Baseball
Attleboro, 4 @ Bishop Feehan, 12 – Final – Ryan Landry (RBI), Peter DelPozzo, Casey Victorio (RBI), and Johnny Pagano (run) each had a hit for the Bombardiers while Jackson Huntington tossed a scoreless sixth inning in relief, striking out a pair.
Canton, 6 vs. Brookline, 3 – Final – Canton rallied from two runs down and then broke open a tie game with a three-run fourth to pick up an important non-league win, as the Bulldogs fight for a playoff spot. Brookline scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, but the Bulldogs answered back with three in the second. After the Warriors tied the game with a run in the fourth, Canton put together a three-run rally in the bottom half to take control. Hayden Rose went the distance on the mound to pick up the win. He walked three and allowed five hits, striking out seven. Jack Digirolamo led Canton’s efforts at the plate with a pair of hits and four RBI. Matt Hart continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-3 with a run, Shane Kelleher and Nick Gillis each had two hits, with Gillis driving in a pair. Owen Lane and Matt Chafin each doubled and scored runs.
Foxboro, 2 vs. Oakmont, 3 – Final – Foxboro carried a 2-1 lead into the final inning but visiting Oakmont (#3 in MIAA Division 3 rankings) plated a pair in the top of the seventh to take the win. Ryan O’Leary went 2-for-3, Sean O’Leary hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, and both Tyler Prescott and Mike Marcucella had a hit. Nolan Gordon had a strong start for the hosts, allowing one run on five hits and three walks, striking out four in five innings.
Mansfield, 7 @ Xaverian, 10 – Final – Mansfield had 10 hits and pushed across seven runs but couldn’t overcome an early deficit against this year’s recently crowning Catholic Conference champions. Jake Maydak continued his strong month by going 2-for-3 with three RBI, Wyatt Bolduc (two runs), Brian Butler (run), and Anthony Saraiva (two RBI, two runs) each added a pair of hits, and Conner Zukowski and Aiden Jones each had a base hit. Luke Rogan pitched well in relief for the Hornets, striking out six with seven hits and no walks resulting in three runs (two earned) in four innings.
Softball
Franklin, 12 @ Braintree, 6 – Final – Franklin had a big start with five runs in the first inning and finished strong with seven runs in the sixth to pull away from the hosts. Junior Katie Dowley and sophomore Marley Allen led the offensive charge, each going 4-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored while sophomore Sarah Boozang had three hits and two runs scored. Carly Johnson-Pellegri (RBI, run) and Katy Liberman (double, two RBI, two runs) each added two hits in the win. Freshman Sophia Sacramone pitched well in relief, allowing just one run on four hits and one walk, striking out five in 4.1 innings of work.
Boys Lacrosse
King Philip, 14 vs. Bishop Feehan, 11 – Final – King Philip scored a pair of goals late in the third quarter to create some separation and held the Shamrocks to just one goal in the fourth quarter to land a key non-league win. The Warriors built a five-goal lead (10-5) by halftime but the visitors pulled even with a 5-0 run in the third; KP tacked on two late goals to stake a 12-10 lead going into the fourth. Offensively, Hayden Schmitz scored four goals and had two assists, Donovan DeVellis recorded seven points (three goals, four assists), Mason Thompson potted a pair along with three helpers, and Noah Minkwitz scored a hat trick. Tommy Kilroy had a trio of assists, Pat Weiblen scored once with one assist, Henry LeClair scored once, and Alex Viscusi added one assist. James Boldy had another strong game in net for KP, turning away 10 shots.
Milford, 16 @ Hudson, 0 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
King Philip, 15 vs. Bishop Feehan, 5 – Final – KP rolled to a big win over a fellow D1 playoff contender. Sarah Brown led the way offensively with four goals, while Nicole McDonald had a hat trick and Makenzie McDevitt scored twice and assisted on two others. Alyssa Legere chipped in with two goals and a helper and Abby MacDonald and Kelly Holmes each found the back of the net twice. Emily Campbell made five saves to backstop a strong defensive effort.
