Cooper Johnson celebrates after sliding into third. He would come home on a groundout, scoring the first run in Attleboro’s tournament win over Doherty. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – For the second time in two innings, Attleboro saw a one-run slip away. In the top of the fifth of Thursday afternoon’s Div. 1 preliminary round game at Drummond St. Field, Doherty responded to the Bombardiers going in front by scoring immediately. With two outs and the go-ahead run just 90 feet away, Attleboro’s Jonny Pagano struck out Ryan Flanagan for the second time to escape the jam.
It proved to be a momentum-shifting moment. With the game still tied, Attleboro came up in the bottom half of the inning and scored three times to take control of the game. The Bombardiers would add another in the sixth to pull out a 6-2 victory. Pagano spun a gem, going 6-1/3 innings, allowing only two hits and striking out seven.
“He pitched great, the kids fought, we got some bunts down, we did the little things that we needed to do, and just had a great game all around,” said Attleboro coach Steve Dunlea. “Jonny got us out of a couple of situations where we had the lead and then they fought back and there were guys in scoring position and he really just got tough and was able to get us out of those innings.”
Pagano came out firing for the hosts, striking out the first two batters he faced. Although he hit Cameron Early to put a runner on, Pagano induced a pop up to Cooper Johnson at short to end the first. Brody McKenna went on a long run to grab a pop up in foul territory and Andrew Gorman snared a hard-hit liner at first to make quick work of the second as well.
In the bottom of the second, the Bombardiers struck first. Johnson hit a high fly to right that wasn’t handled, turning into a three-base error and the leadoff runner at third. After a scary moment, when catcher Aiden Hochwarter was hit in the face by a pitch (Owen Parker came in as a courtesy runner but Hochwarter remained in the game), Danny Johnson hustled to beat out a double play and allow the run to score.
Jack Hale stole momentum back with a lead-off, ground-rule double to left to start the third. A sac bunt moved Hale to third and he scored on a pitch that got away and went to the backstop. With a runner in scoring position, Pagano got a fly ball to right and a grounder to third, with Gorman making sure of the final out with a nice pick at first.
After Pagano breezed through the top of the fourth with a pair of strikeouts, Attleboro regained the lead. Matt Harvie smacked one past the bag at third and, with aggressive base-running, turned it into a double. He continued his aggression by taking third on a fly ball to left-center. With two outs Hochwarter was hit by a pitch again. Parker and Harvie executed a double steal and the Bombardiers went in front 2-1.
With one out in the fifth, Hale was nearly caught stealing at second but the ball came loose before the tag. Nigel Cross followed with Doherty’s second hit, lacing a single to center that brought in the run. Boris Valdez reached on a fielder’s choice, when Cross was caught in a rundown between second and third, and stole two bases to get to third, but Pagano came up with a big pitch to end the threat.
Gorman gave Attleboro a lift at the plate, lining a single to left to start the bottom half of the inning. With the pinch runner on second, Jacob Bettencourt pushed a bunt down the first base line and was able to get to the uncovered bag to put two runners on. McKenna put the hosts back in front with a sac fly to center.
Attleboro continued to come through with two outs. First Harvie and then Cooper Johnson followed with singles to bring in two more runs and make it 5-2.
Dunlea joked, We tend to wait around a little bit and then we score later in the game. It keeps the fans interested.” He praised his team’s ability to produce with two outs (four of the six runs), “There were a lot of times early in the season where we were leaving a lot of guys on base, so to even with two outs get those guys across the plate is huge.”
Pagano made sure not to give any life back to Doherty with a clean top of the sixth, including his sixth strikeout. Hochwarter, who not only got hit by a pitch twice but was also stung by a foul ball, opened the bottom half by beating out a grounder deep in the hole at short and advancing to second on a wild pitch.
“He’s the iron man,” Dunlea said when asked about Hochwarter. “There’s only two innings he hasn’t caught this season and he’s got a bloody lip and bruises all over his leg, sweating up a storm, but he loves it. He was born to be a catcher.”
Danny Johnson got on behind Hochwarter and both moved up on a sac bunt by Gorman. With two outs, freshman Ryan Landry went to the opposite field, serving a single out to shallow left to bring in an insurance run for the Bombardiers.
Pagano came back out for the seventh and promptly got his seventh strikeout of the day before Dunlea turned to his bullpen.
“He was mad at me when I took him out at the end but it’s 100 [degrees] on the turf,” Dunlea said about Pagano. “He’s come around as a big game pitcher for us. The moment doesn’t seem to faze him, he’s just staying calm and doing what he needs to do. I’m really impressed with his learning how to pitch.”
Jackson Huntington had to pitch around a couple of defensive miscues that put two on for the visitors, but he got off the mound well on a slow roller up the line to finish off Doherty and send Attleboro to the Round of 32.
“This team really fought this season,” Dunlea said when asked about what it meant for the Bombardiers to have an opportunity to play in the state tournament, after narrowly missing out last spring. “The kids halfway through the season realized, ‘Hey, we’re a good team,’ and that’s huge. Once you have the confidence, then you can go from there.”
Attleboro (10-11) will face No. 4 Central Catholic in the next round. The game will be Sunday afternoon at Northern Essex Community College.
Baseball
North Attleboro, 5 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – North Attleboro senior Jordan Paradis had a strong start on the bump and the Rocketeers produced enough runs offensively to secure a 5-2 rivalry win at Attleboro. Paradis allowed just two runs on two hits and three walks, striking out 10 in five innings for the win; sophomore Gio Martello tossed two scoreless innings in relief for the save. The Rocketeers took the lead in the top of the first inning and never surrendered it against the Bombardiers. Derek Maceda lined a two-run double to give the visitors the lead in the top half before Attleboro got on the board in the bottom half on an RBI double from Aiden Hochwarter. North extended its lead in the top of the fourth on Paradis’ RBI triple and an RBI single from Martello to make it 4-1. Ayden Delaney added a sacrifice fly for North while Casey Victorio drove in a run for the Bombardiers in the fifth.
King Philip, 9 @ Canton, 2 – Final – KP exploded for seven runs in the top of the second and never looked back, rolling to its fourth win in a row. Brendan Sencaj blasted a grand slam to lead the KP attack at the plate. Matthew Kelley continued his strong work with the bat, going 4-for-4 and scoring three runs. Cam Hasenfus went six innings and allowed two earned runs to pick up the win, while Nate Pennini stepped in to pitch a scoreless seventh. Matt Chafin had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs, while Andrew Gillis reached base three times and scored once. Griffin Hughes had a strong relief outing, going five innings and allowing two runs.
Franklin @ Mansfield – Postponed to Saturday, 5/6 at 4:00.
Foxboro, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames plated all four of its runs in the bottom of the first inning and Katie Melendy and the Tigers’ defense took care of the rest to land a key 4-3 win over division rival Foxboro. It was the visiting Warriors that struck first when sophomore Natalia Leach smacked a solo home run to center field to present Foxboro an early 1-0 lead. OA responded in the bottom half with all four of its runs; Maddie Homer led off with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI single from Devon Morris to tie the game. Melendy singled and two at-bats later, Erin Martin singled and Melendy came home on an error. A double from Katherine Farley plated one more run and Samantha Johnson followed with another RBI double to make it 4-1 in favor of the Tigers. Foxboro cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth on a single from freshman Mia Flanagan that scored two runs but Melendy got the third out in the inning to strand the tying run at second. Foxboro got the tying run to second in the top of the seventh as well but Melendy got back-to-back outs to secure the win. Melendy earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and five walks, striking out five in a complete game effort. Vittoria Cuscia pitched well for Foxboro, scattering seven hits and three walks for four runs, striking out four in six innings.
Stoughton, 11 @ Milford, 16 – Final – Milford pounded out 18 hits to the tune of a 16-11 win over visiting Stoughton, securing its third win in the last five contests. Although the Black Knights jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first (highlighted by RBIs from Alyssa Edwards, Camryn Whitman, and Caitlin Driscoll), Milford’s Olivia Baglione led off the bottom half with a solo home run and the Scarlet Hawks were off and running offensively. Milford ended up pushing across five runs in the first and three more in the second to get the lead; Stoughton rallied for three runs in each the fifth and sixth but the Hawks answered with seven combined runs in the same two innings. Junior Maeve Driscoll had a team-high four hits and knocked in one run, Baglione (two RBI, two runs), Cae Pellegrini (four runs) and Maeve Williams (four RBI, three runs) each added three hits, and Jianna Fernandes (four RBI, run) had two hits. Edwards went 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple, five RBI and four runs to lead the Black Knights while Anna Hobbs and Kerry Driscoll each had two hits.
Boys Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 10 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final
Canton, 8 @ Foxboro, 12 – Final – Foxboro used a dominant first half to land a key win over division rival Canton. The Warriors poured in eight goals in the opening half and played great defense to limit the visiting Bulldogs to just one goal for an 8-1 edge at the break. Conor Noone led the charge offensively, scoring six goals with one assist while Tony Sulham added a hat trick in the win. Ryan Cotter, Jon Sacchetti, and Mikey McCabe each added one goal while Finn Stapleton had an outstanding defensive game for the Warriors. Adam Addeche made 14 saves in net to keep Foxboro ahead.
Franklin, 19 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Luke Davis continued to dominate offensively and Franklin ran away with a big win on the road at Mansfield. Davis had eight goals and three assists, all in the first three quarters, while Jayden Consigli added six goals and two helpers and Tyler Sacchetti chipped in with four goals and three assists for the Panthers, which built a double-digit (13-3) lead by halftime. Drew Hansen added two assists and Justin Alexander (one assist) went 16-for-22 at the face-off X. Ryan DeGirolamo made 20 saves in net for the host Hornets and Drew Sacco led the team offensively with three goals and an assist. Cody Gordon and Andrew DeGirolamo each added one goal, and Andrew Burnham and Nico Smith each had two assists.
Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 20 – Final
Oliver Ames, 12 @ Milford, 11 – Final (OT) – Ben Reardon’s second goal of the game delivered a walk off win for Oliver Ames as the Tigers dispatched Milford in overtime. The Scarlet Hawks and visiting OA were tied 11-11 at the end of regulation but Reardon found the back of the net for the second time to hand the Tigers the dramatic win. Shaun Teehan and Alex McAndrew had big performances for OA with each scoring three goals while Jake Manthous, Ryan Jaco, and Victor Romeiro each scored once. Noah Iselib made 12 saves in the win.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 19 @ North Attleboro, 10 – Final – Locked in a tight battle at halftime, Attleboro erupted for 11 second half goals to run away with a big win on the road at rival North Attleboro. The Bombardiers had a balanced attack offensively with sophomore Isabella Cavallini (two assists) scoring a team-high five goals while junior Molly Moore (three assists), junior Addison Papagolos, and freshman Amelia Collins each scored four goals in the win; senior Gabriela Sprovieri and freshman Mekenah Stokes each added one goal in the win. Jordan Mooney added four assists while Papagolos (six) and Cavallini (nine) did well on the draw. Peyton McAuliffe made 11 saves in the win for Attleboro.
Foxboro, 17 @ Canton, 8 – Final – After a back-and-forth first half, Foxboro’s balanced offensive attack proved to be too much as the Warriors found the back of the net 10 times in the second half to pull away from Canton in a key division battle. Senior Paige Curran spearheaded the Warriors’ attack with six goals and three assists while Mya Waryas added five goals and four assists and Val Beigel had four goals — including the 100th of her career — and one assist in the win. Cate Noone chipped in with one goal and three assists, Addie Riley scored once, and Mary Collins notched an assist. Devan Spinale led the Bulldogs with four goals, Emily McCabe chipped in with two goals, and Nora Giannacopoulos and Shannon McGrann both had one goal. Ashley Balunas made six saves in net for the Bulldogs.
Mansfield, 3 @ Franklin, 18 – Final – Franklin senior Kaitlyn Carney hit a big milestone in the win, recording her 200th career point. Grace Nesbit added her first goal of the season for the Panthers. Brooke Butler had a goal and an assist, while Ava Adam and Lola Varricchione each scored once for the Hornets. Caitlyn Zajac made five stops in goal for the visitors.
King Philip, 20 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – KP had 18 different players find the back of the net, as they made it back-to-back wins. Makenzie McDevitt scored once and had a pair of assists, recording the 100th point of her career. Maggie Sweeney, Ashleigh Whitbread, Sierra King, Isabelle Taylor, Katie McGann, Mara Boldy, Halle LeBlanc, and Faith Garvey all scored their first varsity goals in the win. Cali Melo scored for Taunton on an assist from Caroline Vallarelli.
Milford @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Thursday, 5/4 at 4:00.
Sharon, 9 @ Stoughton, 8 – Final – Sharon edged Stoughton to pick up its second win in the past four games and deny the Black Knights their first win as a varsity program. Amanda Reid was the top scorer for the hosts with five goals, and also pulled down three draw controls. Casey Groppi dished out five assists, while Morgan Groppi and Nicole Reid each scored once. Jordan Coleman made 13 saves in the loss.
Boys Tennis
Canton, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Canton freshman Bharat Ramanathan overcame a one-set deficit and a three-game deficit in the second set to earn the clinching win at second singles for the Bulldogs. Ramanathan rallied from a 2-5 deficit to get the win and followed with a 12-10 third-set tiebreaker win to clinch the match. Max Kupferman continued his dominance at the first singles with a 6-0, 6-1, and Canton’s second doubles team of Drew Garrett and Matt Weaver earned a 6-1, 7-5 victory. Foxboro’s Ryan Fossella and Evan Paluzzi took a point at first doubles with a 6-1, 6-2 verdict and sophomore Luca Meyer earned a 6-2, 6-2 win at third singles for the Warriors.
