Baseball
Oliver Ames, 7 vs. New Bedford, 11 – Final – Oliver Ames got off to a great start with four runs in the first inning but New Bedford answered with seven runs in the second and never surrendered that lead for a win at Frothingham. For OA, Ian Kelly had a big day with three hits and three RBI, Andrew Rodgers added three hits, and Jack Richardson, Jake Waxman (two hits, two runs), Patrick Finnerty, and Joe Cicchetti each had an RBI for the Tigers, who only allowed three earned runs.
Sharon, 7 @ Mansfield, 15 – Final – Mansfield’s bats stayed hot at the start of the game and it carried throughout as the Hornets secured a 15-7 win, their third victory of the week and fourth straight overall. Sharon carried a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first inning after an RBI single from Dan Okstein, but the Hornets took advantage of four straight walks to start the game and pushed across all four of them for a 4-1 lead. Mansfield really broke it open in the bottom of the second, plating eight runs — all but one coming with two outs. Connor Curtis had an RBI double, Jake Maydak drove in two with a triple, Brian Butler knocked in two more with a double, and both Aiden Jones and Conner Zukowski drove in a run to make it 12-1. Butler and senior Jeremy Rotenberg each had two hits for the Hornets while Zukowski (three stolen bases), Anthony Sacchetti, and Jimmy Gilleran each scored twice. Okstein finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, as well as two scoreless innings in relief, for the Eagles while Will Hippler added two hits and three runs and Ryan Baker drove in a pair.
Softball
Milford vs. West Haven (CT), 11:00
Attleboro, 6 vs. Holliston, 3 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Franklin, 10 vs. Concord-Carlisle, 7 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Kaitlyn Carney scored five goals and had three assists and the Panthers went on a 4-0 run in the second half to pull out a win over Concord-Carlisle in a rematch of last year’s D1 East final. The Panthers controlled the first half, winning 6-of-7 draw controls, forcing the Concord goalie into six saves, and going 11 minutes before allowing a shot on goal on the other end. Carney opened the scoring inside the first minute with a sidearm finish and then her pass from behind the cage picked out Kenzie Baker to double the lead. Carney then intercepted a clearance and threw a skip pass to Lindsay Atkinson to make it 3-0 after eight minutes. Brigid Earley came up with a couple of big saves with nine minutes left in the half and the Panthers extended the lead with a free position goal from Kate O’Rourke and a good dodge at the crease by Jackie O’Neil. The visitors got one back before halftime and carried the momentum through the break. Earley (eight saves) came up with a big point-blank stop early in the second half, but the Patriots scored twice to make it 5-3 with 20 minutes to go. Katie Peterson set up Carney to move back in front by three, but Concord-Carlisle scored two straight and it was a one-goal game with 16:23 to go. Carney got her fourth of the day cutting across the middle and then she set up Baker for her second. O’Rourke finished from a free position to make it 9-5 and then Carney fired in another strong sidearm shot to push the lead back to five with less than nine minutes to go.
Milford, 11 vs. Norwood, 8 – Final – After six straight games on the road to start the season, Milford earned a hard-fought win in its first home game of the season. Junior Carley Haley scored just under a minute into the contest to set the tone for the Scarlet Hawks, who built a 5-4 advantage by halftime. After Norwood pulled level at 7-7, the Hawks came out of a timeout with four straight goals to run away with the win. Emily Croteau (three goals, two assists), Aislinn Bennett (four goals), and Haley (three goals, one assist) each scored a pair of goals in the second half to lead the balanced attack. Caitlin Bangart had a standout performance in net while senior Emma Tredeau anchored a strong defensive effort.
Baseball
Canton @ Cardinal Spellman –Postponed to Saturday, May 14 at 10:00.
King Philip, 4 @ Braintree, 5 – Final – King Philip scored a run in the top of the seventh to take a 4-3 lead on the road at Braintree but the Wamps pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with the win. KP plated a single run in each of the first innings but two runs in the bottom of the third and one in the bottom of the sixth brought the hosts level. Brendan Sencaj had an RBI single to score Travis Crawford in the first to make it 1-0, Eli Reed drove in a run with two outs in the second to make it 2-0, and Rudy Gately had a two-out RBI single to plate Shawn Legere in the third to build a 3-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, with the game knotted at 3-3, after Legere was intentionally walked, Sencaj drove in Crawford for the second time to make it 4-3. Braintree used a walk and an error to get into scoring position, and another infield hit to score the game-winner. Sophomore Tommy McLeish was strong on the mound for the Warriors, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks, striking out three in three innings while sophomore Max Robison allowed just one run (unearned) on one hit and no walks in three innings.
Mansfield, 4 vs. Walpole, 2 – Final – A day after handing Taunton its first loss of the season, Mansfield added another quality win by knocking off visiting Walpole. Similar to the prior game, Mansfield got off to another great start offensively with three runs in the bottom of the first, and one more in the bottom of the second to offset the Timberwolves’ run in the top half. Conner Zukowski got the offense going again with a leadoff single and Matt DeShiro added a double to put runners on second and third. Anthony Sacchetti brought Zukowski home on a sac fly, Jimmy Gilleran had an RBI double, and Connor Curtis brought in the third run on a two-out hit for a 3-0 lead. After Walpole scored in the top of the second, Mansfield answered on a single from Sacchetti to score Zukowski (walk). Aaron Blinn got the win on the mound, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks, striking out seven in four innings of work. Curtis earned a three-inning save, allowing just one hit over that span with a pair of strikeouts.
Milford, 5 @ Hopedale, 1 – Final – Milford junior Evan Cornelius dazzled on the mound for the Scarlet Hawks, striking out a career-high 17 batters in a 5-1 win over non-league rival Hopedale. Cornelius tossed a complete game with just one run allowed on six hits, walking two to get the win. Milford pushed across two runs in the second inning and added on three key insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Cornelius helped his cause at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Damien Carter, Alex McColl, and Nate Scudo each drove in a run for the Hawks as well.
Sharon, 3 @ Norwell, 9 – Final – Alex Coughlin (4.1IP, 3K, 1ER) and Zack Loomis (1.2 IP, 2K, 0ER) both pitched well for the Eagles while Luke Meixel (two hits, RBI, run), Nate Yaffe (hit, two walks), and Will Hippler (1-for-3) led the offense.
Softball
Franklin, 8 vs. Needham, 3 – Final – Needham pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game but Franklin answered with five runs in the bottom half to pull away for the win at home. Reece Allen led off with a single, Georgia Harvey walked, and Katy Liberman reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases for the Panthers. Hailey Fales drove in one run with a single, and Carly Johnson-Pellegri followed with a two-run base hit to make it 6-3. The Panthers pushed another run across on an error and Kiera Kotwicki plated another run with a sac fly. Aislinn Lavery got the win in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks, striking out six in a complete game effort.
North Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – For the second time in as many days, King Philip sophomore Jordan Bennett tossed a complete game shutout without issuing a walk, this time leading the Warriors to a non-league win over North Attleboro. Bennett allowed four hits, including a leadoff single that was erased at third by catcher Maddie Paschke, and struck out five for the win. Offensively, KP took the lead with a run in the bottom of the second and tacked on two more in each the third and the fifth to secure its 10th win of the season. Ava Kelley singled and came around to score after a throwing error to make it 1-0. Meg Sherwood delivered a two-run single, scoring both Liv Petrillo (walk) and Sarah Cullen (dropped third strike) to extend the lead to 3-0 after three innings. In the fifth, Sherwood brought home Cullen (double) on a ground out, and Charlotte Raymond had a two-out RBI to bring Kelley in for her second run of the game.
Oliver Ames, 0 vs. Walpole, 14 – Final
Sharon vs. Ursuline, 4:00
Boys Lacrosse
Franklin, 10 @ Lincoln-Sudbury, 13 – Final
Mansfield, 2 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 10 – Final
Oliver Ames, 11 @ Milford, 6 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Wyatt Fritchman exploded for seven goals as the Tigers secured a non-league win on the road over Milford. Ben Reardon added a hat trick in the win while Victor Romeiro netted his first career goal. Noah Isleib turned away 11 shots in net for OA.
Girls Lacrosse
Foxboro, 14 vs. Braintree, 8 – Final – Foxboro pulled away in the second half to secure a third straight win. Paige Curran scored five goals and had one assist and the Warriors also got hat tricks from Val Beigel and Mya Waryas. Beigel added a helper. Mary Collins had a goal and three assists and Kate Collins and Cate Noone both scored once apiece. Audrey Campbell made 10 saves for the second straight game to pick up the win in goal.
Sharon, 4 @ Mansfield, 16 – Final
Milford, 7 @ Oliver Ames, 15 – Final
Taunton @ New Bedford, 4:30
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 2 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final
Girls Tennis
North Attleboro, 1 @ Milford, 4 – Final
Boys Volleyball
King Philip, 1 vs. Nipmuc, 3 – Final
Milford vs. Norwood, 6:00
Baseball
King Philip, 5 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Rudy Gately tossed a complete game, allowing only one earned run, to help the Warriors bounce back with a road win. Gately gave up six hits and struck out five. He also had a hit and scored a pair of runs. Max Robison drove in the first KP run in the second with a ground ball that brought in Gately, who had walked. In the third, Travis Crawford singled and stole second. Matthew Kelley dropped down a sac bunt to move Crawford to third and then Shawn Legere scored the run with a double to center. KP scored the winning runs in the sixth. Brendan Sencaj singled and Gately bunted for a hit, with Sencaj moving to third and Gately taking second. Will Astorino’s ground ball brought in one and Matt DiFiore’s safety squeeze scored Gately. The Warriors got an insurance run in the seventh. Kelley walked and Legere was hit by a pitch. A Sencaj fly ball moved Kelley to third and he would come home on a passed ball.
Sharon, 6 @ Canton, 10 – Final – Canton put up 10 runs for the second straight day and earned another win, this time taking down visiting Sharon. Tied 1-1 through 3.5 innings, Canton exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a lead for good. Jay Kelleher and Matt Quan each drove in a pair of runs with a single to push the Bulldogs advantage to 6-1. Sharon responded with four runs in the top of the fifth to make it a one-run game but Canton answered with three of its own in the bottom half to pad the lead, getting an RBI from both Hayden Rose and Matt Hart. Jack Digirolamo went 3-for-4 for Canton with two RBI and two runs scored while Quan tossed two scoreless innings in relief to get the save. Palash Raina had a three-run triple for Sharon and scored a pair of runs.