Mansfield, 12 @ Norwood, 8 – Final – Mansfield outscored Norwood 6-4 in each half to pick up a crucial win in is bid to get back into the D2 tournament. Ava Adams scored five times and Brooke Butler added four goals for the Hornets. Rose Maher (assist), Carys Colby, and Maeve Anastasia each scored once in the win. Lola Varricchione dished out a pair of assists and Keira Fitzpatrick set up one goal. Caitlyn Zajac made 13 saves to help the Hornets beat the Mustangs, who are ranked No. 22 in the division.
Milford, 15 vs. Hudson, 8 – Final – Milford freshman Avalina DiGiallonardo had a strong showing in net in her first career start to help the Hawks land a season sweep of Hudson. Sophomore Alexa Landry netted a game-high five goals while senior Emily Croteau moved into a tie for second place in program history at 150 points after adding three goals and three assists. TJ Downing and Kiara Ortiz each added a pair of goals while Erin Michelson, Yasmin Martinez, and Jordan Douglas each scored once. Senior Molly Hartman earned her first career point, assisting on a goal from Ortiz.
Boys Tennis
King Philip, 1 vs. Xaverian, 4 – Final
Girls Tennis
Franklin, 0 vs. Dover-Sherborn, 5 – Final
King Philip, 4 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – King Philip took two wins from singles and doubles to land a victory on the road over Foxboro. Shea Mellman (6-3, 6-0) and Caroline Freese (6-2, 6-2) took straight-set victories at second and third singles, respectively. The team of seniors Carlie Burns and Priya Riar only dropped a pair of goals in a 6-1, 6-1 verdict at first doubles, while senior Lauren Casper teamed up with Jaelyn Dang for a 6-4, 7-5 second doubles win. Foxboro’s Hailey Kornbluth picked up another impressive win at first singles (6-0, 6-0) for the Warriors.
Baseball
Canton, 0 @ Foxboro, 8 – Final – Sophomore Ryan O’Leary went the distance, striking out 10 and scattering six hits, to pick up his first career win and keep the Warriors even with Mansfield in the win column atop the Davenport division. The game was scoreless to the bottom of the third when Foxboro exploded for seven runs. The Warriors tacked on one more in the sixth. Ryan Leclair sparked the offense with two hits, two runs scored, two RBI, and two stolen bases. Ben Angelini also drove in a pair of runs and scored once. Sean O’Leary had a double and scored and Mike Marcucella added a hit. For Canton, Matt Hart was 2-for-2, while Owen Lane, Matt Chafin, and Hayden Rose added hits.
Franklin, 4 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final (10 Inn.) – Ben Jarosz had a leadoff single in the top of the 10th inning and eventually came around to score as the Panthers fended off an upset bid from the host Bombardiers. Pinch runner Evan Cournoyer advanced to second after an infield error and went to third on a sacrifice from Ethan DePaolo. Cournoyer beat the throw home on a grounder from Rex Cinelli for the go-ahead run. Attleboro put the tying run on twice in the bottom half, but the first was picked off and the second was stranded at first. Jake Shaughnessy (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K), Dillon Cashin (2.2 IP, W, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K), and Alfred Mucciarone (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB) all pitched well in relief for the Panthers. Sean O’Hara (5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K) and Danny Johnson (5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) both pitched well for Attleboro. Luke Sidwell had two hits and Tyler Bellan had two RBI for Franklin while Ryan Landry went 3-for-5 and Cooper Johnson went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run for the Bombardiers.
King Philip, 3 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Sophomore Cameron Hasenfus tossed a gem for King Philip, hurling a one-hitter complete game to lift the Warriors over North Attleboro. Hasenfus allowed a leadoff walk and a one-out single both in the seventh inning while striking out five in the win. KP held a 1-0 lead through the first six innings after an RBI single from Brendan Sencaj in the third inning, but pushed across two key insurance runs in the seventh. Tommy Martorano (single) scored on a squeeze bunt from Hasenfus, and Rudy Gately (single) scored on a sac fly from Max Robison. Dillon Harding was also strong on the mound, allowing three runs on eight hits and no walks, striking out two in a complete game for the Rocketeers.