Taunton, 5 @ New Bedford, 0 – Final – Taunton went on the road and returned home from the Whaling City with five wins — all in straight sets — to sink host New Bedford. Mike Kimmer emerged from a competitive first singles match with a 6-4, 6-1 win, Martin Frankimet dropped just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 second singles win, and Heitor Sens rolled to a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. In doubles action, Collin Lofgren and Derek Desseault teamed up and lost just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 victory at first doubles while the pairing of Kenny Dias and Rowan Kimmer dominated to the tune of a 6-2, 6-0 win at second doubles.
Sharon, 5 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – In a battle of division leaders, Sharon repped the Davenport with a clean sweep by taking all five matches in straight sets. Sophomore Jacob Slavsky bounced back with a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles, junior Matthew Lally prevailed 6-1, 6-2 at second singles, and sophomore Alex Budovalcev continued his impressive sophomore season with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 showing at third singles for the Eagles. Sophomores Sava Kassev and Joel Zwicker emerged from a tough test at first doubles with a 6-2, 7-5 win, and the team of senior Kevin Li and sophomore Sujun Zhao took a 6-2, 6-1 victory at second doubles.
Stoughton, 2 @ Milford, 3 – Final
Girls Tennis
Foxboro, 4 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Foxboro took a pair of wins from both singles and doubles actions to earn a 4-1 verdict over host Canton. Hailey Kornbluth (6-0, 6-1) and Makayla Peck (6-2, 6-4) each wins at first and second singles, respectively, while the teams of Emily Stow and Katelynn Dineen (7-5, 6-7 (5), 10-7), and Abby Grace and Arianna Urman (6-4, 6-3) swept doubles play for the Warriors. Canton’s Katherine Powers was victorious at third singles, taking a 6-1, 6-2 win.
Taunton, 4 vs. New Bedford, 1 – Final
Attleboro, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon earned its 10th straight win to start the season, taking a clean sweep over visiting Attleboro. Sophomore Judy Song dropped just two games en route to a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles, junior Navya Shukla added a 6-2, 6-1 win at second singles, and senior Abby Vilk completed the singles sweep with a 6-2, 4-0 (default) win at third singles. The team of sophomore Alina Hou and Olivia Landstein earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at first doubles for the Eagles, and the second doubles pairing of Grace Zhang and Emma Gershun prevailed 7-6 (5), 6-1.
Milford, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Milford sophomore Mallory Brickley erased a one-set deficit to secure a win at third singles and clinch the win for the visiting Scarlet Hawks. Brickley dropped a tight first set but then won two in a row for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win. Milford also got wins from the sophomore first doubles pairing of Ava Merrill and Lily Bogonis (6-2, 6-1) and the second doubles team of sophomores Audrey Brannigan and Paige Caldon (6-3, 7-5). Ally Lada earned a 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 comeback win at first singles and senior Nadia Prokopiuk rallied for a 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 win at second singles for the Black Knights.
Boys Outdoor Track
Foxboro, 53 @ Stoughton, 83 – Final
Girls Outdoor Track
Foxboro, 34 @ Stoughton, 85 – Final
Boys Volleyball
King Philip, 0 @ Medfield, 3 – Final
Milford, 3 vs. Minnechaug, 0 – Final
Baseball
Sharon, 1 @ Attleboro, 11 – Final – Attleboro earned its second win in as many days, plating four runs in each the third and fourth innings to pull away from Sharon. Senior Sean O’Hara was masterful on the mound, delivering four strong innings with just one run allowed on five hits and no walks while striking out three. Jackson Huntington added two strikeouts in a scoreless inning of relief. Offensively, freshman Ryan Landry had a big outing as he smacked an inside-the-park home for his first career hit; he finished the day going 3-for-3 with five RBI and a run scored. Cooper Johnson also had a big day with two hits, including a triple, and two RBI and three runs scored, and Aiden Hochwarter, Danny Johnson, and Jacob Bettencourt each added one RBI. Harry Librot (RBI), Drew Yaffe, Cole Arundale, and Seth Bonner each had a hit for the Eagles.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Taunton, 15 – Final (5 inn.) – Taunton exploded out of the gate with six first-inning runs and never looked back to beat Oliver Ames, who was the home team on the Taunton High turf. Dawson Bryce started the scoring with a two-run single, Dwayne Burgo brought in another run with a bae hit, and Sean Murphy cleared the bases with a three-run triple to hand Taunton a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Taunton added another run in the second, five more in the third, and three in the fifth. Burgo finished 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, Murphy (three RBI, one run) and Brayden Cali (two runs) each had two hits, and senior Ryan MacDougall added a double and three RBI. Peter Moor allowed only two hits and one walk, striking out four in four scoreless innings and Brady Morin tossed a scoreless inning in relief.
King Philip @ Canton –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Foxboro –Postponed to 5/5 at 4:45.
Franklin @ Mansfield –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 4:30.
Softball
Sharon, 3 @ Attleboro, 16 – Final (5 inn.) – For Sharon, Ally Foulsham had two RBI and Natalie David stole home, and Manasa Josyula had five strikeouts.
Canton @ King Philip –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/17 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ North Attleboro –Postponed to Thursday, 5/25 at 4:00.
Mansfield @ Franklin –Postponed to TBD.
Stoughton @ Milford –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ Taunton –Postponed to Tuesday, 5/9 at 7:00.
Boys Tennis
Sharon @ Attleboro –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Canton @ King Philip –Postponed to 5/5 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ North Attleboro –Postponed to TBD.
Mansfield @ Franklin –Postponed to Monday, 5/15 at 3:45.
Stoughton @ Milford –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ Taunton –Postponed to Thursday, 5/11 at 3:45.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro @ Sharon –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
King Philip @ Canton –Postponed to 5/5 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Foxboro –Postponed to TBD.
Franklin @ Mansfield –Postponed to Monday, 5/15 at 3:45.
Milford @ Stoughton –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 4:00.
Taunton @ Oliver Ames –Postponed to Tuesday, 5/9 at 3:45.
Boys Outdoor Track
King Philip @ Attleboro, 3:45
Sharon, 89 @ Canton, 43 – Final – Dan Krasylnykov, Mo Arugollu, and Ruairi Ritson all contributed key points for Canton in a loss to Sharon. Krasylnykov was a double-winner, taking first in both the 400M (52.9) and the 200M (23.7), Arugollo won the 400M hurdles (65.3) and was third in the triple jump, and Ritson added points by winning the shot put (37’4″), finishing second in the discus, and taking third in the 400M hurdles. Sam Vail added a win in the 110M hurdles (18.9) and Mark McDonough had a winning throw of 114’11” in the javelin. Christian Hanlon had a strong showing with second place finishes in both the 100M (11.6) and the long jump (18’4″), and Kareem Porter recorded his varsity points with a third place finish in the shot put.
Mansfield, 63 @ Oliver Ames, 73 – Final
Taunton @ North Attleboro, 4:30
Foxboro @ Stoughton –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Franklin @ Milford –Postponed to Tuesday, 5/16 at 4:15.
Girls Outdoor Track
King Philip @ Attleboro, 3:45
Sharon, 54 @ Canton, 82 – Final – Canton dominated the throwing events to score a win over visiting Sharon. The Bulldogs swept the shot put (Emma Massih, Jess Brathwaite, Jocanda Cabral), the javelin (Luran Slotnick, Cabral, Rose Giglio), and the discus (massih, Slotnick, Bridget Feeney) in the win. Katie Oliver was a double-winner for the Bulldogs, taking first in both the long jump (16’10.5″) and the triple jump (33’6″).
Mansfield, 82 @ Oliver Ames, 53 – Final
Taunton @ North Attleboro, 4:30
Foxboro @ Stoughton –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Franklin @ Milford –Postponed to Tuesday, 5/16 at 4:15.
Baseball
Foxboro, 6 @ Attleboro, 7 – Final – Attleboro capped a big comeback with a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun visiting Foxboro. After the teams traded runs in the first inning, the Warriors pushed across five runs in a big third inning to take command of the game. The Bombardiers responded with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to pull level, setting the stage for junior Brody McKenna’s single up the middle to bring the game-winning run home in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Andrew Gorman battled through a tough at bat to lead off with a walk, and pinch runner Jacob Bettencourt moved to second on a single from senior Cooper Johnson. McKenna sent the 1-1 pitch up the middle and Bettencourt raced around third and to home to win the game. Attleboro senior Owen Lombardo was the star of the game with a stellar relief appearance, taking over to start the third inning. He scattered four hits — a pair of singles in the third, a one-out double the fourth, and a two-out triple in the sixth — and didn’t walk a single batter, striking out two in five scoreless innings. Peter DelPozzo, Aiden Hochwarter, and Matt Harvie each added a hit and an RBI for the Bombariders. Foxboro’s Sean O’Leary had two hits and both Louis Carangelo and Mat Sullivan drove in a pair of runs.
Canton @ Franklin – Postponed
Sharon, 2 @ King Philip, 6 – Final – The Warriors did most of their damage offensively in the early innings and juniors Max Robison and TJ Ahern combined for a strong outing on the bump as King Philip took down visiting Sharon. The Eagles scored first after three consecutive singles from Palash Raina, Jake Loomis, and Liam Conway — the latter scoring the former. But the lead didn’t last long as KP scored three times in the bottom of the first and twice more in the bottom of the second to take control of the game. Brendan Sencaj had an RBI single to score Robison to get KP on the board, Matt Kelley (walk) scored on a wild pitch, and Rudy Gately brought a run home on a ground out. Walks to Tommy Martorano and Kelley set up Sencaj to reach on an error and bring both runs home to make it 5-1. Robison earned the win on the mound, allowing one run on three hits and two walks, striking out six in just three innings. Ahern came on and tossed four innings in relief, surrendering just one unearned run with no hits against, two walks, and two strikeouts. Conway pitched well in relief for the Eagles, giving up just one hit and four walks, allowing three runs (none earned) and three strikeouts in five innings.
Mansfield @ Milford – Postponed
Oliver Ames, 6 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up one of its best wins of the season, going on the road and returning home with a 6-4 verdict over North Attleboro; it marked the Tigers’ fourth win in the past five games. OA plated three runs in the third and never trailed from that point on, tacking on two insurance runs an inning later and one more in the sixth before escaping a seventh inning comeback bid from the Rocketeers. Harrison Fitzpatrick got things going for OA in the top of the third, smacking a two-out double to left. After Jack Morley walked, Patrick Finnerty had an RBI single to right and an error allowed Morley to score as well to make it 2-0. Sophomore Lucas Riley followed with a single to bring Finnerty home and extend the lead to 3-0. Matt Lawson and Fitzpatrick came through with RBIs in the fourth to make it 5-0 before North Attleboro answered with three runs in the bottom half. Nate Kelly reached on a two-out error, Gio Martello singled, and Chris Hanewich loaded the bases with a single. Ryan Bannon drew a walk to get one run home and an error allowed Ayden Delaney to reach and two more runs to come home to make it 5-3. Morley brought another run home with a bases loaded walk to give OA a key insurance run. Kelly had a one-out RBI single to score Derek Maceda to start North’s rally in the seventh, and Martello (error) and Hanewich (single) reached to load the bases. OA was able to get a pair of grounders to close it out and deny the comeback attempt. Riley earned the win for OA, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks, striking out four in four innings; Jake Willard was strong in relief as he gave up just one run on five hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts in three innings.
Stoughton, 0 @ Taunton, 9 – Final – Taunton sophomore Johnny Escobalez, junior Brady Morin, and senior Brady Boucher combined for a shutout while allowing just two total hits and one walk in a win over visiting Stoughton. Escobalez earned the win, giving up just one hit (a two-out single in the fifth) and one walk (to lead off the third) while striking out eight in five innings to get the win. Morin and Boucher (three strikeouts) each tossed a scoreless inning in relief. The Tigers had a big second inning by scoring four runs, adding five runs over the fourth, fifth, and sixth to pull away for good. Brayden Cali had a pair of hits, an RBI, and a run scored from the leadoff spot while Xavier Spencer, Braden Sullivan, Dawson Bryce, Ryan Keenan, and Andrew Cali (two RBI) each drove in a run for Taunton.
Softball
Attleboro, 8 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final
Franklin, 19 @ Canton, 1 – Final (5 Inn.) – Franklin scored 12 times in the second inning to run away with a big win, ending a four-game losing streak and getting back to .500 in league play. Caroline Bruno had a big game for the Panthers, going 5-for-5 and scoring three runs. She also pitched three innings before Sophia Sacramone took over for the final two. Katy Liberman and Dana Stott had four hits apiece, Reece Allen, Avery Chalk, Hailey Fales, Carly Pellegri-Johnson, Ava Florest, and Sarah Boozang all had three hits. Josie Drucker, Marley Allen, and Kiera Kotwicki each had two hits in the win.
King Philip, 17 @ Sharon, 0 – Final (5 Inn.) – King Philip sophomore Liv Petrillo and freshman Ali Gill each had a home run and a double, combining for eight RBI to lead the Warriors on the road. Gill finished with three hits, three runs, and five RBI while Petrillo had two hits, three RBI, and three runs scored. Libby Walsh added three hits and two runs, Ava Kelley drove in three runs, Jo Bennett, Charlotte Griffin, and Liv Ali each had two RBI, and Sydney Burch recorded a pair of hits and scored a pair of runs. Bennett earned the win for KP, allowing two htis and three walks, striking out three in 3.2 innings. Manasa Josyula pitched four innings for Sharon, recording five strikeouts.
Milford, 7 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Maeve Driscoll went the distance, allowing four hits and one earned run and striking out 14 Hornets to earn Milford’s fourth win of the season. The Hawks jumped out to a 5-0 lead with single runs in the first, second, and fourth, and a pair in the third. Mansfield scored in the fourth and sixth innings to cut the lead to three, but the Hawks added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to seal the victory. Cae Pellegrini stayed hot at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI. Camille Bonina also had two hits and scored once. Ava Baglione, Jianna Fernandes, Katelyn Kearnan, and Sarah Wengal each drove in a run for the Hawks. Callie Lake gave Mansfield a spark at the top of the order, scoring a pair of runs and hitting a solo homer. Avery Lake, Molly Crowley, and Molly Kucharski each had a hit for the Hornets.
