will look for their senior captains to lead the way. Jake Waxman will play first base and potentially some outfield and is one of the best bats in the Hockomock League while Joe Cicchetti could also see time at first as well as the outfield, and is a strong two-way player. Patrick Finnerty is back in the mix after a strong junior season.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
On the mound, OA has a pair of lefties at the top of the rotation. Nick Clark (3-0, 2.78, 32K) and Jack Richardson (2-2, 2.07, 21K) are both coming off great junior seasons and will give the Tigers a solid 1-2 punch on the mound this year. Richardson will also see time in the outfield and will be a key piece of the lineup offensively.
“We have a good mix of returners and young talented players looking for opportunities to help our team win,” Abarr said. “We are excited for a full ‘normal’ season back in the Hock.”
2021 Record: 3-12 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Preliminary Round Coach: Andrew Poliferno
Sharon enters the season with a roster eager to compete among the Hockomock League’s top teams, but the Eagles will have to do so all on the road this season. With the construction of the new high school currently underway where Sharon’s field was, it will be all road trips for the Eagles this season.
It will start with the 10 seniors on the team, including captains Dan Okstein and Dylan Labbe. Okstein is back after an injury limited his time a year ago and will be a key piece in the lineup offensively. He will be the anchor of the outfield, playing mostly in left but could also see time in center. Labbe has a ton of varsity experience and will be the ace of the pitching staff this year. Also on the mound returns sophomore Luke Meixel, one of the league’s breakout players last year as a freshman. junior Alex Coughlin, Ryan Baker, Zach Loomis, Jack Broughton, and Okstein will also be in the mix for innings on the mound.
Offensively, Nate Yaffe is back after a great year at the dish a year ago and will take over at shortstop. Not only is Yaffe consistent with the bat, but he’s also very dangerous on the base paths. Another speedy option at the dish will be Palash Raina and the Eagles are hoping to get key contributions at the plate from Okstein and varsity newcomer Connor Blaney. Liam Conway takes over behind the dish and Will Hippler, Owen Kevorkian, Eli Greenfield, Josh Tolentino, and Jake Loomis are all in the mix for spots in the lineup as well.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
“As a second-year varsity coach, I couldn’t be prouder to see how ready our players are to play their 2022 season,” said Sharon head coach Andrew Poliferno. “It is evident our players worked hard during the off-season to prepare to compete in the Hockomock. Our players are gritty, determined, and not afraid to put in the hard work that it takes to improve. In addition to their drive to succeed, the team vibe is positive and players go out of their way to encourage one another. I believe we have the makings of a very talented and passionate group of players ready to make noise for their 2022 season.”
2021 Record: 4-10 2021 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Kevin Carty
There will be a lot of new faces in the Stoughton lineup this season, and that goes for the dugout too as Kevin Carty takes over for Mike Armour, who was the longest-tenured coach in the Hockomock League.
Carty is going to lean heavily on his seniors, who make up over half of the Knights’ roster. There is a lot of versatility among the senior class as well with players like Joe McNulty and Jonah Ly, who could see time in the outfield, the infield, on the mound, and in McNulty’s case, even behind the dish. Brad Franey, Anthony Girolamo, Anthony Tilton, James Price, and Owen Wiesnberger are all seniors that are in the mix for infield spots.
Girolamo, Ly, and Price will be joined by sophomore Will Worsley, junior Jeriel Cuello, junior Sean Farley, junior Joe Rush, and sophomore Hunter Malkin as options on the mound for Carty.
“We have a deep group of seniors that will carry us this year,” Carty said. “These seniors are very athletic and can play anywhere on the field. They have the ability to be great leaders for the younger players. We will go as far as they carry us.”
2021 Record: 13-5 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal Coach: Blair Bourque
Replacing a league MVP is never an easy task as the Tigers have to do with Danny MacDougall, but Taunton has a lot of depth and a lot of new faces looking to make a name for themselves as they help Taunton challenge for the Kelley-Rex title.
The strength of the 2022 Tigers will be offense and defense. Taunton has already lost some pitchers to injury so it will be a group effort on the mound this season. Coming off a season in which they scored 119 runs (nearly 7 runs a game), the offense will once again be a key component. Dawson Bryce had a breakout year after hitting 0.341 and driving in 12 runs a season ago, and junior Ryan MacDougall is one of the best power hitters in the league.
Seniors Evan Cali, Colby DeCouta, Colin Botelho, and junior Braden Sullivan are all very experienced at the varsity level and head coach Blair Bourque will lean on their leadership this season.
“Unlike in years past, we don’t have any true pitchers; our pitching staff consists of position players who will need to step up and give us an opportunity to compete,” Bourque said.”Offensively, we’ll look to have productive at-bats, be patient, and take advantage of mistakes. We should have one of the more productive offenses Taunton has had in some time. Although we’ll continue to play fundamental baseball, we hope to be able to capitalize when opportunity presents itself.”