Foxboro, 9 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – Foxboro freshman Nolan Gordon tossed a complete game shutout to lead the Warriors to a quality win on the road at Frothingham Park over Oliver Ames. Gordon allowed seven hits, six of them singles, and didn’t have a walk, striking out four for the win. The Warriors’ offense plated three runs in three straight innings starting in the third inning. Junior Louis Carangelo had an RBI single, freshman Ryan O’Leary scored on a wild pitch, and Jack Watts scored on a ground out as Foxboro jumped ahead 3-0. Freshman Ben Angelini had a one-out RBI single to start the scoring in the fourth, and Carangelo drove in two more with a two-out single to center to make it 6-0. Liam Mulkern’s triple brought Tom Marcucella (double) home in the top of the fifth, Angelini drew a bases-loaded walk for a run, and Kenny Mello (HBP) scored on a ground out to make it 9-0.
Milford, 1 @ Franklin, 11 – Final (6 Inn.) – Franklin pushed across four runs in the bottom of the third to increase its lead to 5-0, and then ended the game with a six-run fifth inning to knock off Milford. Jase Lyons continued to rake at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored to pace the Panthers’ offense. Chris Goode added two hits and two RBI, Eisig Chin also drove in two runs, and Henry DiGiorgio had a pair of hits and three runs scored. Junior Alfred Mucciarone had a strong outing on the bump, allowing one run on six hits and no walks, striking out five in five innings.
Taunton, 2 @ Mansfield, 7 – Final – Mansfield exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the first inning and that was enough as the Hornets handed Taunton its first loss of the season. The Tigers staked a 1-0 lead after an RBI double from Braden Sullivan scored Dawson Bryce in the top of the first but Mansfield answered quickly, loading the bases on three of the first four at-bars. Jared Fraone singled in Matt DeShiro, Connor Curtis drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0, and Jake Maydak brought home two runs on a base hit. With two outs, Conner Zukowski got his second hit of the inning with a two-run double to make it 7-1. Jimmy Gilleran handled the lead the rest of the way for the Hornets, allowing just two runs on five hits and one walk, striking out six in a complete game effort.
North Attleboro, 7 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton led 3-0 after two innings, but North rallied with seven runs in the final two innings to pick up the win and stay unbeaten in league play. Danny Curran went the distance for the Rocketeers, allowing only four hits and one earned run, striking out seven. The Black Knights got one in the first and two in the second to take the early lead. It took until the sixth inning before North got on the board. Derek Maceda started the rally with a walk, stole second, and scored on a triple by Tyler DeMattio (3-for-3, two extra base hits and two RBI). DeMattio would score on a ground out by Curran. North took the lead with a five-run seventh. Jordan Paradis beat out an infield single to lead things off, David Floyd followed with a single and both moved up on a sac bunt by Christian Bates. Tyler Bannon brought them both home with a double and DeMattio scored him with a double. Curran (three RBI) plated two more with a single up the middle to put North up by four.
Softball
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 7 – Final – King Philip softball Jordan Bennett tossed a two-hit shutout to lead the Warriors to a 7-0 win over a quality opponent in Attleboro. Bennett allowed just two singles — both to Attleboro’s Lily Routhier — with one coming in the first, and one coming in the sixth, but responded with a strikeout for the third out on both occasions. Junior Charlotte Raymond and freshman Liv Petrillo each brought in a run with an RBI single during KP’s four-run second inning, and two runs came in to score after an error on sophomore Maddie Paschke’s squeeze bunt. KP added two key insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth after both junior Sarah Cullen and sophomore Caitlyn Sencaj singled and then both came into score on a hit from senior Meg Sherwood. Petrillo drove in another run with a double in the bottom of the fifth to plate Mia Bennett (walk).
Canton, 16 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – Jessica Wright and Olivia Mackwell each recorded five hits and drove in five runs as Canton picked up a big win on the road over Sharon. Sam Vrabel added four hits and drove in three runs while Taylor Reynolds chipped in with a pair of hits and four RBI on the same. Sophia Santos and Gillian Gordon pitched well for the Bulldogs in the win.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Foxboro, 10 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – Foxboro scored in each of the first five innings, including a four-run second and a three-run fifth, to secure a win over visiting Oliver Ames. Freshman Vittoria Cuscia had a big day for the Warriors, getting it done both in the circle and at the plate. She tossed a complete game, including six shutout innings before the Tigers struck for three in the seventh. She added seven strikeouts and then paced the offense with three hits and two runs scored. Peyton Feldman had a big day on the base path, stealing four bases and scoring three runs.
Franklin, 18 @ Milford, 8 – Final – Franklin’s bats exploded for 18 runs on 18 hits, scoring in five straight innings between the second and sixth inning during a victory over Milford. Sophomore Carly Johnson-Pellegri had a huge day at the dish, going 4-for-5 while driving in eight runs to pace the Panthers’ offense, scoring three times herself. Kiera Kotwicki added three hits, three runs, and RBI in the win while Aislinn Lavery (two RBI), Georgia Harvey, Katy Liberman and Hailey Fales each added two hits in the win. Milford’s Cae Pellegrini had two hits, including her second home run in as many days, and sophomore Grace Bonina chipped in with two hits and two RBI in the win.
Mansfield, 0 @ Taunton, 13 – Final (5 Inn.) – Taunton scored 11 runs in the first inning and never looked back, rolling to a big win and ending Mansfield’s three-game win streak. Liv Mendonca allowed just two hits and one walk and struck out nine to pick up the win. Kyleah Plumb (two runs), Kaysie DeMoura (two runs and five RBI), Ava Venturelli (thee runs and two RBI), and Hayley Krockta (run scored and RBI) each had two hits for the Tigers. Angie Lynch drove in a pair and Kylie Thorpe and Mendonca both drove in one. Venturelli and DeMoura both went deep for Taunton. Callie Lake and Cat Kipp had Mansfield’s hits.
Stoughton, 2 @ North Attleboro, 7 – Final – Kelly Colleran was dominant in the circle and at the plate, leading North to a crucial division win over Stoughton. Colleran earned the win with a 14-strikeout day and helped her own cause by going 3-for-4 with two homers, a double, and three RBI. Mandi Hanewich continued to do her job in the leadoff spot with two hits, two stolen bases and a run scored. Shaelyn Burns blasted a three-run homer in the third to give North separation. Ally Levine and Zoey McDonough added a hit and a run scored apiece, while Maryellen Charette had a strong game at catcher.
Boys Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 14 @ Canton, 9 – Final – Clayton Billingkoff and Connor Ruppert each scored four goals to help North earn the season sweep of Canton. Matt Antonetti added a hat trick for the Rocketeers and JT Gallagher was trong in goal with 12 saves. Jared Vacher continued to be a force on the draw, winning 19 face-offs.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro vs. Norton, 4:00
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – King Philip swept all three singles matches and added another win in doubles play, taking a 4-1 verdict over visiting Attleboro. Senior Brady Jannell prevailed with a hard-fought 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 win at first singles, senior Jonathan Cohen added a 6-1, 6-1 second doubles win, and junior Jackson Hom secured a 6-2, 6-4 win at third singles. The team of senior Diego Neto and junior Noah Ihley added a first doubles win (7-6, 6-4) for the Warriors. Attleboro’s Luke Hinton and Brady Rosen won 6-2, 6-3 at second doubles.
Canton, 2 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – A sweep of doubles and one win from singles action gave Sharon a close win over visiting Canton. The team of Ruemon Bhattacharyya and Mitch Weiss won at first doubles, while Hyojae Park and Sava Kassev won at second doubles for the Eagles. Sharon also got a win from Jacob Slavsky (6-1, 6-0) at third singles. Canton sophomore Max Kupferman prevailed from a well-played, hard-fought first singles battle with sophomore Matthew Lally to take a 6-3, 6-7, 10-8 win while Suraj Ramanathan added a 6-1, 6-2 win at second singles for the Bulldogs.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this match – Oliver Ames second doubles team of Alex Vasiliou and Ben Dias emerged victorious after a marathon three-set match, giving the Tigers their fourth straight win. Second doubles was a battle from the get-go and Vasiliou and Dias prevailed with a 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 win to clinch the match. The Tigers also got a big win from sophomore Nick Westerbeke, who dropped the first set 0-6 but rallied to win the second, and took the third 6-2 at first singles.
Franklin, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Franklin won all five matches in straights to stay undefeated on the season, moving to 7-0. Senior Drew Mahoney earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles, sophomore Ahan Shetty secured a 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles, and junior Ryan Essam prevailed from third singles with a 6-4, 6-4 verdict. The team of seniors Tim O’Keefe and Aidan Karlowicz earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles, and the team of freshman Dan Reis and junior Tyler Fitzpatrick were victorious, 6-1, 6-0, at second doubles.
Mansfield, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Senior Pratham Tallam and junior Jesse Colchamiro overcame a one-set deficit to prevail with a third-set tiebreaker win, completing Mansfield’s sweep over Taunton. Pratham and Colchamiro earned a 4-6, 7-5, 10-5 win at first doubles and sophomore Jacob Weiner and junior James Kennedy secured a 6-3, 6-3 win at second doubles. Mansfield won all three singles matches in first sets: Neema Khosravani (6-1, 6-1) at first singles, Kailash Elumela (6-2, 6-0) at second singles, and Benson Delaney (6-0, 6-0) at third singles.
Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – Final – Freshman Darren Liang and the sophomore tandem of Quinn DiFiore and Aaryan Anjna both overcome a one-set deficit to get a win, helping North Attleboro complete a sweep over Stoughton. Liang rallied for a win at third singles, taking the match 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 while DiFiore and Anjna earned a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10) win at second doubles. Senior Will Folan took a 6-2, 6-0 decision at first singles, junior Brody Carter added a 6-3, 7-5 victory at second sinlges, and the team of junior Griffin Rodden and sophomore Arnav Raghuvanshi secured a 6-4, 6-3 first doubles win for North Attleboro.
Girls Tennis
King Philip, 2 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro picked up its biggest win of the season, getting a big boost in doubles action, with a 3-2 decision over King Philip. Seniors Saharla Yusuf and Tina Lam continued their impressive campaign with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win at first doubles while the team of senior Alison Rebelo and junior Bree Paulette emerged with a 6-4, 6-3 win at second doubles. The Bombardiers got a third point at first singles from senior Ella Lynch Bartek (6-2, 6-6 [2-3] ret.). King Philip sophomore Shea Mellman earned a 6-4, 6-3 win at second singles and junior Caroline Freese added a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win at third singles.
Sharon, 5 @ Canton, 0 – Final – Sharon’s Navya Shukla emerged from a third-set tiebreaker that took 34 points to decide to get the win, completing the Eagles’ sweep over Canton. Shukla and Canton’s Camila Cutter split the first two sets before engaging in an epic tie-breaker with the hosts first singles prevailing 6-4, 4-6, 18-16. Sharon also got wins from Ale Aguilar at second singles (6-2, 6-2), Judy Song at third singles (6-1, 6-1), the team of Ritu Sreeram and Sophia Oh at first doubles (6-2, 6-2), and the duo of Sasha Fein and Abby Vilk at second doubles (6-2, 6-4).
Foxboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – The team of Olivia Querzoli and Marina Mierzwinksi rallied from a one-set deficit to win two in a row, clinching the decisive third point to give the Tigers a win over Foxboro, their third win this week. Querzoli and Mierzwinksi rallied to secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win while OA’s first doubles team of Morgan Vasiliou and Caroline Peper earned a 6-1, 6-4 victory. OA’s first win came at third singles from Elizabeth O’Brien (6-2, 6-1). Foxboro won both first singles (Athena Li) and second singles (Hailey Kornbluth) without dropping a set, taking both 6-0, 6-0.
Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Taking all five matches in straight sets, Franklin defended home court against visiting Milford. Izzy Trull took a 6-2, 6-0 win at first singles, Vedika Vinayak earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles, and Sarah Schiavo completed the singles sweep with a 6-0, 6-3 victory at third singles. The team of Allison Bagley and Amulya Jayam earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at at first doubles while the tandem of Ashmita Boopathy and Brooke Daniels emerged with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at second doubles.
Taunton @ Mansfield, 3:45
North Attleboro @ Stoughton, 3:45
Boys Volleyball
Taunton vs. Greater New Bedford, 5:00
Baseball
Attleboro, 12 @ Foxboro, 9 – Final – Foxboro raced out to a lead with five runs over the first three innings, but Attleboro’s offense roared to life with 10 runs in a three-inning span to secure a win on the road. The Warriors sandwiched a pair of one-running innings around a three-run third to stake a 5-2 advantage. The Bombardiers responded with three in the fourth, five in the fifth, and two more in the sixth, before holding off a four-run bottom of the seventh from the hosts to get the win. Jamie Bloch, Owen Taber (RBI), and Peter DelPozzo each had one hit and scored three runs while Cooper Johnson drove in four runs on the day and scored once himself. Matt Harvie added two hits and two RBI for the Bombardiers. Freshman Tyler Dunlea tossed three shutout innings in relief, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out six to get the win. For Foxboro, Ryan LeClair had a pair of hits, including a double, with three RBI and two runs scored, junior Sean O’Leary drove in two runs, and freshman Ryan O’Leary had a hit and an RBI. Junior Kenny Mello blasted a solo home run and had two RBI on the day.
Taunton, 8 @ Canton, 0 – Final
Franklin, 4 @ North Attleboro, 7 – Final – North Attleboro senior Brody Rosenberg blasted a second inning grand slam and classmate Tyler Bannon had a strong showing on the mound as the Rocketeers knocked off visiting Franklin. Danny Curran had a lead off single, Bannon followed with a single, and Christian Bates walked to load the bases for Rosenberg’s home run. North added three more in the bottom of the fifth as Dillon Harding and Derek Maceda singled, and pinch runner Kyle Conroy scored on an RBI double from Tyler DeMattio. Maceda came home to score on a wild pitch and DeMattio eventually scored on a double steal to make it 7-0. Franklin plated four runs in the top, including a pair of two-out singles. Bannon finished with 6.1 innings pitched, striking out six with two hits allowed, retiring the side in order in the first three innings. Chris Goode had two hits and an RBI for the Panthers, Evan Raider added a hit, a walk, and an RBI, and Jack Marino chipped in with an RBI and a run scored.
Sharon, 2 @ King Philip, 12 – Final (6 Inn.) – King Philip moved to 4-0 on the season, scoring in double figures for the third time this season in a win over Sharon. The Warriors didn’t waste any time getting the bats going with five runs in the first inning. Shawn Legere knocked Travis Crawford (single) in with a base hit, Matt Kelley (single) scored on a wild pitch, and both Rudy Gately and Brendan Sencaj scored on a throwing error. Matt DiFiore brought in the fifth run with an RBI single to score Nick Viscusi. In the second, Gately had an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Gately drove in Legere with a RBI base hit, and Kelley came in to score on a wild pitch for the second time in the game. Luke Nixon and Will Astorino each drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth and Brendan Weddleton had a two-run single to end the game in the bottom of the sixth. Viscusi got the win in the mound, tossing six innings with two earned runs while striking out eight.
Stoughton, 6 @ Mansfield, 7 – Final – Mansfield scored two insurance runs in the top of the seventh that proved pivotal as the Hornets had to hold off a furious rally by the Black Knights in the bottom of the seventh. Mansfield scored two runs in each the first and third, and a single run in the fifth to carry a 5-1 lead into the final inning. Two runs in the top of the seventh ended up being the difference as Stoughton sent five runs home in the bottom half before Mansfield got the final out for the win. Anthony Sacchetti had three hits and scored three runs while sophomore Matt DeShiro had three hits, including two doubles and two stolen bases, and drove in three runs to pace the Hornets’ offense. Conner Zukowski added two hits (both doubles) and a run scored, Jimmy Gilleran had a pair of hits and two RBI, and Connor Curtis added two doubles. Gilleran tossed six innings on the mound, allowing one run (unearned) on four hits and two walks, striking out six.
Softball
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 14 – Final – Attleboro’s Lily Routhier got her third win of the season in the circle while the Bombardiers belted out 14 hits for 14 runs in a win over visiting Foxboro. Routhier tossed a complete game, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out six. Offensively, Lindsey Perry had a pair of doubles with three runs scored, adding a pair of walks. Lauren Eby collected four hits with three runs scored and Routhier helped her own cause with a pair of hits and three runs scored. Peyton Feldman had a pair of hits for Foxboro with two runs scored while Emma Callahan had six strikeouts in five innings of work.
Canton, 1 @ Taunton, 21 – Final (5 Inn.) – Taunton exploded for 14 runs in the second inning and scored more than 20 runs in a game for the second time this week. Ava Venturelli paced the Tigers offense, going 4-for-4 with two homers, a triple, and a double. She drove in six runs and scored four times. The top five hitters in the Taunton lineup combined for 15 hits and 14 RBI. Kyleah Plumb was 2-for-5 with two RBI, Kaysie DeMoura was 3-for-4 with two RBI, Brooke Aldrich was 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Hayley Krockta went 4-for-4 with two RBI. Liv Mendonca and Cate Larson combined on a four-hitter. Taylor Reynolds, Anna Lehan, Jess Wright, and Chloe Guershony each had hits for the Bulldogs.
North Attleboro, 10 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – North’s bats came alive to back up a stellar performance in the circle from Zoey McDonough. The Rocketeers totaled 16 hits including four from Kelly Colleran, who blasted a pair of homers and drove in seven of North’s 10 runs. McDonough was lights out, striking out 14 and holding Franklin to five hits. Ally Levine had three hits for North, which also got two hits apiece from Mandi Hanewich (two runs scored), McDonough, and Emma Hanwell. Maryellen Charette had a hit and an RBI and Grace Simmons made a nice catch in right and assisted on an out at second.
Sharon, 0 @ King Philip, 20 – Final (5 Inn.) – King Philip pushed across eight runs in the first and nine more in the second while Emma Sheehan and Taylor Regan combined to toss a one-hitter in a win over Sharon. Sarah Cullen had a big day for the Warriors from the leadoff spot, collecting four hits, two RBI and four runs scored. Meg Sherwood (homerun) added three hits, five RBI and three runs, and Maddie Paschke (homerun) had four RBI on two hits with three runs scored. Sheehan (2IP) and Regan (3IP) each had five strikeouts.
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Milford, 2 – Final (8 Inn.) – Oliver Ames pushed across three runs in the top of the eighth inning and held on as the Scarlet Hawks had the tying run at the plate in the bottom half. Milford took the lead in the bottom of the second after a bunt from Jianna Fernandes was thrown away, allowing Sarah Wengal (walk) to score. OA struck back in the top of the fifth in similar fashion as Katherine Farley (dropped third strike) scored after a throwing error after a bunt from Madison Monteiro. OA took its first lead in the top of the seventh when Farley (single) scored on a double from Caitlin Miller to make it 2-1. Sophomore Grace Bonina hit a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, moved to second on a sacrifice, and came to score on an effor to make it 2-2, sending it to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, freshman Emily Martin led off with a double and moved to third on a grounder from Lexi Galsband (two hits). Junior Katie Melendy, who also tossed an eight inning complete game for the Tigers, smacked a single up the middle to take the lead. Freshman Devon Morris followed with a single, and both Melendy and Morris scored on a single from Farley. Melendy worked around back-to-back one-out walks to get the win. Maeve Driscoll had 11 strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work for the Hawks.
Boys Lacrosse
Sharon, 14 @ Attleboro, 10 – Final – Brady Daylor found the back of the net eight times to lead Sharon to a win on the road over Attleboro. Along with Daylor’s eight goals, Ben Shocket (23-for-28 faceoffs) and Sam Rothbaum each added a pair of goals while Jacob Kaufman and Jordan Weizmann each scored once in the win. Matt Powers made 10 saves in net for the Eagles.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 14 @ Sharon, 6 – Final – Bailey Garte had a hat trick for the Eagles, who also got goals from Anna Hertzel, Keira Lydeard, and Serena Bien-Aime.
Boys Tennis
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro’s Bo Canfield didn’t drop a game at second singles and the Warriors won four matches in straight sets to get a victory over Attleboro. Canfield won 6-0, 6-0 while Garrett Spillane added a first singles win (6-2, 6-1) and Raj Jetty secured a win at third singles (6-2, 6-0). Foxboro added a win from Nate Cote and Luca Meyer at second doubles (6-1, 7-5). Attleboro’s Tyler Rocchio and Kyle Neuendorf continued their strong season with a 6-3, 6-1 win at first doubles.
Canton, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Canton won all three singles matches in straight sets and added a fourth point with a win at second doubles to secure a victory on the road at Taunton. Max Kupferman, Suraj Ramanathan and Justin Ngan all won in straight sets in singles for Canton in singles action, and the team of seniors Kevin Moltenbrey and Luke Romano took the win at second doubles. Taunton’s Andrew Letourneau and Derek Desseault took the first doubles for Taunton in straight sets.
Sharon, 5 @ King Philip, 0 – Final
Stoughton, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield took all five matches in straight sets to defend home court against visiting Stoughton. Freshman Neema Khosravani and sophomore Kailash Elumelai both won 6-1, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively, while sophomore Iniyan Karruppusami grabbed a 6-3, 6-0 win at third singles. Junior Benson Delaney teamed with senior Jonah Fine for a 6-1, 6-0 first doubles win while sophomore Nikhil Nain and senior Pratham Tallam grabbed a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles.