Taunton, 10 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Taunton’s Molly Carnes, Bella Bourque, and Ava Venturelli each collected three hits and six different Tigers recorded an RBI in a win on the road at Stoughton. Both Carnes and Bourque went 3-for-4 at the dish with a pair of RBI while Venturelli drove in one run in the win. Hayley Krockta (one RBI), and Brooke Aldrich (three RBI) each added two hits in the win. Cate Larson pitched four innings with seven strikeouts and Sam Lincoln tossed three innings with seven strikeouts.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 7 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 8 – Final
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Attleboro’s second doubles team of Noem Cook and Clay Tyler prevailed in a tiebreaker in the second set to clinch a straight set win and the match, 3-2, for the Bombardiers. Cook and Tyler rolled in the first set but fought off a stiff challenge in the second to get the 6-0, 7-6 (5) win. Luke Hinton and Brady Rosen added a 6-3, 6-3 win at first doubles for the Bombardiers and Tyler Rocchio emerged with a good win at second doubles, 7-5, 6-0. Foxboro’s Raj Jetty won 7-6 (5), 6-2 at first singles and Ryan Fossella dropped just two games on his way to a 6-2, 6-0 third singles victory for the Warriors.
Franklin, 1 @ Canton, 4 – Final – After dropping the first two matches of the season, Canton has won five straight matches including Wednesday’s 4-1 verdict over visiting Franklin. The Bulldogs swept singles action with Max Kupferman dropping just two total games in a 6-2, 6-0 win, Bharat Ramanathan taking a 6-1, 6-2 decision at second singles, and Justin Ngan earning a 6-3, 6-1 win at third singles. The doubles team of senior Drew Garrett and freshman Matt Wright took a 6-2, 6-3 win at second doubles. Franklin’s Eric Tomaino and Aaron Ramaswamy emerged from first doubles with a 6-3, 6-4 decision.
King Philip, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Senior Hyojae Park and sophomore Joel Zwicker emerged from a great battle at first doubles with a straight set win, completing a 5-0 match sweep for the host Eagles. Park and Zwicker finished with a 6-4, 7-5 win, and Sharon’s second doubles team of senior Mihir Basil and sophomore Samarth Bedre took a 6-2, 6-4 verdict. Sophomore Jacob Slavsky only lost one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singes, Matthew Lally earned an impressive 6-1, 6-0 second singles win, and sophomore Sava Kassev prevailed 6-2, 6-1 at third singles.
Milford, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield took all five matches in straight sets to fend off a challenge from visiting Milford. Sophomore Neema Khosravani rolled in the first set and never looked back in a 6-0, 6-3 first singles win, junior Nikhil Nain only dropped one game in a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles, and senior Jesse Colchamiro also only lost one game on his way to a 6-1, 6-0 verdict at third singles. The team of sophomore Josh Weiner and freshman Justin Curtis picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win at first doubles, and the Hornets’ second doubles pairing of junior Jacob Weiner and freshman Kingston Carey rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 verdict.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames secured a win over visiting North Attleboro by taking two singles matches and one doubles to get the 3-2 win. Alex Efremidis emerged from a tough challenge at second doubles with a 7-6 (5), 6-1 verdict while Patrick Dolan battled to a 7-5, 6-2 victory at third singles for the Tigers. The team of sophomore Nick Wagner and freshman Brendan Teehan grabbed a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles to help secure the match for the hosts. North Attleboro senior Brody Carter earned a hard-fought 7-5, 6-2 win at first singles and the team of senior Brody Gaulin and junior Carson Dameron dropped just two games in a 6-0, 6-2 win.
Taunton, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Taunton went on the road and returned back home with a sweep of Stoughton. Mike Kimmer took a win at first singles, Martin Frankimet won at second singles, and Heitor Sens secured a 6-4, 6-0 win at third singles for the Tigers. The team of Collin Lofgren and Derek Desseault battled to a 6-2, 6-0 victory at first doubles, while Taunton’s second doubles pairing of Rowan Kimmer and Kenny Dias prevailed with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 win.
Girls Tennis
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final
Canton, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin’s doubles teams continue their strong play, earning a sweep, and the Panthers got one more win in singles action to upend visiting Canton. Sophomores Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen continued their impressive campaign with a 6-0, 6-3 win at first doubles and the senior pairing of Shriya Rajesh and Lexy Masters secured a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 win at second doubles. Junior Brooke Taylor only dropped two games on her way to a 6-0, 6-2 third singles victory. Canton’s Camila Cutter emerged with a 6-1, 6-3 win at first singles while Olivia Durham came out on top at second singles (6-3, 7-6 (2)) after a great battle at second singles.
Sharon, 5 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Sharon passed a good midseason test by winning four of the five matches in straight sets, taking a 5-0 sweep over King Philip. Judy Song prevailed from a tight first singles match featuring two of the top players in the league with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Ahunna James. Navya Shukla added an impressive 6-1, 6-0 second singles win and Ale Aguilar completed the singles sweep right a 6-3, 4-6, 10-6 win in a hard fought match at third singles. Sharon’s Abby Vilk and Jenny Sand added a 6-2, 6-3 first doubles win, and the pairing of senior Sophia Oh and sophomore Olivia Landstein returned home with a 6-1, 6-2 win from second doubles.
Mansfield, 2 @ Milford, 3 – Final – Milford won three singles matches to earn its first league win of the season. Serena Borges (6-4, 6-0), Kaylee Whitney (6-4, 6-1), and Mallory Brickley (6-4, 6-2) sealed the victory for the Hawks. Mansfield won both doubles matches, with Jill Hanley and Savannah Carey taking their match 6-2, 6-0 at first doubles and Rachel Goldman and Caroline Guravage winning in three sets at second doubles.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – A battle between two of the best in the league lived up to its billing as North Attleboro junior Lauren Hunt and OA sophomore Hannah Farber had a three-hour marathon of a match at first singles with the former eventually prevailing in a super tiebreaker. Hunt continued her impressive season with a 6-7 (1), 6-2, 10-3 comeback win to cap North’s 4-1 win over the Tigers. Sophomore Megan Atwood added a 6-3, 6-1 win at second singles and senior Grace Noreck only dropped one game in each get for a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of sophomores Liz Silva and Audrey Noreck emerged from a great match at first doubles with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 win. OA’s Marina Mierzwinski and Ella Mierzwinski prevailed 6-4, 7-5 in a close contest at second doubles.
Stoughton, 2 @ Taunton, 3 – Final– Taunton got wins at both doubles matches and one singles contest — all played by juniors — to edge out visiting Stoughton. Junior Morgan Smith had the lone singles win for the Tigers, taking a 6-3, 6-4 verdict at third singles, and Taunton also got wins from the first doubles team of Janelle Garcia and Courtney Martin (6-1, 6-1) as well as the second doubles team of Caroline Pietnik and Sam Parrett (6-2, 6-2). Stoughton’s Ally Lady only lost a pair of games in a 6-2, 6-0 first singles win, and senior Nadia Prokopiuk emerged from a back-and-forth battle at second singles with a 7-6 (3), 5-7, 10-7 win.
Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 1 vs. New Bedford, 3 – Final – Taunton opened with a win in the first set but New Bedford grabbed three straight tight sets to end up with the win, 3-1 (20-25, 28-26, 27-25, 27-25). Matt Freitas led the way offensive with a big 16-kill performance, adding nine digs and three aces while Erick Foster was strong at the net defensively with six blocks. Bradley Hylander anchored the defense with 11 digs, and both Ty Ekstrom and Daniel Freitas had 15 assists apiece.
Baseball
Attleboro, 11 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – Attleboro scored all of its runs in the final three innings, including a seven-run outburst in the sixth inning, to complete a comeback win on the road at Frothingham Park. The Tigers built their lead in the early innings as Jack Perron and Nick Ferrini scored in the second inning, Ian Kelly drove in Jack Morley (three hits) with an RBI single in the third, and Thomas Whiteside came home to score in the fourth for a 4-1 lead. Aiden Hochwarter’s second RBI of the game cut the deficit to two and Casey Victorio drew a bases loaded walk to get the visitors within a run after five innings. In the top of the sixth, Brody McKenna roped an RBI single to right to tie the game, Jackson Huntington continued his strong week with a two-run double, Matt Harvie singled in another Attleboro run, Danny Johnson brought in a run with a bases loaded walk, Harvie scored on a wild pitch, and Victorio scored when Cooper Johnson grounded into a fielder’s choice to push Attleboro’s lead to 10-4. Harvie scored Hochwarter (triple) in the top of the sixth to get Attleboro’s 11th. Patrick Finnerty had an RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh and scored on an RBI from Kelly, but the Tigers couldn’t cut into the deficit any further. Owen Lombardo and Ryan Landry each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Attleboro with the latter earning the win.
Softball
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Attleboro managed just one hit but it was enough as Lily Routhier tossed a complete game shutout and the Bombardiers held on against OA. The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the first inning as Sarah Maher reached on an error to lead off the inning. After stealing second, Maher took third after a fly ball was caught in right field. Routhier grounded out to second but it was enough to bring Maher home to make it 1-0. Routhier scattered five hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings, striking out six, and had just one runner reach third, but she induced a grounder back to the circle for the final out in the fifth inning. Katie Melendy pitched well for OA, giving up just the one hit and three walks, one unearned run, and struck out a pair.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 23 vs. Norton, 0 – Final
Foxboro, 5 vs. Cohasset, 14 – Final
Oliver Ames, 10 vs. Middleboro, 0 – Final – Behind a strong defensive performance, Oliver Ames pitched a shutout of visiting Middleboro. Noah Isleib made eight saves in net to earn the shutout while Jack Corey, Landon Grothe, Liam Dunlap, Lawrence Dear, and Bryce Deibel all played well defensively for the Tigers. Sophomore Shaun Teehan paced the offense with four goals while Ben Reardon and Ryan Jaco each scored twice in the win. Victor Romeiro and Grothe each added one goal for OA.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 18 @ Norton, 5 – Final
Foxboro, 9 @ Cohasset, 8 – Final (OT) – Foxboro’s Val Beigel capped a big performance with the game-winning goal with just under two minutes left in overtime to hand the Warriors a key early season win over perennial state power Cohasset. The Warriors had to climb out of an early 3-0 hole, cutting the deficit down to just one goal (4-3) at halftime. The Skippers stayed ahead for most of the second half but Foxboro continually came back to pull even. After the Warriors hit the post with just over a minute left, Cohasset did the same at the buzzer of regulation. In the extra period, Beigel cut in front of goal, took a nice pass and deposited her fifth goal of the game to give Foxboro the win. Paige Curran finished with two goals and two assists, Mary Collins (assist) and Addie Riley reach scored once, and Mya Waryas notched one helper. Sophomore Audrey Campbell made six saves in the win.
Milford, 10 vs. Norwood, 17 – Final – Milford rallied from an early five-goal deficit to get within one but the Hawks couldn’t get any closer in a non-league loss to Norwood. The Mustangs’ 5-0 lead dwindled to 8-7 but a quick three-goal spurt gave the visitors an 11-7 edge at halftime. Emily Croteau crossed the 100-point threshold with five goals and an assist to pace the Hawks’ offense. Carly Haley added two goals and three assists, TJ Downing scored twice, and Erin Michelson chipped in with a goal and an assist. Alexa Landry, Jordan Douglas, and Caitlyn Banger each had an assist for Milford.
Oliver Ames @ Middleboro – Postponed to TBD.
Boys Tennis
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Behind a sweep of singles action, Oliver Ames returned home with a close win over Attleboro. Nick Westerbeke overcome a one-set deficit to win two straight, clinching the victory with an 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at first singles. Alex Efremidas added a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles and Patrick Dolan secured a 6-3, 6-1 verdict at third singles for OA. Attleboro’s Luke Hinton and Brady Rosen notched a 6-0, 6-4 win at first doubles while the team of Clay Tyler and Noem Cook continued to play well with a hard-fought 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 win at second doubles.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames notched its second straight win and fourth overall on the season, taking down a shorthanded Attleboro squad at home. Hannah Farber continued her strong start to the year with a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles, Olivia Querzoli took a 6-1, 6-1 decision at second singles, and Stella Zacho emerged from her third singles match with a 7-5, 6-2 win. The Tigers added one more win from doubles action as Marina Mierzwinski and Ella Mierzwinski secured a 6-4, 6-1 win at first doubles. Attleboro’s Caroline Lynch-Bartek and Jenny Morin made their varsity debuts with a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win at second doubles.
Baseball
Stoughton, 0 @ Attleboro, 15 – Final (5 Inn.) – Attleboro’s offense exploded for 16 hits and 15 runs to secure its first win of the season against visiting Stoughton. Peter DelPozzo had an RBI single in the second at-bat of the game, scoring Brody McKenna (double) and the Bombardiers never looked back from there. Both DelPozzo (three RBI, three runs) and McKenna (four RBI, two runs) each finished with three hits while Aiden Hochwarter (two RBI), Ran Martin (two RBI, run), and Jackson Huntington (two runs) each had two hits apiece. Matt Harvie earned the win for the Bombardiers, allowing one hit and four walks in 3.1 innings of work, stirking out seven. Ryan Landry (0.2 IP) and Braxton Levin (1.0 IP) both pitched well in relief.
Canton, 0 @ Taunton, 11 – Final (5 Inn.) – Taunton jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first inning and Peter Moor had a strong performance on the mound to lead the Tigers past Canton. AJ Lewis had a bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the first inning to give the host an early lead. Dawson Bryce led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run and Dwayne Burgo roped a two-run double to left field as Taunton doubled its lead to 6-0 after three innings. Brayden Cali led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple and both him and Bryce scored on a one-out single from Shawn Cali. Brady Boucher reached on an error and three runs scored to cap the scoring. Moor allowed just two hits in four scoreless innings on the mound, striking out four in the win. Brady Morin tossed a scoreless inning in relief for Taunton. Jack Digirolamo and Matt Lesser each had a hit for Canton.