Mansfield, 16 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final – Stoughton staked a 4-1 lead through five innings but Mansfield’s offense exploded for 15 runs in the final two innings to earn a big win. Jeriel Cuello drove in Sean Farley with a single and then scored on a passed ball, and pinch runner Joey McEachern (in for Hunter Malkin, who doubled) came home to score as well to hand Stoughton a 3-1 lead. The Black Knights extended the lead to 4-1 on an RBI from Dom Belle in the fifth inning. The Hornets offense was buzzing in the final two innings, scoring six in the sixth inning and nine more in the seventh. Drew Urban went 2-for-2 with a double, four RBI, and two runs scored, Anthony Saraiva also had two hits, including a double, an RBI, and two runs scored, Jake Maydak went 2-for-5 with four RBI and a run, and Sam Martin was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Malkin pitched well for Stoughton, allowing six runs (none earned) on five hits and two walks, striking out seven in 5.1 innings.
Milford, 2 @ Taunton, 9 – Final – Milford put host Taunton on upset alert when it took the lead in the top of the fourth but the Tigers scored eight unanswered runs in the next three innings to get the win. Back-to-back two-out RBIs from Sean McGee and Joe Butler gave Milford a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Taunton bounced back with two runs in the bottom half on a two-run single from Caden Lindskog and never looked back from there. Sean Murphy had an RBI triple, AJ Lewis followed with an RBI single, and Lindskog singled in another run as Taunton extended its lead to 6-2. Brayden Cali and Ryan MacDougall each tacked on an RBI in the sixth while Jared Spencer scored on a wild pitch. Jack Cali was strong in his return to the mound, allowing one run on three hits, one walk, and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings while Brady Morin (2.1 IP) earned the win in relief, striking out two with one run allowed on four hits and no walks. Charles Rabel and David DaSilva combined for a shutout inning in relief.
Sharon, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 17 – Final (5 Inn.) – Oliver Ames pushed across seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in its second straight big win. Jack Perron had a team-high three hits along with a pair of RBI and three runs scored while Ryan Lemay (RBI, run), Patrick Finnerty (RBI, run), Drew Hall (RBI, run), and Andrew Zagami (RBI, three runs) each had two hits for the Tigers. Finnerty earned the win on the mound, scattering four hits in four innings, walking a pair with two strikeouts and two earned runs allowed. Ian Kelly tossed a scoreless inning in relief with three strikeouts and two walks. Palash Raina had a pair of hits (single, triple), an RBI, and a run for Sharon.
Softball
Attleboro, 13 @ Franklin, 8 – Final
Foxboro, 14 @ Canton, 2 – Final
North Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 12 – Final (5 Inn.) –
Stoughton, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Mansfield scored a pair in the fourth and one more in the fifth while Dani Jameson was strong in the circle to score a win over Stoughton. Consecutive singles from Molly Kucharski, Jill Koppy, Avery Lake (RBI) and Jameson (RBI) resulted in a 2-0 lead for the Hornets, who added another run in the fifth after a fielder’s choice from Liv Madeira. Jameson allowed four hits and struck out seven in the win.
Taunton, 9 @ Milford, 2 – Final – Milford kept pace with the visiting Tigers through five innings, trailing just 4-2, but Taunton plated five runs in the final two innings to pull away for the win. Bella Bourque had another outstanding day at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a double and two triples, driving in three runs and scoring once. Kaysie DeMoura also had three hits, two RBI, and a run for the Tigers. Hayley Krockta launched a two-run homer in the seventh to help Taunton put the game away. Cae Pellegrini had a solo home run for Milford in the third to cut the deficit to 2-1 while Camille Bonina had a two-out single in the fifth to make it 4-2.
Oliver Ames, 10 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Oliver Ames clubbed out six doubles and scored nine runs in the first three innings to take a win over Sharon. Katie Melendy (two RBI) and Crystyliah Covel (RBI, three runs) each had two doubles while Devon Morris (3-for-5, three RBI, two runs) and Paige Taylor (RBI, run) each had one. Sophomore Emily Martin went 2-for-4 with two runs for the Tigers. Ally Foulsham had five strikeouts and Manasa Josyula struck out six for the Eagles. Natalie David, Kendra Kodira, and Manasa each had an RBI for Sharon.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro @ Taunton, 3:45
Oliver Ames, 6 vs. Boston Latin, 8 – Final – Ben Reardon scored four goals while Ryan Jaco and Alex McAndrew each found the back of the net once for the Tigers. Noah Isleib was strong in the cage, making 14 saves for OA.