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames sophomore Nick Westerbeke didn’t drop a set at first singles while seniors Kylash Gannesh and Raphael Vache both won in straight sets as the Tigers took a 5-0 win on the road at Milford. Westerbeke won 6-0, 6-0, Gannesh grabbed a 6-1, 6-4 win at second singles, and Vache earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles. OA’s first doubles team of freshmen Patrick Dolan and Alex Efremidas secured a 6-1, 6-4 win at first doubles while junior Ben Dias and sophomore Alex Vasiliou emerged with a 4-6, 7-5, 12-10 win at second doubles in a great match with Milford senior Pedro DeSouza and freshman Todd Ostertog. Both coaches praised the effort of the second doubles players, with the both sides hitting great shots and earning key points.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, Franklin senior Thomas Broyles won a 10-point tiebreaker to complete the sweep for the Panthers. Broyles ended with a 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 win at second singles, Vashnav Malhotra added a 6-0, 6-1 first singles victory, and senior Drew Mahoney won 6-1, 6-3 at third singles. The team of senior Tim O’Keefe and sophomore Jay Gorgas notched a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles, and senior Sameen Shaik and sophomore Ahan Shetty won 6-0, 6-1 at second doubles.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – A sweep in singles action plus one doubles win gave Foxboro a 4-1 win over visiting Attleboro. Athena Li (6-0, 6-0), Hailey Kornbluth (6-0, 6-1), and Analise Jia (6-0, 6-3) won at first, second, and third singles, respectively, while Abby Costa and Juliana Preston added a 6-2, 6-2 first doubles win. Attleboro’s Allison Rebelo and Presley Biller added a 6-4, 6-4 win at second doubles.
Taunton, 1 @ Canton, 4 – Final – A pair of wins from singles action plus two more in doubles play gave Canton a win at home over visiting Taunton. Camila Cutter battled to a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win at first singles while Laura Correal secured a 6-4, 6-3 win at second singles for the Bulldogs. The team of Olivia Durham and Grace Powers emerged with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) win at first doubles and Canton’s second doubles team of Olivia Maloney and Allie Wong rallied for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win. Taunton’s Ava Alves notched a 7-5, 6-2 win at third singles.
King Philip, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – After two very tight battles in singles action, and a three-set doubles battle, Sharon took home a 5-0 decision over visiting King Philip. Navya Shukla and Hannah Faberman both emerged from hard-fought matches with identical 7-6, 6-4 wins at first and second singles, respectively, while freshman Judy Song added a 6-1, 6-1 third singles win. Junior Sophia Oh and senior Sasha Fein grabbed a 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles while Sharon’s second doubles tandem of juniors Ellie Zhao and Wenxin Lu prevailed with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 win for the Eagles.
Mansfield, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final
Milford, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Both of Oliver Ames’ doubles teams won in straight sets without dropping a game to secure a 4-1 victory over Milford. The team of Caroline Peper and Morgan Vasiliou won at first singles while Marina Mierzwinski and Olivia Querzoli grabbed the win at second doubles, both matches finishing 6-0, 6-0. OA freshman Hannah Farber added a 6-1, 6-0 win at first singles and Elizabeth O’Brien prevailed from third singles with a 6-0, 2-6, 10-2 win. Milford’s Paige Gaulik rallied for a 1-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory at second singles.
Boys Volleyball
King Philip, 1 vs. Millis, 3 – Final
Milford, 3 vs. Medfield, 0 – Final
King Philip senior Shawn Legere is coming off a great junior campaign and will be one of the top players to watch. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)By HockomockSports.com Staff
A dangerous bat at the plate and a reliable defensive player in the field, Canton junior Matt Chafin will be among the top players in the Hockomock League this year. He had a big breakout season during the shortened 2021 season, emerging as one of the top offensive players in the league. He finished the regular season second in batting average (minimum 30 AB) at 0.442 and tied for a league-best 19 hits. He also had eight walks, 11 RBI, and scored 11 runs for the Bulldogs. Canton graduated some of its other top offensive players from last year so the Bulldogs will lean on Chafin to set the tone offensively.
Milford junior Evan Cornelius became a staple of the Hawks’ lineup last season and impacts the game in a variety of ways. He started every game last season, whether it was on the mound or in the lineup. He is the lone returning starter from the Hawks’ rotation last year and will anchor a staff that features a pair of arms playing on varsity for the first time this season. At the plate, he hit 0.303 last season with 10 hits, four walks, five runs scored, and a team-high nine RBI. The Kelley-Rex is loaded this season and Cornelius will be among the top all-around players in the division this season.
There aren’t many returning players back this year that were on both league leaders lists for offense and pitching, but North Attleboro senior Danny Curran is one of them. He hit 0.353 on 12 hits, walked six times and knocked in three runs. Batting in the heart of the Rocketeers lineup, Curran had tied for second in the league last year with 14 runs. He was also strong on the mound and will be the anchor of the North Attleboro rotation this year. He went 2-0 with a save in 23 innings of work, striking out 22 with a 3.65 ERA. As a constant in the lineup, Curran will be a key piece for North Attleboro as they try to repeat as division titles.
Franklin has a loaded lineup that makes them the team to beat in the Kelley-Rex division, and one of the top teams in the entire state, and one of the main pieces of it is junior Ryan Gerety. A Northeastern University commit, Gerety has all the tools to be a top player in the area. A left-handed batter, he sets the table from the top of the lineup and can put the ball in play all over the field. Not only does he pack a punch with good power at the plate, but he’s also very athletic and can cause some havoc on the base paths. On top of his offensive abilities, he’s one of the best defensive players in the league as well.
Mansfield had a lot of first year varsity players last year and now have an experienced group ready to challenge for the Kelley-Rex division title. One of those players if Jimmy Gilleran, a top pitcher and offensive option for head coach Chris Hall. He emerged as a reliable and go-to option for the Hornets on the mound last season, posting a 2-1 record with 22 innings of work while recoding one save. He also struck out 22 with just six walks, posting a 3.50 ERA. He will also be a key piece of the lineup this season, hitting in the heart of the lineup for Mansfield.
As mentioned earlier, Franklin will be the team to beat in the league this year and will be in the mix as a top team in the entire state. One of those reasons is the offense, but the other big reason is because of a talented and deep pitching staff, anchored by senior UMass Lowell commit Jacob Jette. Jette was the ace of the staff last year and delivered, going 4-1 in the regular season in 26.2 innings of work, striking out 36 (most among returning players) with a 1.84 ERA. With a year of experience under his belt and a full offseason, Jette will be among the top arms in both the Hock and the entire region.
King Philip senior Shawn Legere is coming off a terrific junior year and has put his name in the mix as one of the top players in the Hockomock League. In his first year on varsity, he emerged as one of the best offensive options with a 0.386 batting average, tying for third in the Hock with 17 hits. He also led the league with 16 runs scored, drawing six walks, and had eight RBI (and one home run). Hitting in the heart of the Warriors lineup, he’s already off to a great start this season with three RBI and four runs scored in the season opener against Foxboro. On top of his great presence at the plate, he’s such a steady presence in the field defensively.
When it comes to dangerous bats in the Hockomock League, Taunton junior Ryan MacDougall has to be in the conversation. A University of Dayton commit, MacDougall has plenty of varsity experience and will anchor the offense this season for the Tigers. Alongside Dawson Bryce (0.341 last season), the Tigers have two of the top hitters in the league. Taunton is going to lean on its offense and defense this season as they try to develop some reliable arms on the mound after losing some injuries. MacDougall has a ton of power and does a nice job finding the gaps in the outfield.
Foxboro junior Sean O’Leary had a great season a year ago and will try to replicate that again this season, both on the mound and at the plate. He was one of the few players on both league leaders lists from a year ago, leading the Warriors with a team-high 0.381 average on 16 hits (fourth-most in the Hockomock League), with eight runs scored, five walks, and six RBI. He’s picked up where he left off with a 3-for-4 performance in the season opener with two RBI. And on the mound, he had a 2.21 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 12.2 innings of work. Foxboro is aiming to challenge for the Davenport division title, and O’Leary will be a key piece as they try to do so.
Oliver Ames earned a share of the Davenport division title last season and will try to make it two in a row in 2021. The Tigers, who won five straight division titles when the league first split, have solid options at the dish like Jake Waxman and Patrick Finnerty and have two strong left-handed pitchers including Nick Mark and Jack Richardson. Richardson is one of the most experienced players in the league, being on the roster as a freshman. After missing his sophomore season due to COVID, Richardson had a strong junior campaign a year ago with a 2-2 record, striking out 21 in 20.1 innings of work with a 2.07 ERA. Not only will he be one of the go-to options on the mound, but he is also a reliable bat in the Tigers’ lineup.
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
Attleboro, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 5 – Final – In a back-and-forth contest, Oliver Ames senior Patrick Finnerty drove in the game-winning run with the bases loaded to give the Tigers the walk-off win over Attleboro. The visitors took the lead in the top of the first inning after stealing a pair of bases. Oliver Ames responded with three runs in the bottom of the third as Finnerty and Jake Waxman drew back-to-back walks with the bases loaded and Ian Kelly scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1. The top of the sixth inning saw Attleboro rally for three runs and go back ahead. In the bottom of the seventh, Nathanial Lewis and Nathan Carpentier walked and Joe Cicchetti was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Kelly drew OA’s 10th walk to tie the game and then Finnerty delivered a single to center for the win. Junior Andrew Zagami earned the win in relief with six strike outs. Nick Clark allowed one run on one hit and four walks in four innings of work for OA.
Franklin, 7 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Franklin cashed in on a handful of extra base hits and senior Jacob Jette picked up where he left off last season on the mound in the Panthers’ win on the road. Jette didn’t allow an earned run in 5.1 innings of work, striking out five with two hits and two walks allowed. Jake Shaughnessy and Austin Campbell combined for 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Offensively, Ryan Gerety (two hits, two runs, RBI) and Eisig Chin (two hits, two RBI, run) each had a triple while Chris Goode (RBI) and Evan Raider (run) each had a double. Jack Marino added an RBI and two runs and sophomore Henry Digiorgio had a hit and a run scored.
King Philip, 15 @ Foxboro, 6 – Final – Tied 3-3 after two innings, King Philip exploded for seven two-out runs in the top of the third inning and never looked back for a season-opening win over Foxboro. With the bases loaded and two outs in the third, Tommy Martorano singled to bring in Rudy Gately (two runs) and Matt DiFore. Eli Reed scored on a single from Travis Crawford (three hits, two runs, two RBI), and Shawn Legere (three RBI, four runs) tripled to clear the bases. Gately got the win on the bump, allowing five runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk, striking out nine. Matt Kelley, who drove in three runs with a pair of hits, struck out two in an inning of relief. For Foxboro, Ryan LeClair (RBI, two runs) and Sean O’Leary (two RBI) each had three hits, helping the Warriors take a 3-2 lead after an inning. Freshman Nolan Gordon had a strong showing in relief for Foxboro, allowing two runs (none earned) on one hit and two walks, striking out five in 2.1 innings of work.