Foxboro, 0 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Franklin senior Alfred Mucciarone had his second straight stellar start on the mound for the Panthers with a complete game shutout in a win over visiting Foxboro. Mucciarone a strong Warrior offense to just two hits (both singles) and one walk, striking out double-digit (10) batters for the second straight game. Offensively, Franklin built its lead over the course of the game with single runs in the first (two-out infield RBI single from Henry Digiorgio to score Jase lyons), third (Lyons RBI single to score Luke Sidwell), and fourth (Sidwell bases-loaded walk), before extended its lead with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth (Eisgi Chin RBI double, Lyons sac fly). Louis Carangelo and Mike Marcucella each had a hit for Foxboro.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ King Philip, 10 – Final (5 inn.) – After a scoreless first inning, King Philip plated at least a run in four straight including a big five-run fifth inning to end the game. Seven different Warriors recorded a hit, including two apiece from Max Robison (three RBI, run, walk) and Rudy Gately (two RBI, run, walk). Matt Kelley had a two-run single in the bottom of the second inning to push KP’s lead to 3-0, while Tommy McLeish (third inning) and Gately (fourth inning) each drove in a run. S D’Arcy had a two-run single to right field in the bottom of the fifth to cap the win. Nick Pennini had his second straight strong outing for the Warriors, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three in five scoreless innings.
Mansfield, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final (8 Inn.) – Down to its final out in the bottom of the seventh, North Attleboro tied the game to stay alive and then walked off with the victory in the bottom of the eighth to knock off Mansfield. Reed Collins reached on an error to start the bottom of the seventh, stole second, and advanced to third on an error. Sophomore Gio Martello delivered the big hit, sending a single to right to bring the tying run in. After Dillon Harding pitching a 1-2-3 top half in the eighth inning, Jack Munley had a one-out single, Ayden Delaney followed with a single to move Munley to third, Collins was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Munley came racing home on a wild pitch for the winning run. Harding earned the win, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and two walks, pitching all eight innings with five strikeouts. North took a 1-0 lead after Nate Kelly singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an error in the bottom of the second but the Hornets jumped ahead with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Matt DeShiro walked and scored when Jake Maydak reached on an error, and then Maydak scored on a single from Brian Butler (two hits). Connor Curtis pitched well for the Hornets, allowing two unearned runs on fit hits and one walk, striking out eight in seven innings.
Sharon, 0 @ Milford, 14 – Final (5 inn.) – Milford plated five runs in each of the first two innings on its way to a big win at home at Fino Field over Sharon. Evan Cornelius had a big day both offensively and on the mound, going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, one RBI, and three runs scored while also tossing four shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out seven in four innings of work. Louis Consigli had a three-run triple to clear the bases in the bottom of the fourth while Ian Carter went 1-for-2 with a walk, a run, and two RBI.
Softball
Attleboro, 13 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final (5 inn.) – Attleboro plated nine runs between the second and third innings to secure a win on the road at Stoughton. Freshman pitcher Jenna Callahan and freshman catcher Nina Sullivan both had big days at the dish as they each recorded two hits and scored two runs for the Bombardiers. Sarah Maher added three hits and three RBI while Paige Quaglia had a big showing with four RBI on three hits.
Taunton, 21 @ Canton, 1 – Final (5 Inn.) – Taunton belted out 20 hits as a team and used a big first inning to set the tone in a win on the road at Canton. Bella Bourque (RBI, three runs), Ava Venturelli (five RBI, three runs, double, triple), Kaysie DeMoura (three RBI, run, double), and Brooke Aldrich (RBI, two runs, triple) each had three hits for the Tigers, who pushed across 11 runs in the first inning. Sophomore Cate Larson had a strong all-around game with a pair of hits, three RBI and a run scored offensively while allowing one unearned run on one hit and one walk, striking out 12 in five innings.
Franklin, 11 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Franklin clubbed out 21 hits and scored in five straight innings, including a five-run sixth inning, to get a win on the road over Foxboro. Franklin scored twice in the top of the third on an RBI single from Sarah Boozang and a sac fly from Katy Liberman but the Warriors cut the deficit in half in the bottom half on a single from Emma Callahan. The Panthers tacked on a run in the fourth (bases-laded walk from Katie Dowley) and fifth (Marley Allen home run) before exploding for five runs in the sixth. Carly Pellegri and Liberman had back-to-back RBI singles, Allen roped a two-run double to left, and Caitlin Hickey brought in a run with a single. Avery Chalk (run), Boozang, and Allen all finished with four hits for Franklin. Kiera Kotwicki allowed one unearned run on four hits and a walk in three innings while Sophia Sacramone didn’t allow a run in four innings, striking out six with four hits and one walk. Callahan and Natalia Leach each had two hits for the Warriors.
King Philip, 17 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – King Philip sophomore Liv Petrillo drilled her third home run of the young season and senior Libby Walsh hit her second home run in as many games to lead the Warriors to a win over Oliver Ames on the road. The Tigers jumped out to a 3-2 lead after two innings off a couple of early walks but KP rallied for six runs in the top of the sixth, five runs between the next two innings, and four more in the seventh. Charlotte Raymond was hit by a pitch and Taylor Regan draw a walk before Petrillo sent a bomb over the fence in center field. KP tacked on two more on a sac fly from Ali Gill and Walsh followed with a solo shot to left field. Petrillo (three runs), Walsh (two RBI, two runs), Regan (four runs), and Sarah Cullen (RBI, run) each finished with three hits while Raymond clubbed two doubles. Freshman McCoy Walsh earned the win in relief, tossing six shutout innings with three hits, one walk, and 11 strikeouts. Emily Martin and Maddie Homer each had a hit and a run scored for OA.
North Attleboro, 5 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final (11 Inn.) – North Attleboro senior Kelly Colleran struck out 28 batters as the Rocketeers were able to outlast Mansfield in an 11-inning thriller. North took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Mansfield knotted the score in the bottom of the second as Reilley Slaney’s bunt single scored Molly Kucharski (triple). North threatened but Mansfield’s defense kept the game tied at 1-1 as Jill Koppy and Kucharski combined to pick off a runner at third, and another great play from Liv Medeira and Slaney to catch a runner between second and third. With the international tiebreaker in effect, North pushed across four runs in the 11th as Julia Forman drove in Grace Forman to give North the lead. Arianna McDavitt, Molley Willey (three hits), Maryellen Charette (four hits) and Emma Hanwell each followed with singles to extend North’s lead. Mansfield brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning with runners on second and third but Colleran closed it out. Freshman Dani Jameson pitched all 11 innings for Mansfield, scattering eight hits with 11 strikeouts.
Milford, 18 @ Sharon, 1 – Final (5 Inn.) – Milford got off to a strong start with six runs between the first two innings and the offense stayed hot throughout to earn its first win of the season over Sharon. Olivia Baglione set the table from the leadoff spot, going 5-for-5 (two doubles) with an RBI and four runs scored for the Hawks, who had 22 hits as a team. Cae Pellegrini added three hits, including a home run, and two RBI and four runs while Maeve Driscoll and (two RBI, run), Jianna Fernandes (RBI, run) also had three hits on the day. Driscoll earned the win in the circle, striking out five in five innings of work. Natalie Kessler had a hit for the Eagles with Ally Foulsham scoring the run.
Foxboro, 9 @ King Philip, 12 – Final – King Philip created some separation in the second quarter and stayed ahead the rest of the way in a key crossover win over Foxboro. James Boldy had another big game in the cage for the hosts, coming up with 17 saves to keep KP ahead. Donovan DeVellis paced the offense with a team-high four goals and added one assist while Mason Thompson scored a hat trick and added three helpers. Cullen McCarthy (assist) and Hayden Schmitz each added two goals, Tommy Kilroy recorded three assists, and Noah Minkwitz scored once. Tyler Douglas had a strong defensive game for KP with six ground balls. Adam Addeche also had a big game in net, making 17 saves for Foxboro to keep his Warriors in it. Conor Noone led the charge for Foxboro with five goals and one assist, Jon Sachetti added a hat trick, and Aidan Waller scored once.
Mansfield, 11 @ Sharon, 7 – Final
North Attleboro, 13 @ Milford, 7 – Final – North Attleboro turned a one-goal lead at halftime in a 13-7 win on the road at Milford. The Rocketeers led 5-4 at the break. For Milford, Eric Farrell scored a hat trick while both Jacob Ligor and Jayden Martins scored two goals apiece.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 18 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – Buoyed by a big first half, Attleboro ran away with a win on the road at Taunton. The Bombardiers erupted for 11 goals in the opening half to build a big lead. Isabella Cavallini (six draws) paced Attleboro’s offense with five goals and two assists, Amelia Collins added four goals and one assist and Molly Moore chipped in with three goals and three assists in the win. Addison Papagolos (six draws), Jordan Mooney, and Kristin Vasquez-Trudeau each scored twice in the win. AHS head coach Shane Collins praised the defensive effort of Vasquez-Trudeau and Ella Stromfors. Cali Mello led Taunton with a pair of goals while Maddie Szala and Raquel Azevedo each had a goal and an assist. Mel Jesus turned away 13 shots in net for the Tigers.
Canton, 3 @ Franklin, 18 – Final – Franklin had 10 different players record a point as they earned a big win over visiting Canton. Lindsay Atkinson led the charge offensively with four goals while Kaitlyn Carney (five draws) had a hat trick and three assists. Katie Peterson (seven draws) and Jamie Tanner each added a pair of goals and three assists in the win while Ella Mahoney made three saves. Emily McCabe scored all three goals for the Bulldogs.
King Philip, 8 @ Foxboro, 10 – Final – Locked in a one-goal battle, Foxboro sophomore goalie Audrey Campbell came up with a huge point-blank save off of a free position bid from King Philip and the Warriors held on for a key crossover win. The teams were level at 5-5 at halftime and traded goals early on in the second half before Foxboro finally built a two-goal cushion at 9-7. KP got one back and had a chance to tie it with just over two minutes to go but Campbell made the save. Foxboro was able to kill some clock and Val Beigel clinched the win, cleaning up a rebound off her own shot to make it 10-8 with 1:21 to play. Mary Collins had a team-high three goals and one assist, Mya Waryas and Beigel each had two goals, while Paige Curran (two assists), Cate Noone, and Grace Riley each scored once. Makenzie McDevitt led KP with three goals while Kelly Holmes (two assists), Sammy Cloutier, Emily Heslin, Nikki McDonald, and Abby MacDonald each scored once. Emily Campbell played well in net for the visitors with 10 saves.
Sharon, 6 @ Mansfield, 19 – Final – Ava Adams scored eight goals, including the 100th of her career, to power the Hornets to a big league win. Lola Varricchione added four goals in the win, while Cammy Shanteler and Carys Colby each found the back of the net twice. Mansfield also got goals from Tessa Johnson, Rose Maher (two assists), and Ella Palanza. Keira Fitzgerald dished out a pair of helpers and Caitlyn Zajac made five saves in the victory.
Milford @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Sunday, 5/21 at 5:00.
Stoughton, 6 @ Oliver Ames, 19 – Final – Amanda Reid scored four times for the Black Knights, while chipping in with an assist and three draw controls. Stoughton also got two goals and seven draw controls from Morgan Groppi, an assist and draw control from Nicole Reid, and 12 saves in goal from Jordan Coleman.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 4 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Behind a pair of wins in both singles and doubles action, Attleboro returned from Stoughton with a 4-1 verdict over the Black Knights. Kyle Neuendorf battled his way to a close 7-5, 6-4 win at first singles while Tyler Rocchio dropped just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 victory at second singles. The team of Luke Hinton and Brady Rosen earned a 6-3, 6-0 win at first doubles, and the Bombardiers’ second doubles pair of Clay Tyler and Noem Cook prevailed 6-4, 4-7, 7-5. Stoughton’s Paul Medeiros earned a 6-4, 6-4 win at third singles.
Taunton, 2 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Canton’s second doubles team of senior Drew Garrett and freshman Matt Wright prevailed from a hard-fought match with a win to clinch a 3-2 for the Bulldogs against visiting Taunton. Garrett and Wright battled for a 6-4, 6-4 win while Max Kupferman (first singles, 6-4, 6-0) and Bharat Ramanathan (second singles, 6-1, 6-0) also won for the Bulldogs. Taunton’s Heitor Sens secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles while Collin Lofgren and Derek Desseault grabbed a 6-2, 6-2 win at first doubles.
Franklin, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Foxboro took first and second singles but Franklin swept both doubles matches and had a third win at third singles to edge out Foxboro in a tight match. Both doubles matches came down to the wire but it was Franklin’s Ahan Shetty and Eric Tomaino that prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (5) at first doubles and the team of Andrew Amante and Aaron Ramaswamy that emerged with a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) win at second doubles to clinch the win. Will Forrest added a 6-1, 6-1 third singles win for the Panthers. Foxboro’s Raj Jetty grabbed a 6-1, 6-4 win at first singles and Luca Meyer earned a 6-1, 6-3 win at second singles.
King Philip, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final
North Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield’s doubles team were pushed in the second set but both pairs were able to finish it off and complete a sweep of the Rocketeers, all five matches in straight sets. Neema Khosravani (first singles, 6-0, 6-1), Nikhil Nain (second singles, 7-5, 6-3), and Iniyan Karruppusami (third singles, 6-1, 6-1) each won for the Hornets in singles action. The team of Josh Weiner and Jacob Weiner prevailed 6-3, 7-5 at first doubles while the pairing of Jesse Colchamiro and Dhruv Jain took a 6-2, 7-5 decision at second doubles.