Sharon, 7 @ Holliston, 6 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Taunton, 5 @ Attleboro, 17 – Final – Eight different Bombardiers found the back of the net in a well-balanced attack and a win over visiting Taunton. Junior Molly Moore (three assists) and freshman Amelia Collins (one assist) led the charge with four goals apiece, senior Jordan Mooney, junior Addison Papagolos, and freshman Makenah Stokes each added a pair of goals, and sophomore Ryann Mooney, sophomore Isabella Cavallini, and freshman Abigail Titmas each chipped in with one. Cali Melo had four goals and one assist for Taunton while Raquel Azevedo added one goal. Mel Jesus made 19 saves in net for the Tigers.
Foxboro, 13 vs. Holliston, 7 – Final – Foxboro notched another impressive non-league win, this time rolling past visiting Holliston. Paige Curran picked up right where she left off from yesterday, potting four goals and three assists to lead the offensive charge while Val Beigel netted a hat trick. Cate Noone (two assists) and Mary Collins (two goals, one assist) both added a pair of goals, and Mya Waryas (three assists) and Grace Riley each chipped in with one goal apiece. Audrey Campbell turned away eight shots in net for the Warriors.
Oliver Ames, 14 @ Ursuline Academy, 17 – Final
Stoughton @ Hull – Postponed to TBD.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – The Bombardiers landed a sweep in singles action and added one more in doubles to take down host Franklin. Kyle Neuendorf prevailed from a tough battle at first singles with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 win, Tyler Rocchio took a win in straight sets at second singles (6-3, 6-3), and Shashank Shridhar emerged from third singles with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win. Attleboro’s first doubles team of Luke Hinton and Brody Rosen took a 6-3, 6-0 win. Franklin’s second doubles team of Andrew Amante and Aaron Ramaswamy picked up a 6-2, 7-6 (5) victory.
Foxboro, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Foxboro’s first doubles team of Evan Paluzzi and Ryan Fossella emerged from a hard-fought match with a three-set victory to clinch the win for the Warriors. After splitting the first two sets, Paluzzi and Fossella clamped down a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win. Foxboro also got wins at second doubles and third singles (Luca Meyer, 6-1, 6-1). Canton’s Max Kupferman earned a 6-1, 6-3 win while Bharata Ramanathan came out on top in a well-played second singles match (7-5, 6-3).
North Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip’s second doubles team of Leo Manning and Logan Riley rallied from a one-set deficit to take a win, clinching a 3-2 victory for the Warriors. Manning and Riley overcame a loss in the first set for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win, Arjun Kollu added a 6-1, 6-0 victory at second singles, and freshman Luke Bailer landed a 6-4, 6-3 third singles win. North’s Brody Carter picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win at first singles while the team of Brody Gaulin and Carson Dameron prevailed from first doubles with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 victory.
Stoughton, 1 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield bounced back from a tough loss to Sharon by earning the season sweep of Stoughton. The Hornets swept the three singles matches, loing only two games in the process. Iniyan Karruppusami won his match at first singles 6-0, 6-0 and Nikhil Nain and Jesse Colchamiro each won 6-0, 6-1. The doubles team of Justin Lim and Liam Lasbury-Casey won their match 6-1, 6-2. Stoughton got its lone point in doubles, as the team of Hadid Khond and Anthony Maylock won 6-3, 6-4.
Taunton, 2 @ Milford, 3 – Final – Behind two singles wins and one more at doubles, Milford notched a 3-2 win over Taunton a match played in pro sets. Senior Tyler Andreotti (10-5) and sophomore Corey Rattray (10-4) had wins at first and third singles, respectively, for the Hawks while the team of sophomores Todd Ostertog and Luke Fabry (10-6) added a second doubles win. Taunton’s Martin Frankinet landed a 10-3 second singles win while Derek Desseault and Collin Lofgren rolled to a 10-0 win at first doubles.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon took all five matches in straight sets to fend off visiting Oliver Ames. Jacob Slavsky lost just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 first singles win, Matthew Lally added a 6-1, 6-3 second singles win, and Alex Budovalcev completed the singles sweep with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at third singles. Sava Kassev and Joey Zwicker were victorious at first doubles (6-1, 6-1) while the Eagles’ second doubles team of Henry Chen and Andrew Xin landed a 6-3, 6-4 win.