Mansfield, 4 @ North Attleboro, 5 – Final (13 inn.) – North Attleboro senior Brody Rosenberg drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the 13th inning and worked his way around the bases on a pair of errors, scoring the game-winning in a marathon game season opener for both teams. Mansfield opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly from Jimmy Gilleran but North took control with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, an RBI single from Danny Curran, an RBI single from Rosenberg, and Curran scoring on a passed ball. Mansfield cut into the lead with a run in the third (Jake Maydak RBI) and a run in the fifth (Gilleran RBI single) to tie the game. The Hornets went ahead in the top of the sixth on a solo home run from Jared Fraone (3-for-3, three runs) to left field but North answered in the bottom half (Tyler Bannon sac fly) to make it 4-4. Sophomore Connor Curtis was stellar in relief for the Hornets, pitching seven innings with one (unearned) run allowed on three hits and no walks, striking out seven. Derek Maceda got the win for the Rocketeers with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
Sharon, 1 @ Milford, 8 – Final – Junior Tyler Caldon allowed just two hits and walked three while striking out nine to lead the Scarlet Hawks to a win over Sharon. Caldon allowed just one earned run in six innings of work for the win. Damien Carter, who tossed a scoreless inning in relief with one strikeout, had a pair of hits and two runs scored, Ian Carter went 4-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored, and Evan Cornelius added a pair of hits, a pair of runs scored and one RBI.
Stoughton, 1 @ Taunton, 12 – Final (5 inn.)
Softball
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Attleboro, 9 – Final – Lily Routhier made a big splash in her debut for the Bombardiers, getting the win in the circle as well as a big performance at the plate. She tossed a complete game with just one earned run allowed on two hits. At the dish, she went 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Sarah Mayer added three hits and scored twice while Rylie Camacho had one hit, reached twice more, and scored twice. For OA, Caitlin Miller went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Crystalia Covel scored a run and had a stolen base. Katie Melendy pitched five innings for OA with four runs allowed while Taylor Marino pitched the sixth inning with one run allowed.
Canton, 0 @ Franklin, 12 – Final (5 inn.) – Aislinn Lavery set the tone in the circle and at the plate for the Panthers, who opened the season with a big win over visiting Canton. Lavery allowed just one hit with six strikeouts in five innings of work, and then led off the game with a triple and scored on a fielder’s choice from Julia White. Carly Pellegri aded three hits, including a double, with four RBI and three runs scored, Katy Liberman had two hits, including a double, and two RBI, and Avery Chalk added two hits. Freshman Sarah Boozang had an RBI single to score Reece Allen (triple).
Foxboro, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Freshman Liv Petrillo’s first career hit proved to be a big one for King Philip, a triple in the bottom of the sixth that broke a scoreless tie and drove in the game-winning run. In a scoreless game in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Taylor Regan slapped a double and senior Mia Bennett was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Petrillo drilled a line drive to right for a two-run triple to put KP ahead 2-0. Sophomore Maddie Paschke laid down the squeeze bunt to bring Petrillo in to make it 3-0. Senior Emma Sheehan tossed a complete game one-hitter for KP, striking out seven without issuing a walk. Foxboro freshman Vittoria Cuscia was impressive in the circle, holding KP without a run for the first five innings. She finished with seven strikeouts.
North Attleboro, 5 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Kelly Colleran went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI and Zoey McDonough struck out 12, as North pulled out a road win in the season opener. The Rocketeers opened the scoring with a three-run third. Colleran doubled to plate Julia Forman and Grace Simmons and then came home on a two-out single by Shaelyn Burns. Ally Levine led off the fifth with a double and scored on a two-run homer by Colleran, which turned out to be the game winner. Mansfield rallied with two runs in the fifth. Jill Koppy walked to lead off the inning and stole second. Bunts from Liv Madeira and Sydney Fernando loaded the bases and Callie Lake brought in a pair with a single. The Hornets loaded the bases again but couldn’t get a two-out hit to keep the rally going. Mansfield added a run in the bottom of the seventh. Fernando walked to get things started and Cat Kipp singled. Madeira drove in a run with a single. Casey Moussette and Alanna Conley reached on fielder’s choices to load the bases but again the Hornets weren’t able to get a two-out hit off McDonough. Amanda Schwarz made her varsity debut for Mansfield, striking out three and giving up eight hits. Emma Hanwell and Burns both made nice plays in the field to help the Rocketeers pull out the victory.
Sharon, 3 @ Milford, 4 – Final (8 inn.) – Milford rallied for two runs in the fifth inning to tie the game and then sophomore Maeve Williams delivered the game-winning hit with an RBI single to give the Scarlet Hawks a walk-off win in extra innings. Milford took a 1-0 lead in the second on a double from freshman Cae Pellegrini followed by a pair of sacrifice bunts. Sharon responded in the third and fourth to go ahead 4-1 before the Hawks brought the game level game. In the eighth, freshman Jianna Fernandes led off with a walk, stole second, and scored on Williams’ hit up the middle. Pellegrini and senior Gianna Cacciola both played well defensively while sophomore Maeve Driscoll got the win with five innings in relief, striking out eight with no earned runs allowed on four hits. Sharon’s Trinity Payne struck out 18 batters in the loss.
Stoughton, 0 @ Taunton 13 – Final (5 inn.) – Taunton got its offense going with three runs in the first inning and scored in each of the next three innings, including a seven-run bottom of the fourth to open the season with a big win. Junior Kaysie DeMoura (RBI, two runs) led the charge with three hits while classmates Ava Venturelli (two RBI, double, two stolen bases), Hayley Krockta, Kyleah Plumb (three RBI, triple, double), and senior Kylie Thorpe (triple, RBI) each had two hits. Senior Liv Mendonca struck out three with two hits allowed in four shutout innings while freshman Catherine Larson fanned one with one hit allowed in an inning of relief. Stoughton’s Sydney Menz had a double and a spectacular catch in center field, robbing the Tigers of a home run. Alyssa Edwards (double) and Maddie Hinds also had a hit for the Black Knights.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 2 @ Franklin, 22 – Final – Franklin exploded for nine goals in the opening quarter and never looked back in its first game of the season. Junior Jayden Consigli scored six goals and classmates Luke Davis and Tyler Sacchetti each added four apiece, all in the first half. Sophomore CJ Perro and junior Will Buckley each scored twice in the second half for the Panthers.
Canton, 16 @ Milford, 5 – Final – Canton’s Sam Carlino scored six goals and set up six more to lead the Bulldogs to a season-opening win on the road at Milford. Brendan Tourgee added four goals in the win along with one assist, Eddie Gillis scored a hat trick and added one helper, and Pat Drury (two goals, five assists) and Jeff Chaput (two goals, two assists) both had big games for the Bulldogs. Freshman Ben Miller played well in net, earning his first career win.
Foxboro, 7 @ North Attleboro, 9 – Final
Sharon, 1 @ King Philip, 13 – Final – King Philip raced out to a 7-0 lead by halftime and pulled away with six more goals in the second half to open the season with a win over Sharon. Ben Riggs paced the offense with three goals while Thomas Brewster, Sean Crowther, and Nolan Feyler each scored twice. James Boldy made 12 saves in net to earn the win for KP.
Girls Lacrosse
Franklin, 21 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final
Milford, 8 @ Canton, 9 – Final – Canton built a 6-2 lead at halftime and then held off a second half comeback attempt from Milford to open the season with a win, the first for new head coach Casey Bradley. Allie McCabe scored twice and had an assist while Emily McCabe netted the game-winning goal. Elyse Broderick made seven saves in net for the Bulldogs. For Milford, Aislinn Bennett scored five goals, Emily Croteau had a pair of goals, and Carly Haley added one.
North Attleboro, 4 @ Foxboro, 19 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Paige Curran and Mya Waryas each scored six goals, as Foxboro opened its season with a big win over a division rival. Curran, the league’s leading scorer from last year, added three assists and Waryas had one helper as well. Mary Collins chipped in with four goals and two assists, Valerie Beigel had a pair of goals, and freshman Cate Noone had a goal and an assist on her debut. Grace Riley, Kate Collins, and Nina Della Valle also scored for the Warriors. Lilli Jones made five saves to pick up her first win in goal. Ava McKeon and Morgan Eaton each scored twice for North.
King Philip, 17 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Nine different Warriors found the back of the net as King Philip opened its season in style with a big win on the road over Sharon. Julia Marsden, Lily Brown, and Haley Izydorczak combined for 11 points in the win, Makenzie McDevitt scored a hat trick in the win and Ilah Weiblen and Abby MacDonald each scored once.
Oliver Ames, 19 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Using a quick transition game and strong ball possession, Oliver Ames roared to a big season opening win on the road over Taunton. First year OA head coach Rylie Dalzell credited the attackers’ ride for causing a lot of turnovers that the visiting Tigers took advantage of. Jess Widdop and Claire O’Rourke combined for the win in net for OA. Casey O’Leary and Cali Melo each scored once for Taunton.
Boys Tennis
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Sophomore Nicholas Westerbeke rallied from a one-set deficit to win two in a row to take the point at first singles and give Oliver Ames a 3-2 win over the Bombardiers. Westerbeke dropped the first set 4-6 but won 6-1, 6-0 to get the win. Kylash Gannesh (6-0, 6-1) and Raphael Vache (6-1, 6-2) won at second and third singles, respectively, for OA. Attleboro’s Tyler Rocchio and Kyle Neuendorf took first singles 6-3, 6-4 while Malachi Jefferson and Alex Suarez were victorious (6-1, 6-2) at second doubles.
Canton, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Canton took first and second singles in straight sets but Franklin won both doubles and third singles to get the win at home. Senior Drew Mahoney was the lone Panther to win in singles action, taking third singles 6-0, 6-3. The team of senior Tim O’Keefe and sophomore Ahan Shetty won 6-1, 6-1 at first doubles and the team of senior Sameen Shaik and sophomore Jay Gorgas secured a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles. Canton’s Max Kupferman won 6-4, 6-2 at first singles and Suraj Ramanthan took a 6-1, 6-1 decision at second singles.