Milford, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon defended home court with a clean sweep, winning all five matches in straight sets over visiting Milford. Jacob Slavsky took a hard-fought 6-1, 7-5 verdict at first singles, Matthew Lally added a 6-3, 6-0 win at second singles, and Hyojae Park dropped just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 third singles victory. The team of Rithvik Neti and Sava Kassev rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 first doubles win, and Sharon’s second doubles team of Michael Wang and Mihir Basil won 6-2, 6-1.
Girls Tennis
Stoughton, 2 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro’s Bree Paulette had another thrilling win, taking her match in three sets to clinch a victory for the Bombardiers over visiting Stoughton. After splitting the first two sets, Paulette emerged victorious in the third set for a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win. Attleboro also got wins from the first doubles team of Zoe Stanley and Kyra Johnson (6-0, 6-0) and the second doubles team of Julia Leonardo and Katie Lortos (6-1, 6-1). Stoughton’s Ally Lada battled to a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) win at first singles, and Nadia Prokopiuktook a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory at second singles for the Black Knights.
Canton, 2 @ Taunton, 3 – Final – Taunton took a pair of wins from singles play and one more in doubles action to pick up a close win over visiting Canton. Junior Ava Alves grabbed a 6-2, 6-4 win at second singles while Morgan Smith secured a 6-1, 7-5 win at third singles for the Tigers. The team of juniors Courtney Martin and Caroline Pietnik helped secure the win, taking a 6-2, 6-3 verdict at second doubles. Canton’s Camila Cutter won 6-2, 1-6, 10-5 at first singles, and the team of Grace Powers and Kelli Woodworth prevailed 7-5, 6-2 at first doubles.
Foxboro, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – Franklin swept both doubles matches and took two more wins from singles play for a 4-1 verdict at home against visiting Foxboro. Sophomores Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen earned a 6-4, 6-1 win at first doubles while seniors Allison Bagley and Shriya Rajesh secured a 6-3, 6-3 second doubles victory for the Panthers. In singles action, junior Brooke Taylor was victorious with a 6-1, 6-2 verdict at second singles, and freshman Isabelle Simino rallied from a one-set deficit to grab a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win at third singles. Foxboro’s Hailey Kornbluth dropped just two games in a 6-2, 6-0 win at first singles.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – King Philip’s Shea Mellman and Caroline Freese both earned tight wins in singles matches to help the Warriors secure a win over Oliver Ames in a match that was closer than the score might indicate. Mellman ended up with a 6-3, 6-2 win but most of the games reached deuce; the win gave KP the match-clinching third win. Freese split the first two sets but gained some momentum late in the second set that she carried into the third for a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 win at second singles. The team of Carlie Burns and Priya Riar added a 6-3, 6-4 victory at first doubles for KP, and the team of Lauren Casper and Jaelyn Dang rallied from a three-game deficit in the second set to secure a 6-2, 6-4 win at second doubles. OA’s Hannah Farber prevailed from a three-hour marathon of a match to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-0 at first singles.
Mansfield, 1 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North swept singles and won at first doubles to stay unbeaten through three matches. Lauren Hunt won at first singles without dropping a game, Megan Atwood won 6-1, 6-2 at second singles, and Grace Noreck won by the same score at third singles. The Rocketeers also got a point at first doubles with sophomores Audrey Noreck and Liz Silva winning in straight sets (6-4, 6-2). At second doubles, North’s Kaeleigh Folan and Lizzy Fang and Mansfield’s Caroline Guravage and Rachel Goldman split the first two sets with the Hornets’ duo winning the tiebreak to take a point.
Sharon, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Sharon went on the road and returned home from a long trip to Milford with a clean sweep, winning all five matches in straight sets. Judy Song lost just two games in a 6-2, 6-0 first singles win, Navya Shukla rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles, and Sophia Oh earned a 6-3, 6-1 third singles victory. Sharon also picked up wins from the first doubles team of Zayna Cheema and Grace Zhong (6-2, 6-2) and the second doubles team of freshmen Sydney Wiener and Lila Hogan (6-0, 6-4).
Boys Volleyball
King Philip vs. Norwood, 5:45
Milford, 1 @ Agawam, 3 – Final
Taunton, 1 vs. North Quincy, 3 – Final
Baseball
Attleboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – A run in the bottom of the fourth ended up as the difference as Mansfield edged visiting Attleboro in a tight battle. The teams traded runs in the second inning with the Bombardiers jumping ahead when Jacob Bettencourt reached on a dropped third strike, allowing Aidan Hochwarter (leadoff single) to scamper home. Brian Butler led off the bottom half with a single for the Hornets, stole second, and came home to score on an RBI double from Will Lund. The difference came in the bottom of the fourth and Butler was the catalyst again, starting things with a one-out single. Wyatt Bolduc drew a walk and Lund delivered another big hit, this time a single to right to bring Butler home for the winning run. Both pitchers on both teams played well with Connor Curtis earning the win, allowing one unearned run on two hits and two walks, striking out 11 in six innings of work while Butler got the save, striking out a pair with no hits or walks allowed in one inning. Attleboro junior Jonny Pagano allowed two runs on five hits and one walk, striking out five while Braxton Levin tossed a scoreless inning in relief.
North Attleboro, 5 @ Canton, 11 – Final – North Attleboro scored in three consecutive innings to cut Canton’s one six-run lead down to one but the Bulldogs responded with five unanswered runs to open the season with a win. Hayden Rose (three hits, two RBI), who had a strong performance on the mound, had a two-run double and Matt Hart and Matt Lesser each had an RBI in the first inning as Canton jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Jack Digirolamo (4four RBI) added a second-inning RBI and Lesser drew a bases-loaded walk to extend Canton’s lead to 6-0 after two innings. North rallied for a run in the third and one more in the fourth (Dillon Harding RBI single), before pushing across three runs in the top of the fifth. Canton’s patience at the plate paid off in the bottom half as walks to Kyle Redquest, Owen Lane (three runs), and Matt Chafin brought in a run, and Digirolamo added another run with a sac fly. A two-out single from Digirolamo in the bottom of the sixth added insurance for the Bulldogs. North Attleboro’s Nate Kelly went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, two walks, and a run scored.
Milford, 4 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – After seeing its three-run lead disappear in the fifth inning, Foxboro rallied for two runs in the sixth to take a season-opening win over Milford. The Warriors took the lead originally by scoring single runs in each of the second (Mike Marcucella RBI double), the third (Ben Angelini RBI double), and the fourth (Angelini RBI single) innings. Milford rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth as freshman Ian Carter led off with a solo home run, Louis Consigli had a one-out RBI single, Keith Lee drove in a run with an infield hit, and Sean McGee scored on a single by Evan Cornelius. Senior Ryan LeClair started the rally for the hosts with a one-out double and advanced to third on a double from Sean O’Leary. Louis Carangelo bought LeClair home on an infield single and O’Leary eventually scored on a wild pitch. Alex Stern got the win in relief for Foxboro, tossing a shutout inning while LeClair closed the door for the save. Cornelius was strong on the mound for the Hawks, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, five walks, and six strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work.
Franklin, 11 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final (6 inn.) – Franklin senior Alfred Mucciarone dazzled on the mound on the road at Frothingham Park, leading the Panthers to a win over Oliver Ames. Mucciarone tossed five shutout innings, allowing just one run (unearned) on two hits, striking out 10 without issuing a walk. Offensively, Franklin wasted little time to get the bats going as they pushed across four runs in the first and scored in each of the next five innings. Jase Lyons (RBI, two runs) and Eisig Chin (RBI, two runs, two stolen bases) each had three hits to pace Franklin’s 16-hit performance. Henry Digiorgio and Tyler Bellan (two RBI) each had two hits while Ben Jarosz notched two RBI.
King Philip, 12 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final (5 inn.) – King Philip’s offense got off to a strong start with three runs in the top of the first inning and the Warriors put the game away with a seven-run fifth inning to open the season with a win over Stoughton. Brendan Sencaj picked up right where he left off from last season, going 3-for-3 with a single, a double, and a triple as well as two RBI and three runs scored. Matt Kelley (three runs, RBI) and Aiden Astorino (two RBI, run) both added two hits in the win. Nate Pennini had a terrific showing on the mound for the visitors, allowing just one hit and two walks in five shutout innings, striking out nine.
Sharon, 0 @ Taunton, 20 – Final (5 Inn.) – The defending Division 1 state champs got off to a hot start with a big win over Sharon. Shawn Cali (two RBI, two runs), AJ Lewis (two RBI, three runs), Sean Murphy (two RBI, one run), and Brady Boucher (two RBI, one run) each had a pair of hits for the Tigers. Shawn Cali earned the win, tossing four shutout innings with just one hit allowed, striking out five. Boucher tossed a scoreless inning in relief with one walk and three strikeouts.
Softball
Mansfield, 0 @ Attleboro, 14 – Final (5 Inn.) – Callie Lake, Julia Marnikovic, Molly Kucharski and Erin Radley each had a hit apiece for the Hornets.
Canton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 10 – Final – Kelly Colleran faced only one batter over the minimum to toss a season-opening shutout. She allowed one hit and struck out 16. Arianna McDavitt made a pair of great defensive plays at shortstop, including a diving grab, and catcher Maryellen Charette caught a runner trying to steal second. Colleran also led the North offense with four hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in two. Leadoff hitter Grace Simmons had a hit and scored three times. Lucy Palmer, Molly Willey, and Charette drove in two runs apiece. Emma Hanwell, Grace Forman, and Mary Rogers each had a hit for North.
Foxboro, 12 @ Milford, 6 – Final – Milford scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the deficit down to a single run but Foxboro erupted for five runs in the final frame and pulled away for the win. The Warriors took advantage of a couple of errors to build a 5-0 lead through the first three innings and then used a two-run home run from Natalia Leach in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 7-3. A two-run triple from Olivia Baglione and an RBI single from Maeve Driscoll helped bring the Scarlet Hawks within one, 7-6, going into the seventh. Leach added an RBI single, Meghan Kelley drew a walk with the bases loaded, and Jill Slattery added a two-out RBI single to push the lead to 12-6. Emma Callahan had three hits and three stolen bases for the Warriors while Vittoria Cuscia got the win in the circle, recording eight strikeouts.
Oliver Ames, 7 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – A back-and-forth battle ended with a walk-off single from Franklin’s Avery Chalk to hand the Panthers a thrilling season-opening win at home. The teams combined for 12 runs in the first three innings, trading the lead each inning before the Tigers plated two in the top of the fifth to make it all even again. Freshman Sophia Sacramone retired the Tigers in order in the top of the seventh, and in the bottom half, Dana Stott laced a one-out double into left field. An error advanced Stott to third, and a fielder’s choice loaded the bases. Chalk singled to left field to bring in the game-winning run. Chalk, Sarah Boozang (RBI, run), and Katy Liberman (two RBI, run) each had three hits as the Panthers totaled 18 as a team. Sacramone got the win in relief, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts in four innings of work. OA’S Devon Morris (one RBI, two runs) and Katie Melendy (three RBI, run) each collected three hits while Katherine Farley (RBI) and Crystyliah Covel (two stolen bases) each had two hits. Maddie Homer had a strong defensive game for OA with six putouts and a double play.
Stoughton, 1 @ King Philip, 21 – Final (5 inn.) – King Philip scored in each inning on its way to a big win over Stoughton to start the season. The Warriors pushed across three runs in each of the first two innings, six more in the third, and put the game away with a big fourth inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Liv Petrillo (2-for-3, six RBI). Freshman Ali Gill hit a home run in her first career at-bat and scored three runs. Charlotte Raymond also had a home run while Petrillo had another home run — a two-run shot — earlier in the fourth inning. Jo Bennett earned the win, allowing one run (unearned) on one hit and one walk, striking out six in four innings of work.
Sharon, 1 @ Taunton, 34 – Final (5 Inn.) – Taunton senior Ava Venturelli went 4-for-5, including a home run and a triple, to lead the Tigers to a big win at home. Brooke Aldrich also had four hits and scored five runs, and Hayley Krockta and Cate Larson also hit a home run. Larson earned the win in the circle, allowing one run (unearned) on three walks, striking out 10 in five innings of work.
Boys Lacrosse
King Philip, 10 @ Sharon, 11 – Final (OT) – King Philip outscored the hosts 3-1 in the fourth quarter to force overtime but it was Sharon that found the game-winner in the extra period to open the season in thrilling fashion. Sam Rothbaum led the offensive charge with four goals while Jake Kaufman, Ryan Brown, and Jordan Weisman each had a pair, and Dylan Cummings scored one along with three assists.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Mansfield, 10 – Final – Noah Isleib played well in net for the Tigers, recording 15 saves while Ben Reardon had the lone goal for OA.
Girls Lacrosse
Foxboro, 14 @ Braintree, 6 – Final – Foxboro’s Paige Curran picked up right where she left off, recording six points to lead the Warriors to a season-opening win on the road at Braintree. Curran had a team-high five goals along with one assist while Val Beigel added three goals and two helpers. Cate Noone (two assists) and Grace Riley each chipped in with a pair of goals while Mya Waryas (two assists) and Mary Collins (two assists) scored once. Audrey Campbell had a strong showing in the net with 11 saves.
Sharon, 1 @ King Philip, 15 – Final – King Philip raced out to a big lead by halftime and never looked back on its way to a dominating season-opening win. Makenzie McDevitt paced the offense with a team-high seven points, Nikki McDonald added three points, and both Sarah Brown and Kelly Holmes recorded three points in the win.
Boys Tennis
Mansfield, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Mansfield earned a sweep in singles action to secure a 3-2 decision on the road over Attleboro. Sophomore Neema Khosravani battled through a tough first set before prevailing 6-4, 6-0, junior Iniyan Karruppusami added a 6-4, 6-2 win at second singles, and junior Nikhil Nain picked up a 6-1, 6-1 third singles victory. Attleboro’s first doubles team of Brady Rosen and Luke Hinton emerged from a well-played first doubles match with a 6-4, 7-5 victory, and the team of Clayton Tyler and Noem Cook earned a 6-1, 6-4 second doubles win.