Girls Tennis
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – The Panthers picked up wins at second singles, third singles, and first doubles to edge host Attleboro. Junior Chloe Essam had a strong showing at second singles (6-0, 6-2) while junior Brooke Taylor only dropped one game at third singles (6-1, 6-0). Sophomores Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen continued their impressive campaign at first doubles with a comeback win, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Attleboro junior Maddie Fuscaldo recorded a 6-4, 6-2 win at first singles and the second doubles tandem of Julia Leonardo and Bree Paulette notched a 6-4, 7-6 (9) victory.
Canton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Foxboro found wins at first and second singles as well as both doubles matches to take down visiting Canton. Hailey Kornbluth (6-3, 6-0) and Makayla Peck (6-1, 6-1) won at singles for the Warriors, Analisa Tia and Audrey Paulino (6-2, 6-0) notched a first doubles win, and Emily Stow and Katelynn Dineen (6-1, 6-4) prevailed at second doubles for Foxboro. Canton’s Katherine Powers rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 10-8 win at third singles.
King Philip, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – A singles sweep, highlighted by a comeback at second singles, lifted North Attleboro to a 3-2 win over visiting King Philip. Sophomore Megan Atwood bounced back from dropping the first set to secure a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win at second doubles in a three-hour long match to clinch the win. Junior Lauren Hunt (6-4, 6-1) and senior Grace Noreck (6-0, 6-1) won at first and third singles, respectively, for North. KP won both doubles matches with Priya Riar and Carlie Burns taking a 6-4, 6-3 decision at first doubles, and Lauren Casper and Jaelyn Dang securing a second doubles win.
Mansfield, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Mansfield earned its second win of the season and spit the series with Stoughton. Caroline Guravage got an important point for the Hornets at third singles, winning 6-2, 6-1. Mansfield sealed the win by sweeping doubles. Jillian Hanley and Savannah Carey won 6-1, 6-3 and Rachel Goldman and Anushka Srivastava won 6-4, 6-0. Stoughton won at first and second singles. Ally Lada took her match 6-1, 6-1 and Nadia Prokopiuk won 6-3, 6-3.
Milford, 0 @ Taunton, 5 – Final – Taunton earned a clean sweep, taking all five matches in pro sets due to time constraints. Brooke Bell (8-5), Ava Alves (8-3), and Morgan Smith (8-3) all won in singles action, while the team of Janelle Garcia and Courtney Martin (8-3), and the duo of Caroline Pietnik and Sam Parrett (9-8 (8-6)) swept doubles play.
Sharon, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Behind a pair of wins from both singles and doubles action, Sharon returned from Easton with a 4-1 win over Oliver Ames. Navya Shukla (6-1, 6-1) and Ale Aguilar (6-1, 6-0) had impressive wins at second and third singles, respectively for the Eagles. The team of Jenny Sand and Olivia Landstein earned a straight set win (6-1, 6-2) at first doubles, while the team of Grace Zhang and Zeina Cheima prevailed in a super tiebreaker (4-6, 6-2, 10-8) at second doubles. OA’s Hannah Farber played well in a 7-5, 6-3 win at first singles.
Baseball
Taunton, 12 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Taunton’s offense roared in the second inning and sophomore Johnny Escobalez had another strong outing on the mound in a win over Attleboro. Escobalez allowed only one unearned run on one hit and one walk, striking out seven in five innings to earn the win. Brady Boucher (two strikeouts) tossed a scoreless inning in relief. Offensively, Sean Murphy opened the scoring with an RBI triple, Braden Sullivan added an RBI double, and Bryce smacked his second three-run home run in the past week to put the visitors ahead 6-0. Bryce and Murphy (three RBI) each had three hits, AJ Lewis and Dwayne Burgo each had two hits, and Ryan MacDougall added a solo home run. Cooper Johnson had two RBI for the Bombardiers and Andrew Gorman had one.