Foxboro, 3 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – A sweep of singles action lifted Foxboro to a win over the road at King Philip to start the season. Garrett Spillane won in straight sets (6-1, 6-1) at first singles, Bo Canfield added a 6-2, 6-3 win at second singles, and Raj Jetty earned a 6-3, 6-4 win at third singles. KP’s Diego Nieto and Connor Sachleben rallied from a one-set deficit to secure a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 win at first doubles while Adam Gousie and Noah Ihley grabbed a 6-2, 6-4 win at second doubles.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield opened the season in style, taking all five matches in straight sets to knock off North Attleboro. Freshman Neema Khosravani was impressive in his first career match, winning 6-0, 6-3 at first singles, sophomore Kailash Elumelai secured a 6-1, 7-5 at second singles, and sophomore Iniyan Karruppusami added a 6-2, 6-1 win at third singles. The tream of senior Jonah Fine and junior Benson Delaney didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles while junior Jesse Colchamiro and sophomore Nikhil Nain won 6-2, 6-2 at second doubles.
Sharon, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – A trio of underclassman swept singles action for Sharon as the Eagles opened the season with a win on the road over Milford. Sophomore Matthew Lally, sophomore Alex Budovalcev, and freshman Jacob Slavsky all won 6-0, 6-0 in first, second, and third singles, respectively. In doubles action, seniors Mitch Weiss and Ruemon Bhattacharyya grabbed a 6-1. 6-0 win at first doubles, and the team of freshman Sava Kassev and junior Hyojae Park didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.
Stoughton @ Taunton, 3:45
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – In an incredible even match up, Oliver Ames emerged with a hard-fought win over a game Attleboro squad. The Tigers got wins in straight sets from Hannah Farber at first singles (7-5, 6-3) and Mia Corradini at third singles (6-3, 6-1). OA’s second doubles team of tri-captain Shelby Brass and Marina Mierzwinski grabbed a 6-0, 7-6 (7-1) for the Tigers’ second point of the match. Attleboro’s Madison Fuscaldo battled for a 6-3, 6-7 (10-12), 6-3 win in a marathon match at second singles, and the team of Tina Lam and Sahara Yusuf grabbed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) win at first doubles.
Franklin, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – A sweep in doubles action plus a hard fought win at third singles gave the Panthers the close win on the road at Canton. Sarah Schiavo battled her way to a 6-4, 7-5 win at third singles to clinch the win for the Panthers. The team of Amulya Jayam and Shriya Rasish won 6-4, 6-3 at first doubles while Chloe Essam teamed up with Sydney Tolonen for a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles for the Panthers. Canton’s Camila Cutter earned a 6-1, 7-5 victory at first singles while Laura Correal prevailed from a well-played second singles match with a 7-6 (10), 6-4 win.
King Philip, 2 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final – Foxboro took a pair of wins from singles action and one more from doubles to get a win over King Philip. Athena Li (first singles) and Hailey Kornbluth (second singles) both won 6-0, 6-0 for the hosts while the team of Abigail Costa and Juliana Preston secured a 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 win at first doubles for Foxboro. KP’s Sammie Taylor won 6-2, 6-2 at third singles and Caroline Frese teamed up with Lauren Caspter for a 6-4, 6-3 win at second doubles.
Mansfield @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Milford, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – It was a clean sweep in the season opener for the Eagles, winning all five matches in straight sets against visiting Milford. Navya Shukla won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles, Ali Aguilar grabbed a 6-1, 6-2 win at second singles, and Ritu Sreeram earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles. Sharon’s first doubles team of Abby Vilk and Judy Song didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 win while the team of Sasha Fein and Sophia Oh were victorious 6-1, 6-1 at second doubles.
Taunton, 4 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Taunton took two wins from each singles and doubles action to get a win on the road over Stoughton. Brooke Bell earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at second singles and Ava Alves grabbed a 6-1, 6-0 win at third singles for the Tigers. The first doubles team of Morgan Smith and Sam Parrett prevailed 6-3, 6-2 for Taunton while Kelsey Brennan and Janelle Garcia won 6-3, 6-3 at second doubles. Stoughton’s Ally Lada emerged from a hard-fought singles match with a 7-5, 7-5 (10-8) win.
Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 0 @ Barnstable, 3 – Final
King Philip, 0 @ Medfield, 3 – Final – Freshman Jacob Moores had four blocks and senior Danny Alexandre added three more but the Warriors dropped their first match of the season on the road at Medfield.
Taunton senior Danny MacDougall, pictured here as a sophomore in 2019, is one of the few returners for the defending D1 State Champs. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2019 Record: 14-10 2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Final Coach: Steve Dunlea
Two years ago, Attleboro made a run to the Div. 1 South final, only to run into league rival and eventual state champ Taunton. While the Bombardiers only return three players with varsity experience, Attleboro will be looking to replicate some of that momentum and challenge the top teams for the Kelley-Rex division title this spring.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Senior catcher Bailey Camacho caught half the innings during his sophomore season and will be the starter this spring, as well as an important presence in the lineup. Seniors Jake Gorman and Matt McMahon will both be part of the rotation and play corner infield spots when they’re not on the mound building off the experience they got two years ago. Senior Cam Foster adds speed at short and will be the closer, while juniors Billy Saltmarsh and Cian Kelleher, and sophomores Dillon James and Danny Johnson are part of what should be a deep staff for the Bombardiers. Speed should also be a strength for Attleboro, including outfielders Ben Hochwarter, Nate George, Hayden Hegarty, and Packer Sackett, and middle infielders Owen Taber and Evan Houle. Junior Christian Dame is a versatile player who can step in at multiple positions.
“We’re excited to get our players out there to see what we can accomplish,” said Attleboro coach Steve Dunlea. “Our guys have worked very hard during the off-season and have come a long way in the past few years. We are particularly proud of our senior leadership. It’s been a tough year and we are so grateful to the MIAA and ADs for making this season happen for our seniors.”
2019 Record: 6-14 2019 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Ben Shuffain
Canton had a great start to the 2019 season under then first-year head coach Ben Shuffain, including an impressive win over Wellesley. But almost all of the Bulldogs’ wins came in the first half of the season. Now Canton will look to start strong and continue that throughout the year as they look to challenge for the Davenport division title.
The Bulldogs are one of the teams that have a good number of players that played back in 2019 so there is a lot of optimism surrounding the experience on the roster this season. Canton has four starters back for this year’s campaign: shortstop/right-handed pitcher Steve Burbank, outfielder Cam Sanchez, catcher/outfielder Sawyer Julier-Albert, and right-handed pitcher Nate Hewit. Both Burbank (0.328) and Julier-Albert (0.395) were among the league leaders in batting average as sophomores so they will be key pieces for the offense this year. Shuffain will also look for contributions from outfielders Andy Butler and Zach Peters, infielder Nico Bonanno, and utility option Matt Quan — all four could also see time pitching.
Burbank will also see time on the mound and Hewit will be an important piece of the pitching staff this year. Junior Andrew Middleton, who tossed a perfect game in the season-opener, will obviously be a major part of the rotation as well, giving the Bulldogs solid depth. Behind the pitching staff, there will be a lot of players who have experience at the varsity level so Shuffain hopes mistakes will be at a minimum.
“We are lucky to have a good number of players who have varsity experience from 2018 and 2019,” Shuffain said. “They have been preparing for 18 months for this season and this group has tremendous leadership and a ton of talent. I am excited to see what they can do on the field.”
For the 2021 season, it all starts with pitching for the Foxboro Warriors. The 2019 squad graduated six players, and there were nine juniors on that team that missed out on their senior season a year ago. That means Foxboro has four players coming back for this spring, and almost all picked up a lot of valuable experience the last time out.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Seniors Cam Prescott and Sean Yoest will headline the Warriors’ rotation, bringing a lot of experience to the staff. Prescott logged over 26 innings as a sophomore, allowing just four walks with a 1.86 ERA. Yoest had a lot of success at the plate as a sophomore and will be looking to replicate that on the mound this year. Sophomore Sean O’Leary will likely be a key piece on the mound when fully healthy and the Warriors will look to seniors Dylan Quinn, Mike O’Toole, Ryan Jacobs, and Sebastian Ortiz, as well as juniors Liam Mulkern and Tom Marcucella to provide pitching depth.
Yoest will patrol the outfield when he’s not on the mound and will be a key piece offensively after hitting 0.346 as a sophomore with 11 runs scored and 11 RBI. Yoest will be joined in the outfield by junior Jack Watts, a three-sport athlete who has excelled in golf and hockey, and sophomore Kenny Mello. Marcucella will also see time in the outfield while senior Griffin Morse is a solid depth piece that can play all three spots in the outfield.
Prescott will see time at either third or shortstop when he’s not pitching. Beyond Prescott, the Warriors will have some inexperience around the infield with freshman Tyler Prescott (second base) and sophomore Ryan LeClair (shortstop) impressing early on. Mulkern and O’Toole will provide the infield with some senior leadership from first while Marcucella and Ortiz providing depth. Mulkern will also be an option behind the plate while junior Mike LaVita will step into the starting role at catcher.
“We are excited for the opportunity to get back on the field and compete every day,” head coach Derek Suess said. “Having our top two arms still here is comforting, but we will need contributions from many different guys. We have a good mix of seniors and underclassmen who have bought in to our vision for the season.”
2019 Record: 22-3 2019 Finish: Reached Super 8 Coach: Zach Brown
While Franklin won’t be able to make it three straight appearances in the Super 8 with the tournament not happening this year (and possibly for a couple of years), there is something the Panthers can do: defend their Kelley-Rex division title.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
The Panthers were nearly perfect in league action during the 2019 season (15-1) and will be one of the favorites for the title again this year. But it will be almost an entirely new cast of players doing so. Franklin had 10 seniors on that team plus another seven juniors that graduated last year, meaning just a handful of players from the roster are back. Of that group, just one starter is back in senior Jake Fitzgibbons, who played second base at the time.
Now Fitzgibbons moves behind the plate and will be in charge of handling a pitching staff that is new to the varsity level. Having him behind the plate should make it easier for the likes of junior Jacob Jette and sophomore Alfred Mucciarone, who figure to be two of the key components of Franklin’s rotation this season. And when needed, Fitzgibbons will switch out from behind the plate and take the mound himself.
Seniors Nate Cooke and CJ Jette serve as captains alongside Fitzgibbons and will provide leadership both on and off the field. Cooke is slated to start at first base and will bring a big bat to the lineup while Jette will see time both in the outfield and at designated hitter. Seniors Luc Boudreau (outfielder) and Nick Quinn (right-handed pitcher) have impressed early on as well.
“As always the cornerstone of our program is pitching and defense,” said head coach Zach Brown. “We believe we have the right mix of athletes and arms to compete daily this season. Offensively, we believe that our line-up can be pretty athletic. Obviously, we are all in the same boat missing last season so it will be an exciting season to get back out onto the field. I know the players and our coaching staff are really excited for the games to start up.”