Canton, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – Behind a doubles sweep and one win from singles action, North Attleboro edged out visiting Canton to open the season with a win. Senior captain Brody Gaulin and junior Quinn DiFiore secured a 6-2, 6-1 decision at first singles, and the junior pairing of Arnav Raghuvanshi and Aaryan Anjna prevailed in a back-and-forth second doubles match with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win. Junior Caleb Cheney won a tiebreaker in the second set to emerge with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (5) decision. Canton junior Max Kupferman earned a 6-1, 6-3 first singles win, and freshman Bharat Ramanathan took a 6-3, 6-4 win at second singles.
Foxboro, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Three of the five matches had to be decided in a third set but in the end, Foxboro prevailed victorious in all of them for a 5-0 sweep over Milford. Raj Jetty rolled to a 6-4, 6-1 win at first singles, while the team of Vizruth Chavalam and Greg Simone earned a 6-2, 6-1 win at second doubles to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead. After dropping the first set, the team of Hajji Glover and Evan Paluzzi rallied to win two straight to take first doubles (5-7, 6-4, 6-3). Both Ryan Fosella and Luca Meyer won the first set but dropped the second. Fossella took care of the win at second singles with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 decision while Meyer battled his way to a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames won all three singles matches to return home from Franklin with a victory via a 3-2 decision. After splitting the first two sets, OA junior Nike Westerbeke prevailed in the third set to secure the match (6-2, 0-6, 6-3) at first singles. Sophomore Alex Efremidas took a tight second singles match in straight sets (6-4, 7-5), and sophomore Pat Dolan completed the singles sweep with a 6-3, 6-2 third singles win. In doubles action, Franklin junior Ahan Shetty and senior Eric Tomaino earned a 6-0, 6-4 first doubles victory while the team of junior Andrew Amante and sophomore Aaron Ramaswamy picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win at second doubles.
Stoughton, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip’s first doubles team of Luke Bailor and Brent Schneider prevailed in a second set tiebreak to secure a win, and the match to give the Warriors a season-opening win against Stoughton. Bailor and Schneider rolled in the first set but needed to win a tiebreak in the second set to earn the 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) win. Noah Ihley had a strong start to the season with a 6-1, 6-2 win at second singles and Arjun Kollu also had an impressive showing in a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles.
Sharon, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Sharon opened up the season with a clean sweep, winning all five matches in straight sets on the road at Taunton. Sophomore Jacob Slavsky secured a 6-1, 6-1 first at first singles, junior Matthew Lally earned a 6-2, 6-0 win at second singles, and sophomore Alex Budovalcev only dropped one game in a 6-1, 6-0 third singles victory. The team of sophomore Sava Kassev and senior Rithvik Neti battled hard to emerge in straight sets (6-0, 7-5) at first doubles while the pairing of senior Kevin Li and sophomore Savir Basil didn’t lose a game in a 6-0, 6-0 second doubles win.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Bre Paulette pulled out a three-set win over Anushka Srivastava at third singles to earn the Bombardiers a win in the season opener. Paulette won the opening set 6-3 but Srivastava bounced back by winning the second 6-2. Paulette closed out the match with a 6-4 third set to get the clinching point. Maddie Fuscaldo also won at first singles (6-2, 6-2) for Attleboro and Julia Leonardo and Katie Lortos won 6-1, 6-2 at second doubles. For Mansfield, Claire Copp won in three sets at second singles, beating Presley Biller 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 and Jill Harvey and Savannah Corey won 6-4, 6-4 at first doubles.
North Attleboro, 5 @ Canton, 0 – Final – Both of North Attleboro’s double teams battled hard to earn three-set wins as the Rocketeers secured a 5-0 sweep on the road to start the season. The team of Audrey Norecki and Liz Silva fought their way to a third-set tiebreak win, taking a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (3) win at first doubles while the pairing of Jayla Stone and Grace Manning battled to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win at second doubles. Lauren Hunt had a strong first match of the season with a 6-1, 6-0 win at first singles, Megan Atwood earned a 6-2, 6-2 second singles victory, and Grace Noreck completed the singles sweep with a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles.
Milford, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Foxboro took two wins apiece from singles and doubles action to open league play with a win at home over Milford. Hailey Kornbluth didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 first singles win while Makayla Peck secured a 6-2, 6-0 win at second singles for the Warriors. The team of Analise Jia and Audrey Paolino earned a 6-1, 6-1 first doubles win while the pairing of Emily Stow and Katelynn Dineen rallied to prevail in a super tiebreak, 6-2, 3-6, 10-6. Milford sophomore Mallory Brickley secured a 6-2, 6-1 win at third singles.
Franklin, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Franklin swept both doubles matches and took two more victories in singles action to open the season with a 4-1 win on the road over Oliver Ames. Franklin’s Brooke Taylor prevailed from a hard-fought first set to take a 7-5, 6-1 win at second singles while Chloe Essam dropped just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 third singles victory for the Panthers. The team of Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen grabbed a 6-3, 6-3 win at first doubles while Shriya Rajesh and Isabelle Simino picked up a 6-2, 6-3 win at second doubles. OA sophomore Hannah Farber opened her campaign in impressive fashion, taking a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles.
King Philip, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – After rolling in the first set, KP senior Ahunna James shook off a good challenge in the second set to earn the win and the Warriors won all five matches on the road in straight sets. James prevailed with a 6-0, 7-5 win, junior Shea Mellman added a 6-2, 6-3 second singles victory, and senior Caroline Freese dropped just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of Carlie Burns and Priya Riar rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles, and senior Lauren Casper and junior Ryann O’Sullivan picked up a win at second doubles (6-1, 6-2).
Taunton, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Using a senior/sophomore lineup, Sharon opened the season with a sweep at home over Taunton. Sophomore Judy Song took care of business at first singles with just one game lost, 6-0, 6-1, while senior Sophia Oh didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 third singles win. Senior Abby Vilk dropped the first set but rallied to win two straight for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at second singles. The team of sophomore Olivia Landstein and senior Elli Zhao battled to a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win at first doubles while the pairing of senior Wenxin Wu and sophomore Jenny Sand secured a 6-0, 6-2 win at second doubles.
Boys Volleyball
King Philip, 3 @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 0 – Final
Taunton, 3 vs. Brockton, 0 – Final – Taunton opened the season with a sweep of the visiting Boxers, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-17). Matt Freitas had a strong all-around game with eight kills, three blocks, and a pair of digs, Owen Kelley added seven kills and five digs, Josh Duncan chipped in with three kills, three blocks, and an ace, and Al Morisseau finished with a pair of kills, aces, blocks, and digs. Ty Ekstrom and Daniel Freitas shared setting duties and each dished out 12 assists while Bradley Hylander (five digs) had a strong game both defensively and on the serve receive.
Taunton players celebrate after beating Franklin to win the D1 state title. Both teams bring back strong teams and are contenders to win the state championship again this spring. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2022 Record: 5-15 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Steve Dunlea
Attleboro returns a strong core from last year and will be aiming to make some noise in one of the toughest divisions in the state. The Bombardiers had three one-run losses last year and two more in extra innings, and despite their record, just missed out on the state tournament. A big reason for that is the challenges they face throughout the season as the Kelley-Rex division last year featured both Division 1 state finalists (Franklin and Taunton), the Division 2 state finalist (KP), plus Mansfield, who reached the Division 2 final four.
The Bombardiers boast a lot of returning players up and down the lineup, and on the mound as well. Although it’s a young rotation, Attleboro has some talented arms that picked up some invaluable experience a year ago. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Tyler Dunlea (3-3, 2.74) will anchor the rotation a year removed from striking out 23 batters in 23 innings of work as a freshman. Junior Jonny Pagano is another righty that gained key experience last year and senior Sean O’Hara will be a veteran presence in the rotation. Senior Owen Lombardo, juniors Matt Harvie, Braxton Levin, Tyson Forte, and freshman Ryan Landry are all in the mix to get some innings in relief.
Offense will be an area that Attleboro will look to improve on as they go against some of the best pitchers in the area. Senior Danny Johnson is in his third year as a varsity starter and will lead a talented outfielder group that features Harvie and classmate Brody McKenna. Seniors Casey Victorio and Ran Martin, along with junior Jackson Huntington, will look to provide an offensive punch as well. Senior captains Peter Delpozzo and Cooper Johnson (0.364 average last year) are back in the fold and will lead by example both offensively and defensively for head coach Steve Dunlea. Pagano, junior Andrew Gorman, and sophomore Jacob Bettencourt are all battling for time in the infield as well. Aiden Hochwarter resumes his role as the starting catcher for the Bombardiers.
2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
“I am very excited about this year’s team,” said Attleboro head coach Steve Dunlea. “We have excellent leadership in our three captains. Our pitching and defense will continue to be a strength for us. We also have a great mix of returning starters and new players on offense. These guys are well aware that we play in arguably the toughest division in Massachusetts and you have to be ready to compete every day.”
2022 Record: 9-12 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: David Walsh
Canton has a new head coach in David Walsh but the goals remain the same as the Bulldogs will be aiming to return to the state tournament again this year. With a talented core back in the fold from last year’s team, not only will the Bulldogs be in the mix to make the playoffs, they could contend for the Davenport division title.
The lineup will feature a lot of familiar faces from last year that is anchored by a seasoned senior class. Shortstop Matt Chafin is among the best players in the league and is committed to play at the next level at Brandies. He will be joined in the lineup by Jack Digirolamo, one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. Digirolamo led the team in average last season with a 0.446 batting average (29 hits), which was good for fourth in the entire league while Chafin finished at 0.350 with 16 runs scored. Senior Hayden Rose (Framingham State) is another familiar name that will play a lot of innings for the Bulldogs, coming off a season in which he hit 0.328 with a team-high 17 RBI.
Rose will anchor a pitching staff that will need to fill some holes this year. Rose was among the league leaders in terms of innings pitched last year, coming in second in the regular season in the Hock with 43.2 innings of working. He posted a 4-4 record with a 2.89 ERA, striking out 28. Andrew Butler and Zach Peters combined for over 50 innings last year but with both players graduated, there will be an opportunity for new faces to step up for Walsh. While the Bulldogs get the rotation set, Walsh is preaching fundamentals and having the team pride themselves on good defense.
“This will be a fundamentally sound group who is gritty, tough, and are not afraid of the everyday grind,” Walsh said. “We will rely on our pitchers to throw strikes, defense to be routine, and situationally hit. If we are able to do all three in each game we will be very competitive.”
2022 Record: 16-8 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Final Four Coach: Derek Suess
Foxboro was one of the feel-good stories last season as the Warriors made a dramatic tournament run to the state semifinals before falling to eventual state champ Austin Prep. While the Warriors are strictly focusing on the road ahead, last season set a new standard for Foxboro.
There is a lot of optimism that the Warriors can pick up where they left off because they have almost their entire roster back for 2023. Last year’s squad had a lot of young and inexperienced players that matured quickly throughout the year. Foxboro won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year as they start the season as a serious contender for the Davenport division title. On the mound, Foxboro has six players back that tossed varsity innings including their top three: senior Sean O’Leary (UMass Lowell), senior Mat Sullivan, and sophomore Nolan Gordon. Senior Alex Stern and sophomores Danny Jacobs and Tommy Watts are also back in the fold and the Warriors have added junior Pradyu Gubbala and sophomore Ryan O’Leary to the mix. Ryan LeClair, a veteran in the group, could also see time on the mound this year.
Sophomore Mike Marcucella returns behind the dish after earning the starting role as a freshman last year. LeClair (Stonehill) returns to shortstop and is one of the best defensive players in the region and he’s complemented by Sean O’Leary, who will play third when he isn’t pitching. On the right side, junior Tyler Prescott will man second base and he will also be counted upon to set the table for the offense out of the leadoff spot. Ryan O’Leary will take over at first base this season. Stern, Sullivan, and Watts will add infield depth when not on the mound.
The outfield will also have a lot of familiar faces with veteran Louis Carangelo back in left field after a breakout junior season. Carangelo was one of the most consistent offensive players in the Hock, hitting 0.333 with 16 RBI. Sophomore Ben Angelini has had a strong preseason so far and will patrol center for the Warriors while junior Shane Henri will be in right field. Senior Kenny Mello was a solid contributor for Foxboro last year but will miss the season with an injury. Freshman Aidan Stow and Gordon will provide outfield depth.
“Despite last season’s success, this season provides new opportunities and challenges for our ballclub,” said Foxboro head coach Derek Suess. “We will be battle-tested, with an always difficult Hockomock League schedule, and a strong non-league slate as well. We need to compete each day, at a championship-level standard, to give ourselves the best opportunity to reach the goals we have set for the season. Our leadership and culture have never been stronger.”
2022 Record: 23-4 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Final (Kelley-Rex champion) Coach: Zach Brown
Although Franklin has won three straight Kelley-Rex division titles, there is still plenty of motivation for these Panthers.
The Panthers are coming off a tough one-run loss in the Division 1 state championship to rival Taunton, but with a strong core returning it looks like Franklin will once again be among the top powerhouses in the state this year. One obvious strength will be the offense with five players back in the lineup from last year’s squad. Not only is it an experienced group (multiple players entering their third year starting), but it’s an incredibly talented one that features senior Ryan Gerety (Northeastern), senior Jase Lyons, senior Eisig Chin (Stonehill), senior Ben Jarosz, and junior Henry Digiorgio (Northeastern). Gerety and Chin will return to their spots in the outfield while Lyons (1B), Jarosz (3B), and Digiorgio (SS) are all back in the infield. Seniors Tyler Bellan, Luke Sidwell, and Ethan DePaolo also provide some experienced depth and newcomers Rex Cinelli, Ryan Carlucci, and Koen Bonetti will all try to contribute for head coach Zach Brown.