Oliver Ames, 16 @ Canton, 6 – Final (6 Inn.) – Oliver Ames had its biggest offensive output of the season, pounding out 17 hits on the way to a 16-6 win. Seniors Jack Morley (two RBI, four runs) and Patrick Finnerty (two RBI, two runs) led the charge with four hits apiece. Lucas Riley also had a big day with a double and a triple, driving in five runs in the process. Nick Ferrini (run) and Ryan Lemay (two RBI, three runs) each had a double. For Canton, Jack Digirolamo went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs, and an RBI while Matt Hart and Kyle Redquest each had two hits and a run scored.
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 12 – Final (5 Inn.) – Buoyed by a pair of early five-run innings, Foxboro landed a 12-1 decision over visiting Stoughton. Ryan LeClair (run), Ben Angelini (double, triple, four RBI, two runs), and Louis Carangelo (triple, RBI, three runs) each had two hits in the win. Freshman Aidan Stow and sophomore Ryan O’Leary each drove in a pair for the Warriors. Senior Alex Stern earned the win for Foxboro, allowing one run on three hits and four walks, striking out a pair in four innings.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – A three-run third and strong pitching from Austin Campbell helped Franklin fight off an upset bid from the visiting Rocketeers. To start the bottom of the third, Ryan Gerety drew a leadoff walk, stole second, took third on a wild pitch, and came in to score when Luke Sidwell reached on an error. An infield single from Henry Digiorgio put runners on the corners, and both came in to score on Tyler Bellan’s single to center. North made it interesting in the top of the third by scoring two runs with two outs. Gio Martello scored after a walk, a double from Dillon Harding, and a passed ball to get North on the board. Derek Maceda followed with a single to bring Harding in to cut the deficit to one but Dillon Cashin (1.1 IP, 1H, 0BB, 0R, 2K) came in to get the third out of the inning. Austin Campbell earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out 10 in 5.2 innings. Jordan Paradis pitched well for the Rocketeers, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks, striking out six in four innings while Martello tossed two scoreless innings in relief.
Milford, 5 @ King Philip, 9 – Final – After some early offense from both teams, King Philip was able to outlast Milford in a battle of two strong teams. The Scarlet Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first but King Philip plated three runs in the bottom half and four more in the second, and never trailed the rest of the way. Milford pulled within two runs with a three-run third but KP pushed across one run in each the fourth and fifth innings. Matt Kelley went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs and Brendan Sencaj also had two hits along with three runs. Drew Herlin drove in a pair and Tommy Martorano had three RBI, two coming on a big double in the second inning. TJ Ahern was stellar in relief, tossing four scoreless innings with just two hits and one walk allowed, striking out three for the win. Louis Consigli went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Damien Carter had a two-run inside the park home run, and Joey McGee and Sean McGee each had one RBI.
Sharon, 0 @ Mansfield, 13 – Final (5 Inn.) – Mansfield scored its fourth straight win, capitalizing on early offense against Sharon. The Hornets scored three times in the first, four runs in the second, twice in the third, and four more in the fourth. Sam Martin (three runs, RBI), Matt DeShiro (three RBI, two runs), and Joe McIntyre (run) each had two hits to pace Mansfield offensively. Brian Butler drove in two runs while Anthony Saraiva, Jake Maydak, Luke Rogan, and Will Lund each had one RBI. Connor Curtis earned the win, tossing 3.1 perfect innings with four strikeouts while Yuv Sakhalkar tossed 1.2 shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Softball
Attleboro, 0 @ Taunton, 11 – Final – Taunton’s Sam Lincoln and Cate Larson combined to allow just one hit while the Tigers offense scored in four out of six innings in an 11-0 win over visiting Attleboro. Lincoln didn’t allow a hit in five innings, issuing just one walk while striking out 10 while Larson had three strikeouts and no walks in two scoreless innings. Offensively, Bella Bourque went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored, Mia Torres went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and a run, Ava Venturelli had two hits (including a double and a home run), three RBI, and one run scored, and Hayley Krockta recorded a pair of hits (one home run), two RBI, and a run scored. Kaysie DeMoura also had a home run for the Tigers.
Foxboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final
Franklin, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final (8 Inn.) – North scored in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game and then won it in the eighth on a Maryellen Charette base hit. Franklin opened the scoring in the first on Sarah Boozang’s first homer of the season. In the bottom of the half of the first, Kelly Colleran stole third and came home to tie it on the throw. The Panthers regained the lead, but in the sixth Arianna McDavitt singled, took second on a Molly Willey bunt, and came home on a single by Emma Hanwell. With two outs in the eighth, Willey doubled and came home to score on Charette’s hit up the middle. Colleran picked up the win for North, striking out 16 batters.
King Philip, 12 @ Milford, 0 – Final (5 Inn.) – King Philip plated five runs in each of the first two innings and that was plenty of offense for junior Jordan Bennett, who tossed a five-inning one-hitter for the Warriors. Bennett allowed just one single (a two-out hit in the second) and walked a pair, striking out five for the win. Offensively, Ava Kelley went 3-for-3 with three runs, Libby Walsh homered for the third time in three days, and Liv Petrillo had a double, two RBI, and a run scored.
Sharon, 1 @ Mansfield, 12 – Final – Mansfield pounded out 13 hits and scored in all but one inning to earn the win. The Hornets got on the board in the first. Liv Madeira singled, stole second, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a bunt single by Molly Kucharski, who tagged up to score on a Jill Koppy fly ball later in the inning. Madeira drove in Reilley Slaney with a two-out single to make it 3-0 in the second. In the fourth, Mansfield broke the game open. Madeira plated a pair of runs on a ground out and Kucharski and Koppy added RBI singles. The next inning, again with two outs, one run scored on an error and Kucharski came through with a two-run single. Sarah Marchand led off the sixth with a walk, stole second, and scored on an error. Kucharski and Slaney finished with three hits apiece, while Avery and Callie Lake and Madeira each had two hits. Amanda Schwarz allowed three hits to pick up the win.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 18 vs. North Quincy, 4 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Franklin, 14 @ Concord-Carlisle, 13 – Final (OT) – Franklin rallied from three goals down to force overtime and Katie Peterson found the back of the net to earn a hard-fought win for the Panthers. Peterson scored six times and dished out a pair of assists. Kaitlyn Carney added a pair of goals and a pair of helpers, while Lindsay Atkinson (one assist) and Jamie Tanner each scored twice. Julia Flynn had a big game in the Franklin defense and won three draw controls, including the one in overtime. Franklin’s defense came up big down the stretch, including Riley Cross who recently returned from injury, causing turnovers and allowing the Panthers to overcome the deficit.
King Philip, 11 vs. Hopkinton, 8 – Final – Nicole McDonald scored three times and KP picked up a solid non-league win over Hopkinton. Sammy Cloutier and Emily Heslin each scored twice for the Warriors and Mara Boldy played a strong game defensively to help KP pull out the win.
Taunton, 5 @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 22 – Final – Caroline Vallarelli scored twice for the Tigers, who also got a goal apiece from Maddi Szala, Cali Melo (one assist), and Raquel Azevedo.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Behind a pair of wins in both singles and doubles action, the Bombardiers landed a 4-1 win over host Taunton. Both Kyle Neuendorf (6-4, 7-5) and Tyler Rocchio (6-1, 7-6 (1)) earned hard-fought wins at first and second singles, respetively, for Attleboro while Luke Hinton and Brody Rosen (first doubles, 7-5, 6-3), and the tandem of Noam Cook and Clay Tyler (second doubles, 6-1, 6-3) added doubles wins. Taunton’s Heitor Sens continued his stellar season at third singles with a 6-1, 6-4 win.
Foxboro, 4 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final
Franklin, 3 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – Franklin junior Jay Gorgas prevailed in the third set to secure a win at first singles and clinched a 3-2 win for the Panthers. Gorgas won 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 while senior Tyler Fitzpatrick notched a 6-2, 6-1 win at second singles. Franklin also got a win from the team of junior Andrew Amante and sophomore Aaron Ramaswamy (6-3, 6-4) at second doubles. North Attleboro junior Quinn DiFiore posted a 6-2, 6-2 win at third singles, and the team of senior Brody Gaulin and junior Carson Dameron added a 6-2, 6-4 win at first doubles for the Rocketeers.