Baseball
Taunton, 13 @ King Philip, 2 – Final (5 inn.) – A day after a 1-0 win in 11 innings, Taunton’s offense exploded for 13 runs in a big win on the road over King Philip. Sophomore Braden Sullivan had three hits in the win while classmates Ryan MacDougall and Shawn Cali each had two to help the Tigers win. Ty Cali, Dawson Bryce, and Colby Decouta all had two hits as well. Senior Danny MacDougall tossed a five-inning complete game, allowing two earned runes on three hits and one walk, striking out six for the win.
Sharon, 6 @ North Attleboro, 11 – Final – North Attleboro set the tone early with a five-run second inning and went on to score in four other innings to knock off Sharon, clinching at least a share of the Davenport division title. Sophomore Aidan Conrad (four hits, three RBI) smashed a solo home run in the third but Sharon rallied to make it a two-run game at 6-4 through three innings. The Rocketeers used a double and a pair of singles in the fourth for a run and then tacked on three more runs on three walks and two hits in the sixth inning. North added one more run in the seventh, off a pair of walks and a pair of hits. Danny Curran struck out four in four innings of work for the win while both Joe Hartnett and Anthony Wescott pitched well in relief.
Softball
Taunton, 18 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Taunton belted out 21 hits on offense while Sam Lincoln and Olyvia Mendonca combined for a one-hit shutout in the Tigers’ big win. Senior Hanna Aldrich went 4-for-4 and hit her 12th home run of the season, finishing with two RBI and three runs, Lianna Oliveira added three hits and three RBI, and Tayah DaCosta and McKenzie McAloon each hit a home run in the win. Lincoln struck out eight in three scoreless innings while Mendonca had one hit allowed and one strikeout in two innings.
North Attleboro, 10 @ Sharon, 11 – Final – Sharon came out with a one-goal win in a hard fought battle from both teams in the heat. Drew Litner notched six assists to go along with a pair of goals to set the Eagles up for the win. Brady Daylor netted a hat trick and had one assist, Ben Shocket (14-for-19 faceoffs) added a pair of goals and one assist, Dylan Cummings scored twice, and Ryan Zunenshine found the back of the net once. Adam Rabb played well in net with 16 saves.
Oliver Ames @ Stoughton, 3:45
Milford, 7 @ Bellingham, 6 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Franklin, 23 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Franklin stayed undefeated on the season with a strong defensive effort, allowing just three goals agaisnt in a win on the road over Attleboro. Anna Grasso, Sydney Hawkins, Ali Socci and Emma Sousa all played well defensively in the Panthers’ win. Maura Cogavin netted a hat trick in the win, Kate O’Rourke and Katie Peterson each scored twice and had three assists, and Kaitlin Carney scored four times.
Foxboro, 16 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Foxboro’s Lilly Vey scored a team-high five goals, including the 100th of her career, to help the Warriors earn a big win on the road. Mya Waryas added four goals and an assist, Ella Waryas and Mary Collins each had a pair of goals and one helper, Dylan Rappoli and Paige Curran both recorded two assists and a goal, Kate Collins found the back of the net once, and Val Beigel had two assists in the win.
Sharon, 14 @ North Attleboro, 20 – Final – The Eagles rallied in the fourth quarter but North Attleboro was able to hold them off and grab the win. Jenna Goldstein had a big game for Sharon, scoring seven goals and assisting on another, while also grabbing three draws. Cass Barbera and Molly McAlevey each scored twice with Barbera adding a pair of helpers. Athena Merck, Vivian Pedicone, and Katelyn Galeota each scored once and Tess Letendre made nine saves in the loss. Amelia Scappaticci had six draw controls and McAlevey had four for Sharon.
King Philip, 18 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – King Philip picked up its sixth straight win, rolling to a big win on the road over Taunton. Julia Marsden led the charge offensively with five goals and one assist while Peyton Mellman, Haley Izydorczak (two assists), and Lily Brown (three assists) each scored a hat trick in the win. Margo Riley had a great game defensively for the Warriors.
Boys Tennis
Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – Brady Jannell moved up to first singles and overcame a one-set deficit, rallying to win in a tiebreaker to help King Philip take a 5-0 win over visiting Taunton. Jannell dropped the first set in a tiebreaker but won the second set and prevailed in a third-set tiebreaker 6-7 (5), 6-3, 10-7. Jon Cohen (second singles), Jackson Hom (third singles), and the team of Adam Gousie and Noah Ihley (second doubles) all won by 6-0, 6-0 scores while the pairing of Connor Sachleben and Diego Nieto secured a 6-2, 6-0 decision at first doubles.
Sharon, 4 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Sharon took a pair of wins from both singles and doubles to secure a 4-1 win over North Attleboro, clinching the Davenport division title outright. Freshman Mehul Bhattacharyya dropped just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 victory at first singles while junior Max Chen added a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles for the Eagles. Sophomore Rithvik Neti and freshman Matthew Lally grabbed a 6-1, 6-0 decision at first doubles and the team of junior Mitch Weiss and freshman Alex Budovalcev prevailed 6-1, 6-2 at second doubles. North Attleboro senior Sam Gallagher was victorious with a 6-2, 6-2 result at second singles.