Pitching will be another strength with senior righty Alfred Mucciarone (UMass Lowell) back after going 5-1 during the regular season last year, posting a 2.33 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 42 innings. His experience gives the Panthers an ace to rely on as they navigate a difficult schedule. Junior lefty Austin Campbell could be the next breakout star for Franklin after some impressive outings last year, and juniors Jake Shaughnessy (LHP) and Matt Miller (RHP) fill out a strong core of pitchers. Both Chin and Lyons will also be in the mix while senior newcomers Dillon Cashin and Zach Ramaswamy are prepared to come on in relief when needed.
“We are returning a strong senior class and veteran core,” Brown said. “We are excited about how hard this group has been preparing for the upcoming season. The seniors have provided great leadership during the preseason and scrimmages.”
2022 Record: 16-9 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Coach: Jeff Plympton, Jr.
King Philip is another squad that is coming off a tremendous season (a trend among most Hock teams) as they reached the Division 2 state championship, falling to Milton. The Warriors are also following another trend in the league as they have the majority of their lineup back in the mix this season as they look to challenge for the Kelley-Rex division title in a loaded field.
The Warriors have a strong pitching staff in the league, highlighted by senior Rudy Gately. Gately has been KP’s ace for the past two seasons and will resume that role again this year. During the regular season, he tossed 39 innings and struck out 37, posting a 3.41 ERA. He will be joined by lefty Tommy Martorano, who missed virtually all of last year with an injury. Junior Tommy McLeish emerged as a reliable option in relief last year, striking out 22 batters in 20.2 innings and he should be in line for an expanded role this year.
Offensively the Warriors will have a big void with the graduation of Shawn Legere, one of the best hitters in the state. But head coach Jeff Plympton Jr. has plenty of options to work with, including senior Brendan Sencaj, who is coming off a terrific season in which he hit 0.371 with 15 RBI and 21 runs scored. Gately, a middle infielder, is a strong two-way player that hit 0.344 last year with 16 RBI and senior Matt Kelley is a great all-around player that will make the switch to center field this season, and another weapon in the lineup. Junior Max Robison is coming off a breakout campaign (0.359 average) and is one of the best defensive first basemen in the Hock.
“We are excited to be bringing back a great core of guys from our team last year,” Plympton Jr. said. “We’re hoping to build off of our success last season and continue to build a winning culture. We will have a lot of new arms in the rotation and a few very good returning arms from last year.”
2022 Record: 17-8 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Four Coach: Chris Hall
Mansfield lost some key contributors from a sizable graduating senior class that led the Hornets to the Division 2 Final Four a year ago, but the cupboard is far from empty for head coach Chris Hall.
The most experience back on the team comes on the offensive end with some key bats back in the lineup. Senior captains Sam Martin and Conner Zukowski look to man the left side of the infield while returning starters Matt DeShiro and Jake Maydak — both juniors — will hold down the right side. Zukowski had a great season at the dish, hitting 0.344 during the regular season with 15 runs scored while DeShiro had a breakout sophomore campaign, leading the Hornets in batting average with a 0.373 average and a team-high 25 hits, driving in 13 runs as well. Defensive wiz and captain Aidan Jones returns as the starting catcher for the squad.
There is a lot of competition in the outfield right now including junior Brian Butler, another returner from last year. Seniors Kyle Marnikovic and Will Lund are also in the mix along with juniors Wyatt Bolduc, Connor Curtis, Drew Urban, Dylan Saraceno, Anthony Saraiva, and Joey MacIntyre. Juniors Matt Tryon and Derek McGrath are versatile pieces that will bring some power to the lineup.
Mansfield lost its top three starters from a year ago in Jimmy Gilleran, Aaron Blinn, and Anthony Sacchetti, who combined to pitch over 100 innings during the regular season. Hall will turn to junior Connor Curtis, who didn’t allow an earned run in 16 innings of work in the regular season last year, recording three saves with 19 strikeouts. Maydak is also in the mix for an expanded role on the staff along with juniors Yuv Sakhalkar and Ryan Jeans, and sophomore Luke Rogan. Senior Nate Thibault will chip in as a reliever.
“Most teams who play in the Hockomock League have a chance to make a run at a state championship due to the competition you face every single game in the regular season,” Hall said. “I believe the makeup of our roster puts us in that conversation this year. This year’s team is a tight-knit, cohesive group that battles with one another at practice. They thrive off competition and work together to do whatever they can to best benefit the program. We are excited for the season and look forward to the challenges presented to us.”
2022 Record: 7-13 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Alex Dion
Similar to Attleboro, the Scarlet Hawks were a victim of playing in a division that had three teams reach a state championship game and another reach the final four. With another year of experience, Milford will look to challenge those top teams and make a push for the postseason.
The roster features a lot of familiar names that are either in their third or second year in the lineup and head coach Alex Dion is hoping that experience will lead to competing with some of the state’s best teams. The pitching staff starts with three-year starter and right-handed pitcher Evan Cornelius. A top two-way play and multi-sport athlete, Cornelius leads by example both on and off the field for the Scarlet Hawks. He went 4-2 last year with a 2.31 ERA, ranking among the league leader with 48 strikeouts in 30.1 innings of work. Junior righty Damien Carter is also in his third year while senior Tyler Caldon and junior Anthony LaPierre logged a lot of work on the mound a year ago and return as starters this year. Senior Mason Baldic and sophomore Ian Carter are both in the mix for innings this year as well.
While pitching looks to be a strength for Milford this year, the Hawks will rely on a lot of the same names to deliver offensively as well. Cornelius will man first base when he isn’t on the mound and is a reliable offensive option. Damien Carter, junior Sean McGee, and freshman Joey McGee are options in the infield alongside Cornelius while Ian Carter, Baldic, and sophomore Nick Koch are in line for opportunities in the outfield. Junior Keith Lee is back behind the dish as taking on that role a season ago and junior Nate Scudo can be effective in a variety of positions. Seniors Brady Butler, Tony Fontes, Jacob Gove, Guy Saintyl, and Cam DelPrete will provide key depth while junior Victor Martinez will look to provide some pop in the lineup.
“Looking forward to competing in this great league again this spring,” said Milford head coach Alex Dion. “We have a number of guys that have been together for three years now. I have seen strong leadership from veterans early on, a group of guys that are competitive on the mound, and some athletes that are eager to learn and compete at a high level.”
2022 Record: 18-6 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Four (Davenport champion) Coach: Mike Hart
The Hockomock League had so much success during last season’s tournament that the Rocketeers’ accomplishments almost get lost in the shuffle. North Attleboro went 13-3 in league play last year and reached the D2 final four, picking up wins over D1 state finalists Franklin and D2 state finalists KP in the process. Now the Rocketeers join a loaded Kelley-Rex division along with those two squads, defending state champs Taunton, and two improved squads in Attleboro and Milford.
That means North Attleboro has its work cut out for them as they not only try to navigate a difficult schedule but has a lot of holes to fill in the lineup after graduating nearly a dozen seniors from last year’s 18-win squad. Head coach Mike Hart has done a terrific job since taking over the helm of the program and he will be leaning on the handful of returners he does have to lead the way this year. Hart has a dozen more seniors this year led by veterans Derek Maceda, Dillon Harding, and Jordan Paradis. Maceda will patrol center field, Harding is at shortstop, and Paradis is a seasoned pitcher that had 18 strikeouts in 17 innings of regular season work. Maceda will also get some innings on the mound along with classmates Ayden Delaney Peter Santoro, junior Parker Abrantes, and sophomore Gio Martello, and Harding will be a go-to option to close games out.
Martello was a late-season call up to the varsity squad and made an impression in his short stint with the squad. He will complete the middle of the infield at second base and will be a key piece in the lineup offensively. Seniors Jack Munley, Mark Vogel, Delaney, and sophomore Bryce Kiser are also in the mix for spots in the infield. Along with Maceda and Paradis, seniors Kyle Conroy and Reed Collins, along with junior Chris Hanewich, will cycle throughout the outfield. Junior Nate Kelly and senior Harrison Gagne are competing for time behind the dish. Hart expects the defense to be a strength of this year’s squad.
“We are looking forward to a season of growth,” Hart said. “We have many quality players new to varsity baseball who are looking to take the next step in their development and continue the success we have been privileged to have over the last few seasons. Derek Maceda, Dillon Harding, and Jordan Paradis are three capable and proven players in all three phases of the game. We will look to our pitching staff to lead us. Our team has committed to getting better each and every day. We are excited to get out and compete!”
2022 Record: 11-11 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Joe Abarr
After graduating one of the largest senior classes in the league, there is plenty of opportunity to go around for Oliver Ames and head coach Joe Abarr this season. After an up-and-down year that included a playoff win, the Tigers will be looking to challenge the likes of Foxboro and Mansfield in the division title race.
With a lot of pieces departed from last year’s lineup, Abarr will start the season leaning heavily on the handful of returning pieces that played key roles last year. Senior captain Patrick Finnerty will be a major part of the defense and offense this year, as the Bentley University commit will patrol the center field and anchor the offense. On the mound, the Tigers will turn to senior captain Andrew Zagami to lead a relatively young staff that will include juniors Ian Kelley and Lucas Riley, both returners from last year’s team.
Abarr noted that there is a lot of competition in the squad right now as they battle for spots in the lineup, and he’s hoping the first few weeks will allow for a consistent lineup to emerge. Senior Nathan Luke, another returner from last year’s roster, will play the corners in the outfield at Frothingham Park this year.
“Many players have been stepping up in early practices and inter-squads and will be counted on early in the season,” Abarr said. “If we consistently stay after hitters and throw strikes we will be a competitive club. We have the potential to hit well, but the Hock’s pitching will be top-notch again based on some of the stellar returners around the league.”
2022 Record: 3-17 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Andrew Poliferno
The Eagles will have to replace some of the production lost from the 10 seniors that graduated from last year’s squad, but Sharon has some key pieces in key spots and will look to continue to improve.
One strength the Eagles will have early on is the return of almost all of its pitching staff back from last year, plus the addition of some more talented arms to create some strong depth at the position. Junior captain Luke Meixel was among the league leaders in innings pitched last season and will anchor this year’s staff. He had 33 strikeouts in 38 innings of work as a sophomore year and the Eagles are looking for him to take a big step this year. Senior Alex Coughlin will pair with Meixel to create a formidable 1-2 punch, and the Eagles will also get pitching contributions from Cole Arundale and Zach Loomis.
Senior Palash Raina is a captain alongside Meixel and Coughlin, and he will be a staple in Sharon’s lineup this season. He battled through an injury almost all of last season but is ready for a breakout final year on the diamond as he patrols center field. Head coach Andrew Poliferno believes there is a lot of depth — and internal competition — in the lineup, and that should improve production at the plate. Sophomore Drew Yaffe got his feet wet at the varsity level last season and will be looking to turn that experience into more production this year. Junior Liam Conway is back behind the dish after a strong defensive year in 2022.
“I’m really excited to see what this group of players accomplishes this season,” Poliferno said. “We have a large group of players on varsity and in the greater SHS baseball program who are hungry to compete and win games. My expectations for this team are high and that is a direct reflection of the level of talent and work ethic our players have exhibited since day one.”
2022 Record: 3-15 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Kevin Carty
Although the Black Knights lost a lot of production from its eight-member senior class that graduated last Spring, there is a lot of opportunity for new faces to work their way into the lineup for Stoughton head coach Kevin Carty.
There are some key pieces back in the mix this season after getting some valuable experience a year ago. Carty will lean on senior captains Sean Farley and Joe Rush to lead the way, with Farley both patrolling center field and pitching while Rush will play first base when he isn’t on the mound, and potentially some time behind the dish at catcher. There is also a strong contingent of players looking to build off of last year, including seniors Jeriel Cuello, who will play in the infield, and outfielder/pitchers James McCarthy and Liam Dunn, and Andrew Beder, who can play both in the infield and outfield, as well as on the mound.
Juniors Hunter Malkin, Ryan Summers, and Dom Belle all factored into the lineup for the Black Knights a year ago as sophomores and are in line for bigger roles this year. Malkin will pitch and play at first, Belle can play at both corners of the infield, and Summers will see time behind the dish at catcher.
“So far I could not be more impressed with the hard work and attitude from all of our players in the program, especially the new players on the roster,” Carty said. “I am very excited to work with these guys on a daily basis and can’t wait to see them improve throughout the season.”
2022 Record: 22-3 2022 Finish: Won Div. 1 State Championship Coach: Blair Bourque
The defending Division 1 state champions enter this season with a massive target on their back, but Taunton has the majority of its talented lineup back in the mix and is ready to take on all challengers, including a very competitive and skilled Hockomock League.
Athleticism, competitiveness, and experience will all be strengths for this year’s Taunton squad which has a lot of familiar faces in it including last year’s league MVP Ryan MacDougall, who had the game-winning home run in the state final against rival Franklin. The left side of the infield might possess the best duo in the state in seniors Braden Sullivan, a UMass commit with a strong bat that plays third base, and Dawson Bryce, a slick-fielding shortstop with consistent offensive production that is also going to play at the D1 level at Merrimack. That trio makes up the heart of the lineup for the Tigers and will make life difficult for opposing pitchers. Junior Brayden Cali, who started at second in the championship game, will be another key piece offensively for Taunton.
MacDougall also led the Tigers in innings pitched during the regular season, and classmate Shawn Cali was right there with him, posting a 4-2 record with a 1.60 ERA, striking out 27 in 35 innings of work. That gives Taunton a strong 1-2 punch in its rotation, but there’s also room for opportunity with the graduation of Evan Cali, who went 3-0 in the regular season and started the state championship game.
“The majority of our guys are multi-sport athletes who love to compete,” said Taunton head coach Blair Bourque. “And since many of our starters from last season are returning, they know the challenges of playing in arguably the most competitive league in the state as well as how to manage playing in the high-stress environment that is the post-season. Taunton has never been in a position with such high expectations so as a coach, I’m excited to see how my kids respond. This is a close-knit group and even with all the talent, they have great camaraderie.”