2019 Record: 8-12 2019 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Jeff Plympton
There will be a lot of new faces on the mound, in the field, in the batter’s box, and even on the bench for the King Philip Warriors this season. Looking back at the 2019 season, only one name is back in action for the Warriors this season. And on top of that, there’s a new coach in the dugout in Jeff Plympton.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Both Conor Cooke and Jack Silveria saw plenty of action during their sophomore seasons but Silveria will miss his senior campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. That means that Plympton and the rest of the Warriors will lean heavily on Cooke, a three-year starter who will guide KP from behind the plate. Cooke, who is committed to play at Brown University, is a rock behind the plate and that will be important as KP deploys a pitching staff that is new to the varsity level. That rotation will feature junior Nick Viscusi and sophomore Rudy Gately, with seniors Jack Mullen, Grayden Lawrence, Harry Brown, and Jake Burns all providing depth.
Cooke will be a key part of the offense as well, slated to hit from the clean up spot. Viscusi will set the tone from the leadoff spot and can cause some damage on the base paths with his speed. Junior Shawn Lagere will start at shortstop and bat third in the lineup, providing the Warriors with some power while Gately will see time at third when he isn’t on the mound. Seniors Ethan Hurwitz and Mikey Malatesta provide outfield depth and Plympton has 10 juniors on the roster to help fill out the lineup.
“Looking forward to getting the season going and watching the team play together,” Plympton said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had high school baseball and most of our guys, like many teams, are new to the varsity level. We have some good talent on our team. Plenty of good throwing arms to get us through the new pitching restrictions. The infield is solid with very dependable fielders around the diamond. The outfield is fast and does a great job tracking fly balls. I believe defense will be our best strength this season. The players have been putting in a lot of hard work during practices.”
2019 Record: 18-7 2019 Finish: Reached Super 8 Coach: Chris Hall
Joe Breen had a very successful run at the helm of the Hornets, and his successor is one that the program is very familiar with. Chris Hall, who served as Breen’s assistant, takes over and is aiming to continue the success that Mansfield has had in recent seasons.
Coming off one of their best seasons in program history that culminated in a second straight Super 8 appearance, the Hornets will try to rebuild their lineup with a strong core of seniors. Eric Sullivan will move into the starting role behind the plate and will be a vocal leader both on and off the field for the Hornets. Three-sport athlete Jack Colby is slated to take over at first base, Luke Urban looks to take over at second base, Ben Mintz can slot into a variety of roles, including in the field or on the mound, and Greg Coyle, the lone returner from the 2019 team, will be an option on the mound for the Hornets. Juniors Jared Fraone and Liam Anastasia will help round out the lineup.
Coyle will be joined by juniors Aaron Blinn, Anthony Sacchetti, and Jimmy Gilleran on the Hornets’ staff. That group brings a lot of baseball experience and a range of knowledge, and Hall is hoping all of that will translate to the varsity level. Mintz, Colby Geddis, and Brayden Purtell will look to provide additional innings in relief.
“With two years off due to COVID-19, and few players having varsity experience, I expected tryouts to be exciting,” Hall said. “Our players knew they had to come in and earn everything to gain a spot in the starting lineup. There continues to be daily position battles daily and it pushes players to improve. The talent we have in the program is consistent from top to bottom. The team brings energy and enthusiasm to everything they do and it truly makes the atmosphere on the field second to none. We cannot wait to get out on the field and compete against some of the best competition in the Hockomock League.”
2019 Record: 11-11 2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal Coach: Alex Dion
Milford will be the new kids on the block this season in their first year apart of the Kelley-Rex division, which features two teams that went to the Super 8 last time out and another that won the D1 State title.
The Hawks are going to rely on their pitching as they compete for the division title. Senior right-hander Mario Lee and classmate Wes Solomon, another righty, both picked up valuable experience as sophomores during the 2019 season and will anchor the Milford pitching rotation. Lee, who is committed to playing both football and baseball at Wesleyan, pitched in 10 games out of the bullpen in 2019 while Solomon appeared in five games with a 2.33 ERA.
Sophomore Evan Cornelius is a “big, physical kid” according to head coach Alex Dion, and he will round out the Hawks’ rotation this season. When he isn’t on the mound, Cornelius will be behind the plate and the same goes for Solomon, who could also see him in the middle infield. Lee will also be in the lineup when he’s not on the mound, playing at either first or third. Senior Carter Scudo burst onto the scene as a sophomore, hitting 0.352, and will be the catalyst to the offense this year, batting in the leadoff spot. He will anchor the outfield defense from center field.
“I’m excited to start our 2021 season,” Dion said. “It has been great to get back out on Fino Field for the first time since 2019. I have a good group of young men this year with players from all four classes making the varsity roster. This is a great league with quality teams, players, and coaches throughout. We will go out and compete to the best of our ability on a daily basis. I am optimistic about what this group has to offer this year and in the future.”
2019 Record: 11-10 2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round Coach: Mike Hart
North Attleboro head coach Mike Hart has the best arm in the Hockomock League in senior Dennis Colleran and the 2019 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year Jared Penta as the catalyst for the offense so the Rocketeers will certainly be in the mix for the Davenport title this season.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Colleran, who is committed to pitch at Northeastern, has been a member of the Rocketeers since his freshman year, making his first appearance in North’s D2 South Semifinal win over Dartmouth back in 2018. He logged 37.1 innings as a sophomore, posting a 3-4 record with a 2.63 ERA during the 2019 season. Since then, Colleran has honed his skills on the club scene and is poised to lead the Rocketeers this year. Senior Joe Hartnett and junior Danny Curran look to fill out the rotation while the Rocketeers have plenty of depth pieces including Tyler Bannon, Dan Pedro, Derek Maceda, and Aidan Weir.
Penta will hit from the leadoff spot and set the tone for the offense. Weir and classmate Justin Vecchiarelli will anchor the infield Maceda, a sophomore, could be poised for a breakout season at shortstop. Curran will also see time in the outfield when he isn’t pitching while senior Evan Vigorito, and juniors Brody Rosenberg, and Gavin Wells will be in the outfield mix. Bannon and Nik Kojoian will be options behind the dish for the Rocketeers.
“Just like other teams in the league, we are curious how our players will make the jump to varsity baseball,” Hart said. “We will do our best to be fundamentally sound and keep things simple. Our pitching staff has a handful of competitive guys who are looking for an opportunity to help the team. The boys are excited about the season and hope we can bring a consistent approach to all our opportunities this year.”
2019 Record: 12-13 2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal Coach: Joe Abarr
After reaching the D2 South Sectional Final in 2018, the Tigers fielded basically an entirely new squad during the 2019 campaign. Two years later, Oliver Ames looks to be in the same boat as there minimal varsity experience on the roaster.
Senior Nate Fulford is one of the few players that did see varsity action two years ago, emerging as a go-to option offensively as a pinch-hitter as a sophomore. Now Fulford will be a key piece in the lineup each game, manning third base and bringing a big bat to the heart of the lineup. Senior Jadon Ricci will take over at shortstop and is slated to hit near the top of the lineup.
Junior Jack Richardson was a part of the Tigers’ varsity squad as a freshman and is now in position to anchor the rotation. He’ll be in the lineup even when he’s not on the mound, patrolling the always tricky outfield at Frothingham Park for the Tigers. When it comes to new faces on the squad this year, junior Jake Waxman brings a big bat to the lineup and can bring some pop to the offense; he will start at first base defensively. Junior Joe Cicchetti has impressed early on in tryouts and the preseason both offensively and defensively, and he is slated to start in center for the Tigers.
“We should have a solid lineup,” said OA head coach Joe Abarr. “We have depth at most positions and decent options on the mound. With so little practice time prior to the first game, there are still a lot of questions to be answered, but we have a great group of guys that are really looking to compete this year.”
2019 Record: 2-18 2019 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Andrew Poliferno
The last time the Eagles hit the field, they had one of the youngest teams in the Hockomock League. Now that means there is a lot of returning players back in the dugout this year and Sharon should be one of the most experienced groups in terms of baseball played.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Sharon has a new head coach in alum Andrew Poliferno, who is no stranger to the program after coaching at each level over the past few seasons. Poliferno takes over for Kee Arguimbau, who had been with the program as a coach for nearly 20 years including the last four as head coach. Poliferno has 10 seniors at his disposal this year including two of the most experienced players in JD Rittenberg and Justin Brown, who both started as sophomores in 2019. Playing at second and short, respectively, the Eagles will have solid defense up the middle of the field. Sharon expects strong defense to come with the experience it has.
Junior Dylan Labbe pitched some innings as a freshman so the Eagles will lean on him as one of the anchors of the pitching staff. Senior Justin Nault and junior Ryan Baker will also see time on the mound while freshman Luke Meixel is slated to be a part of the starting rotation right away. Offensively, Rittenberg and Brown will lead the way once again. Baker and classmate Nate Yaffe should slot into the lineup in their first year on varsity, playing third and outfield, respectively. Poliferno is also looking for contributions from Damien Bonner and Daniel Zagoren offensively.
“After a missed season, it’s wonderful to see our players back out on the field,” Poliferno said. “Despite the year off, I was impressed with the growth and progress our players made since they last played high school baseball. It was clear to me we have a program of players who work hard during the off-season and I look forward to seeing their hard work translate to wins this season.”
2019 Record: 14-9 2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal Coach: Mike Armour
Like most schools, Stoughton has a limited number of players with varsity experience on the roster this season. It will be baptism by fire for a lot of new faces as head coach Mike Armour will look to get the most out of his lineup to try and compete for the Davenport division title.
The players that do have any varsity experience will be key, especially early on in the season as the rest of the Black Knights get used to the varsity level. Senior Brady Conlin will anchor the Stoughton staff on the mound this year and also hit in the heart of the lineup. Conlin has experience both pitching and at the plate and could be one of the most dangerous all-around players in the league. Senior captain Kyle Doolin will anchor the infield and is an option to pitch as well. He is slated to hit near the top of the lineup and could also see time behind the plate defensively.
Jake Queeney, another senior captain, will patrol center field for the Black Knights and hit from the leadoff spot. Queeney’s speed has been on display on both the basketball court and football field, so his legs could cause some damage on the base paths. Senior captain Brandon Mantilla-Mercado will take care of the pitching staff this year as the starting catcher and will bring some power to the plate offensively. Junior infielder Anthony Tilton has impressed early and figures to be a top bat in the lineup, juniors Jonah Ly and James Price will both see innings in the infield and on the mound, and junior Brad Franey is slated to take over at second. Seniors Joe McNulty, Colby Andrews, Andrew Scardina, and junior Colin Alessi provide lineup depth. Freshmen Hunter Malkin and Ben Zola will likely make an immediate impact for Stoughton.
“The kids are excited to play baseball,” Armour said. “They have brought a positive attitude and willingness to work to practice, which is all I can ask for as a coach. We are excited to get a little bit better every day, and put ourselves in a position to win some ballgames this season.”
2019 Record: 21-7 2019 Finish: Won Div. 1 State Championship Coach: Blair Bourque
It seems like just yesterday the Tigers were celebrating their Division 1 State Championship at LeLacheur Park in Lowell. Yet at the same time, it somehow also feels like a lifetime ago.
2021 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
The Tigers are one of the teams that will “what if” when it comes to the 2019 season, as they were set to have eight starters back to try and defend their first-ever state championship. Now for the 2021 season, there is just one Tiger starter back from that regular season. That is senior pitcher/infielder Danny MacDougall, who will anchor the pitching staff and also return to his shortstop position. Ty Cali, who took over for MacDougall after an injury sidelined him for the postseason, is also back to give Taunton a solid 1-2 punch up the middle of the field. Cali can also slide over and play short when MacDougall, who is committed to playing at the University of Hartford next year, is on the mound.
Sophomore Ryan MacDougall is set to finally make his varsity debut this year. A verbal commit to the University of Dayton, Ryan MacDougall was on the playoff roster for the state championship team as an eighth-grader. Not only does he bring a big bat and power to the lineup, head coach Blair Bourque described his plate discipline as “well beyond his years.” If the Tigers want to compete at a high level, Bourque noted the importance of senior pitchers Conor Quinlan, Bretton Heggs, and Matthew Ferrara. In total, Taunton boasts a dozen seniors on the roster.
“My expectation for this season is for us to compete as a team and individually every day as best we can, but ultimately, I will be grateful I get to spend time on the field with my players,” Bourque said. “It is always about the relationships formed with your players throughout the course of a year, you don’t always appreciate how good you have it until it’s gone. Losing last season really made me appreciate my role as the head coach for the Taunton High baseball program.”
Mansfield can’t defend its D2 state title, but the Hornets will be looking to bring home a third straight league title when the new Fall II season kicks off. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
Outlook:
Attleboro was able to incorporate a number of underclassmen last season and will be hoping that experience pays off with the junior class being asked to step up all across the field this season, as the Bombardiers look to challenge the top teams in the Kelley-Rex.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
Size won’t be an issue for Attleboro and the offensive line should be a strength this season led by junior tackles Chris Leonardo (6’3, 275 pounds) and Alvin Harrison (6’3, 255) along with seniors Trainor Sherck and Ryan Grover and junior Adam Struminski. The Bombardiers are going to use that line a lot this season with new quarterback Blake Garzaro, who saw some action as a sophomore, handing the ball off frequently to junior Kaiden Murray, who looks poised for a breakout season, and bruising fullback Michael Strachan. Junior Freddy Wheaton is another physical back who will get touches this year. In the passing game, Garzaro can look for 6’4 tight end Christian Dame, who leads a largely new cast of receivers.
The strengths on offense should mirror the strengths for Attleboro’s defense as well. Leonardo, Dame, and Harrison will be the core of the defensive line with junior Isaac Pereira another big body that will be tough for opposing teams to run against. Strachan leads the linebacking corps. The URI-commit is the program’s all-time leading tackler and he’s a four-year varsity player. Wheaton will join Strachan at inside linebacker and Sherck and Ryan Betts will be on the outside. The secondary will have several new faces, but Murray is a tough tackler at free safety and William Runey will be one of the more experienced cornerbacks on the roster.
Franklin is coming off an impressive run to the Div. 1 South final but the Panthers also graduated a host of important pieces from last year’s team, particularly at the skill positions, and will need some younger players to step in to stay competitive in the Kelley-Rex this season.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
Junior Jared Arone will step in at quarterback this season, hoping to have the same level of success running Franklin’s up-tempo style as Thomas Gasbarro did last year. Junior running back Mack Gulla got some time in the backfield last season but will be getting the bulk of the touches this year. A new receiving corps will also have to learn on the job, including senior Jake O’Brien and junior Shane Kindred, and junior tight end Jonathan Martins, but there is potential for this to be an explosive group. Seniors Brady Duncan and Vincent Lackey will be counted on to provide leadership on the offensive line. The consistency of senior kicker Parker Cheuvront will be a huge boost to a Franklin offense that may have some growing pains early in the season.
Defensively, the Panthers return several players and will rely on that experience to combat the top offenses in the league and to allow time for the younger players to get up to speed. Seniors Xander Honor and Dan Cormier will spearhead the defense from their linebacker positions, while seniors Anthony Quintina and Lackey are stout in the middle of the line. Martins will be a force at defensive end and Griffin is a playmaker at safety.
“We need to focus on getting better every day,” said Franklin coach Eain Bain. “Appreciate, and focus on, the here and now. Don’t look ahead or behind, but stay in tuned to the task at hand. And always, Row the Boat.”
Outlook:
This is an atypical season in so many ways, not least of all because King Philip, one of the perennial powers in the Kelley-Rex, is going through a transition. The Warriors will have a lot of new faces this year, using a number of underclassmen who will have to quickly learn the KP style of play through a tough slate of divisional games.
KP returns only two starters on offense from last year’s team that reached the D2 South semifinal. Senior guard Pat Zarba and junior tight end Drew Danson will be the lone holdovers, although several other players did see action at times. Junior Crawford Cantave filled in for an injured Ryan Halliday at running back last year and has the potential to be next in a long line of standout backs at KP. Mike Malatesta will also be in the backfield at fullback and sophomore Ryan Gately is a newcomer to keep an eye on. Junior Charlie Grant is set to be the new quarterback and will have Danson, senior Michael Zagrodney, and junior Nick Viscusi as targets in the passing game. Senior Kevin Pierro will be the center to add some experience to what is otherwise a largely new group on the line.
Defense has always been a priority for KP and this year’s group has a lot of players who will be learning on the job. Zarba and Danson will be on the defensive line, along with junior Hunter Hastings and senior Harry Brown. Malatesta and Gately will be joined by junior Jake Sullivan at linebacker. The secondary is young but has some experience, as Cantave and Viscusi both are coming off strong sophomore seasons at safety.
“I am hoping that our weakness (inexperience and lack of seniors) will be a strength in the fall as we are forced to play a lot of juniors and sophomores now,” said KP coach Brian Lee. “I’m also worried about injuries, as we have not been in our weight room in a year.”
Outlook:
It has been 15 months since Mansfield rolled to a D2 state title at Gillette Stadium and the Hornets are excited to get back on the field, searching for a third straight league title and looking forward to a 90th anniversary game against Foxboro at Alumni Field to close out the season.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
While Mansfield graduated a number of key players from last year’s state championship-winning team, the Hornets return plenty of offensive firepower, especially in the backfield. Senior Cincere Gill will be the focus after racking up nearly 1,000 rushing yards last season, but he will get plenty of help from classmates Anthony Comer and Nico Holmes and newcomer sophomore Rocco Scarpellini. In addition, the Hornets will have Matt Boen and Nick Bertolino back at receiver and Everett Knowlton returns at tight end. Juniors Jake Wall and Dana Johnson will add to the depth in the passing game. The offensive line should be a strength for Mansfield this season with three returning starters, seniors TJ Guy and Jake McCoy and junior Joe Forte. Juniors Jimmy Gilleran and Braedon Veno will fill out the rest of the line.
The Hornets were dominant on defense last season and they remain solid on that side of the ball, particularly in the front seven. With Guy on the end and junior Mark DeGirolamo and McCoy in the interior of the defensive line, Mansfield will be stout up front. Holmes is a standout at linebacker and senior Sean Weber will be a player to watch in his outside linebacker position. The secondary has depth with a handful of players fighting for three defensive back spots.
“Toughest part is mentally, everything’s backward with the weather – feels like November and the end of a typical season, but it’s pre-season,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. “Just hoping Friday nights under the lights feel the same once games get going and it feels like we’re starting to finally get into a groove with execution. We’re all thankful to be playing and trying to enjoy every day we can go out and be a team.”
Outlook:
There are a lot of changes at Milford this season, with a new coaching staff taking over and the Hawks making the switch to the Kelley-Rex for the first time, but there is a lot of experience on the field to make that transition with nine starters returning on both sides of the ball.
One of the biggest changes for Milford will be under center, as Brady Olson takes over following his transfer from Bishop Feehan. The UMass-commit will have plenty of targets to aim for, as Milford returns arguably the deepest group of receivers in the league led by seniors Carter Scudo, Max Martin, and Matt Varteresian. They combine deep threat potential with the willingness to make the tough catches in traffic. Up front, Sean Murray and Nick Yohn will lead the protection for Olson and try to open up lanes for a new crop of running backs.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
Experience will be a strength on the defensive side of the ball as well. Dom Schofield highlights a tough defensive line. Another of the team’s UMass commits, Schofield will be a force at the defensive end position, while Mario Lee and Josh Kravets return in the heart of the line. Milford lost a couple of standout linebackers from last year’s squad, Luke Rosa and CJ Cerrella, but Kevin O’Connor and Angelo Romero are playmakers who should be ready for breakout seasons. Grant Scudo and Evan Hazard are back in what should be a strong secondary for the Hawks.
“I have a strong senior class that has played a ton of football and we’ll lean on them to help us compete in the Hock large this year,” said new Milford coach Dale Olson.
Outlook:
With 10 returning starters and 18 returning lettermen, Taunton will be relying on its senior leadership to stay competitive against what has the potential to be a daunting Kelley-Rex division schedule.
The Tigers have plenty of athleticism on both sides of the ball and also versatile players who can line up in multiple positions, making it difficult for opponents to match up. Senior Danny MacDougall moves under center this season, although he has also lined up at receiver in the past. Seniors Josh Lopes and Bretton Heggs give Taunton a pair of dangerous backs, while Trent Santos, Kedrick Santos, Nigel Choate, and Nolan Tomaszycki are weapons in the passing game. Senior Nathan Arieta, at 6-foot-5, is a big target at tight end. Seniors Tommy Ambrose and Jorden Manning are two returning starters on the offensive line. The depth on the line will be tested, as Taunton has several underclassmen with the size to step in but not a lot of experience.
Defensively, Taunton relies on its quickness and athleticism, but also has plenty of size up front. Ambrose, Manning, and Arieta will all play on the defensive line, along with classmate Deandre McPhail and junior Faisal Mass. Lopes, Kedrick Santos, Caleb Nicholson, and Evan Perrotta have experience in the linebacking corps. The secondary is filled with playmakers, including Trent Santos, MacDougall, Heggs, Tomaszycki, and Choate.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