Lineman Isaiah Miranda celebrates after he recovered a block punt for a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against Stoughton. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Attleboro got the ball to start the second half of Friday night’s non-league game at Tozier-Cassidy Field with the score knotted at 7-7. When the Bombardiers took the field again for their second possession of the third quarter, they did so with a two-score advantage.
The Bombardiers blocked back-to-back punts for touchdowns to open up a 14-point lead and never looked back. Matt Harvie tossed three second-half touchdown passes, two of them to Aidan Pantages, and Attleboro rolled to a 42-19 victory over Stoughton.
“It’s great as you’re calling an offense to sit on the sidelines and watch the defense score,” first-year Attleboro coach Jim Winters said. “It certainly takes a weight off of you. We’ve got a lot of athletes, we put them out there, and they made plays.”
Attleboro’s first drive of the game was a turnover on downs at the Stoughton 35. Two plays later, the Black Knights struck first. Jared Daughtry looked out to his left for a receiver but, with everyone covered, he turned to his right and hit Tagh Swierzewski in the flat. The senior running back burst past the Attleboro secondary, racing down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown.
Pantages had a big day on special teams as well as at receiver. He returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards out to midfield. After a long injury delay, Attleboro went to work offensively. Harvie (10-of-17, 216 yards) looked downfield on third and nine, finding Cole McKenna in one-on-one coverage for a 38-yard gain. After a 10-yard gain by Adrian Rivera (16 carries, 77 yards), Harvie punched it in with a one-yard sneak to tie things at 7-7.
Stoughton was on the move on its next possession, with Daughtry (7-of-18, 149 yards) hitting Alex Huynh (four catches, 75 yards) for 21 to get to the Attleboro 29. The Black Knights converted on third and short to have first down at the 16, but Brody McKenna sacked Daughtry for a loss of eight and then snuffed out a screen to Swierzewski on third and long for a loss of six to force a turnover on downs.
Both teams were moving the ball and getting into the opposition half of the field, but neither converted those drives into more points before the break.
Attleboro got another good kickoff return, this time of 40 yards by Michael Huntington, and started at the Stoughton 45, but was forced into a three-and-out. Stoughton had little more success starting at its own eight and Liam Pearl dropped back to punt from the goal line. Cole McKenna got around the edge and blocked the kick, with lineman Isaiah Miranda recovering the loose ball and setting off a wild celebration on the Attleboro sideline.
The Black Knights struggled to move the ball on their next possession as well, with Aiden Hochwarter breaking up the third down pass to force another punt. Pearl’s kick was blocked again, this time by Rivera racing around the end. Hochwarter picked up the ball inside the 20 and tiptoed down the sideline for the score.
“It happened to us last week too,” Stoughton coach Greg Burke said. I thought we worked enough on it but we didn’t move the ball when we needed to. You’ve got to move the ball there. At 7-7, pretty good half, I thought we played well the first half. Those two were killers.”
Attleboro’s defense was fired up. Nathan Lally broke up a pass and the combination of Casey Victorio and Michael McGowan forced an errant throw on third down. The offense finally got back onto the field and promptly went to work. Harvie went deep to Brody McKenna for 33 yards to the Stoughton 37. Four plays later, Harvie went long again, for 26 yards and a score to Pantages.
Down 28-7, Stoughton needed a spark and Huynh tried to provide it with a 66-yard kickoff return all the way to the Attleboro 23. Two plays later, Daughtry eluded the pass rush and rolled to his right. Under pressure, he flung a pass to the end zone where Victor Belan made a nice play to haul it in for the 22-yard TD. The extra point was blocked.
The Bombardiers were clicking on all cylinders by this point. Rivera went for 12 yards on three carries to get a first down and then Harvie let it go downfield again. He found Cole McKenna on the sideline. The senior pulled it in and then pulled free of the attempted tackle for a 46-yard TD and a 35-13 lead.
“We had a lot of kids out but other kids stepped up,” Winters said. Attleboro was missing playmakers Anthony Salviati and Ayden Ramirez. “Other phases of the game helped us out and got us rolling a little bit. Coach Burke did a great job being able to take away our run game and we were able to hit some big passes. Matt Harvie reads the field well and we have a lot of weapons.”
McKenna was having himself a day and he picked off a Daughtry pass on the opening play of the fourth quarter, returning it to the 22. Three plays later, on third and six, Harvie lofted a pass to the back of the end zone. At first it appeared to be headed for Spencer Sherck, but Pantages was also in the area and he ended up coming out with the ball and the 18-yard TD. Josue Salguero made his sixth extra point of the night and it was 42-13.
Stoughton made sure to not go quietly. Huynh had another great kickoff return. He went 47 yards to give the Black Knights the ball at the Attleboro 40. On third and 11, Daughtry hit Huynh on a wheel route down the far sideline for a 41-yard score. The conversion attempt failed.
“I thought we played pretty well for a half, but halves don’t win football games,” Burke said. “We just didn’t get it done. They did what they had to do and special teams was everything.”
Asked if this win would help restore the team’s confidence after back-to-back, hard-fought losses to Milford and King Philip, Winters replied, “You feel good that you played hard and you competed with those top-notch teams, but by the same token this is nice to learn how to win again. We’ve got to take what we learned from the two losses because Franklin’s next.”
Attleboro (4-2) will return to league play next week with a trip to Pisini Field to face defending division champ Franklin. Stoughton (2-4) will be home next week for another non-league game against Newton North.
Football
Stoughton, 19 @ Attleboro, 42 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (S) Jared Daughtry 58-yard pass to Tagh Swierzewski, Tommy Silva XP good; (A) Matt Harvie 1-yard rush, Josue Salguero XP good.
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: (A) Isaiah Miranda punt block recovery, J. Salguero XP good; (A) Aiden Hochwarter 15-yard punt block return, J. Salguero XP good; (A) M. Harvie 26-yard pass to Aidan Pantages, J. Salguero XP good; (S) J. Daughtry 22-yard pass to Victor Belan, XP blocked; (A) M. Harvie 46-yard pass to Cole McKenna, J. Salguero XP good.
4th Quarter: (A) M. Harvie 18-yard pass to A. Pantages, J. Salguero XP good; (S) J. Daughtry 41-yard pass to Alex Huynh, Conversion failed.
North Attleboro, 19 @ Foxboro, 14 – Final 1Q: (F) Mike Marcucella 23-yard pass to Lincoln Moore, Sam Carpenter XP good.
2Q: (NA) Chase Frisoli 5-yard pass to Jack Munley, XP good; (NA) Greg Berthiaume 18-yard rush, XP blocked.
3Q: No scoring.
4Q: (NA) C. Frisoli 3-yard pass to G. Berthiaume, XP failed; (F) M. Marcucella 25-yard pass to Luis Sulham, S. Carpenter XP good.
King Philip, 19 @ Milford, 7 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (KP) Matthew Kelley 25-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: (KP) M. Kelley 42-yard field goal; (M) Evan Cornelius 32-yard pass to Isaiah Pantalone, Nicholas Araujo XP good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (KP) Will Astorino 1-yard rush, Conversion failed; (KP) Tommy McLeish 13-yard pass to M. Kelley, M. Kelley XP good.
Mansfield, 20 @ Barnstable, 6 – Final 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (M) Connor Curtis 6-yard rush, Travis Hennessy XP good.
3rd Quarter: (M) C. Curtis 2-yard rush, T. Hennessy XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Tommy Smith 25-yard run, XP no good; (B) Targas 5-yard rush, XP no good.
Sharon, 29 vs. Fairhaven, 36 – Final 1Q: (F) Fairhaven 1-yard rush, XP good; (S) Liam Conway 34-yard pass to Jacob McLoughlin, Jace McCarron XP good.
2Q: (F) Fairhaven 21-yard rush, XP good; (S) L. Conway 9-yard pass to Jacob McLoughlin, J. McCarron XP good; (F) Fairhaven 13-yard rush, XP good.
3Q: (S) L. Conway 15-yard pass to Anthony Piron, J. McCarron XP good.
4Q: (F) Fairhaven 1-yard rush, XP good; (S) Gabe Korn 9-yard rush, G. Korn 2pt rush; (F) Fairhaven 4-yard rush, 2pt conversion.
Taunton @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Saturday, 10/15 at 3:00.
Oliver Ames, 8 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames sophomore Casey Milliken recorded a hat trick less than 15 minutes into the game to lead the Tigers to a big win on the road. Milliken finished with five goals on the day and added one assist for OA, who staked a 4-0 lead at halftime. Mike MacAdam, Mike Morais, and Jake Williams each scored once in the win. Ryan Linhares notched two assists while Jason Zalis, Joey Carney, and Andrew Martins each had one assist.
Sharon, 2 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Sharon senior Adam Eastman scored a beautiful goal in the second half to give the Eagles a crucial two points on the road at Canton. Rishi Shetty opened the scoring for the visitors, finishing off a service from Miguel Vasconcelos for the lone tally of the first half. Canton senior Jake McCabe buried the equalizer early in the second half but Eastman’s free kick to the upper 90 proved to be the difference. Rhys Davis anchored an outstanding defensive effort by the Eagles and senior Matt Baur had a strong outing in net.
King Philip, 1 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Franklin turned it up a notch in the second half and exploded for four goals after the break to take a big win on the road and stay two points clear in the Kelley-Rex division title race. Sophomore Garrett Scagliarini recorded his first assists to junior Michael Fernandez-Martin for the only goal of the opening half. After the break, Trey Lovell scored a pair of goals — the first assists by Max Tobin and the second by Scagliarini, while Fernandez-Martin grabbed an assist to Wyatt Herndon. Noah Cain (from Josh Dunlop) capped the scoring for the hosts.
Girls Soccer
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 5 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Freshman Tatum O’Brien recorded four points to lead the Bombardiers to a big win that pulls them back to .500 on the season. O’Brien opened the scoring in the first half, cutting in from the right wing and firing a left-footed shot into the top corner. A few minutes later, O’Brien doubled the lead cutting in from the opposite win. Jamie Davies made it 3-0 for the hosts before the break, running in behind the Milford defense and poking the ball past the onrushing keeper. Milford kept pressing in the second half. Serena Borges hit the bar with a free kick and Dani Atherton’s run down the right and cross into the middle picked out Ava Baglione but the freshman’s shot slammed back off the bar. The Hawks got on the board and with the same combo, Atherton from the right finding Baglione who took a touch in the six, turned, and scored. Attleboro finished the game with a flurry. O’Brien played a ball into the middle for classmate Jordyn Riley and she clipped a first-time shot over the keeper with the outside of her foot. O’Brien wrapped up her hat trick with a left-footed shot that snuck into the bottom corner.
Mansfield, 1 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Meghan McCann scored the game’s only goal in the final three minutes of the first half and it was enough for the Hornets to split the season series with the Warriors. Alexandra Fernandes assisted on the goal. Olivia Salisbury came through with a save on a Foxboro breakaway late in the second half to preserve the win.
Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 1 – Final – KP had a strong first half but was unable to find a way through Franklin goalie Rachel Welch, who made a series of big saves. The Panthers were able to turn things around a little after the break and scored twice to split the season series and move three points clear of the Warriors in the division. Alli Powderly scored the opening goal for Franklin, finishing an assist from Selene Hammad. Anya Zub headed in a long free kick from Norah Anderson for what turned out to be the game-winner. KP pulled one back with five minutes to play. Mikayala Thompson scored off an assist from Rachel DeFlaminis.
North Attleboro, 4 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – North Attleboro scored less than a minute into the second half to double its lead and tacked on two more in the final half hour of play to get a win on the road. Emma Pratt cleaned up a rebound off of a shot from Caroline McKenna to give the visitors the advantage in the 7th minute, a lead the Rocketeers carried into halftime. In the opening minute of the second half, Clara Giuliano converted a cross from Grace Norack to make it 2-0. McKenna then set up Amelia Maier in the 50th minute, and Haley Sinacola capped the scoring by heading in a cross from Sophia Bostock in the 76th minute. Cali Melo, Ava Uhl, and Juliana Matos has strong performances for the Tigers. Goalie Hayleigh Porter made 10 saves in the loss.
Stoughton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – After the Tigers edged the first meeting by a goal, the two teams played out a scoreless draw in the game at Muscato Stadium. The draw ended OA’s 10-game win streak that went back to the season opener at Franklin. Jenna Nelson, Molly Capace, and Sophia Byron all had strong games for the Tigers.
Field Hockey
Canton, 2 @ Norwood, 0 – Final
North Attleboro, 3 @ Dartmouth, 1 – Final – North staked a one-goal advantage in the opening quarter then scored once in each the third and fourth quarters to earn a 3-1 win on the road over Dartmouth. Sophomore Madison Folan scored off of an assist from older sister Caroline Folan on a corner midway through the first quarter, and that was the only goal from either team in the first half. Caroline Folan set up both of North’s second half strikes, first linking up with Francesca Spencer at 4:35 of the third and then with Julia Puccio at 8:31 of the fourth to make it 3-0. North’s defensive diamond of Ella Luistro, Rory McGinley, Maddie Bailey, and Ava Mckeon kept the net safe and started the Rocketeers’ runs on offense while Ava Spencer, Emily Burnham, and Kelsey Thompson played well in the midfield.
Volleyball
Foxboro, 3 @ Braintree, 1 – Final
Stoughton, 2 @ East Bridgwater, 3 – Final
Taunton, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Canton earned its second win in as many days, this time earning a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-18, 25-12) at home over visiting Taunton. Jess Wright had another strong outing with nine kills, 12 digs, and two aces, Kaitlin Bigham and Fatima Sidibay were strong at the net with a combined five blocks, and Zoe Scibelli ran the defense with 12 digs and three aces.