King Philip, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Milford took a three-set win at first singles but King Philip won the other four matches to secure a win on the road. Arjun Kollu only dropped a pair of games in a 6-1, 6-1 second singles match and Luke Bailor added a 6-2, 6-4 win at third singles for the Warriors. KP swept both doubles matches with Noah Ihley and Brent Schneider landing a 6-4, 6-4 first doubles win and Leo Manning and Logan Riley prevailing 6-7, 6-0, 6-2 at second doubles. Milford’s Tyler Andreotti emerged from first singles with a 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 win.
Sharon, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – A pair of strong doubles performances plus one singles win anchored the Eagles to a key division win over Mansfield. Sharon’s first doubles team of seniors Hyojae Park and Rithvik Neti picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win at first doubles while junior Savir Basil and sophomore Joel Zwicker emerged from doubles with a 7-5, 6-1 win. Junior Matthew Lally added Sharon’s lone singles win with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at second singles. Mansfield sophomore Neema Khosravani prevailed from a tough battle at first singles with a 7-5, 6-4 win, and junior Iniyan Karruppusami scored a 6-2, 6-3 third singles victory.
Girls Tennis
Taunton, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Taunton landed two wins in singles action along with one more from doubles play to edge out Attleboro on the road. Junior Ava Alves was impressive in a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles for the Tigers while junior Morgan Smith added a 6-3, 6-1 third singles victory for the visitors. Taunton’s third point came from the junior tandem of Caroline Pietnik and Sam Parrett (6-2, 6-2) at second doubles. Attleboro’s Maddie Fuscaldo notched a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles, and the all-junior tandem of Presley Biller and Kyra Johnson rallied for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 win at first doubles.
Stoughton, 2 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final
North Attleboro, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – The Rocketeers used a singles sweep plus one more win in doubles action to secure a win on the road at Franklin. Junior Lauren Hunt (6-1, 6-0), sophomore Megan Atwood (6-4, 6-2), and senior Grace Noreck (6-0, 6-2) all won in straight sets to sweep singles. The all-sophomore tandem of Jayla Stone and Grace Manning rallied for a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7) win for North’s fourth point. Franklin’s Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen teamed up for a 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles.
Milford, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – King Philip bounced back from a loss on Monday with a clean sweep on Tuesday, taking all five matches in straight sets. Ahunna James didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 first singles, win, Shea Mellman only lost one game in a 6-0, 6-1 second singles victory, and Caroline Freese landed a 6-4, 6-4 win at third singles. KP’s first doubles team of Carlie Burns and Priya Riar notched a 6-2, 6-1 win, and the Warriors’ second doubles team of Lauren Casper and Jaelyn Dang grabbed a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Mansfield, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon continued its undefeated season with an impressive win over Mansfield, taking all five matches in straight sets. Judy Song (first singles) and Ale Aguilar (third singles) both rolled to 6-0, 6-0 wins while Nayva Shukla landed a 6-1, 6-1 decision at second singles. Both of Sharon’s doubles teams (Sophia Oh and Abby Vilk at first singles, and Ellie Zhao and Zayna Cheima at second doubles) picked up 6-1, 6-1 wins.
Outdoor Track
Franklin @ Milford, 4:15
Boys Volleyball
King Philip vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 4:45
Baseball
Mansfield, 1 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 0 – Final – Mansfield’s Connor Curtis tossed a complete game shutout and the Hornets came through with a walk-off win over previously unbeaten Bridgewater-Raynham. Curtis scattered five hits and five walks, escaping a jam in the fifth and stranding a runner at second in the top of the seventh inning. He also struck out six in seven innings of work. In the bottom of the seventh senior catcher Aidan Jones — who had a great day defensively throwing out three runners trying to steal second — reached on an error to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Anthony Saraiva advanced to second on a single from Kyle Marnikovic, his third hit of the game, and then came home to score after a hit from Wyatt Bolduc.
Foxboro @ Ashland – Postponed to TBD.
Softball
Mansfield @ Marblehead – Rescheduled to Saturday, May 6th at 3:00.
Boys Lacrosse
Milford, 8 vs. Bellingham, 5 – Final – Milford built a two-goal lead by halftime and stayed ahead to earn a win at home over visiting Bellingham. Jayden Martins paced the Hawks’ offense with four goals while Jacob Ligor and Eric Farrell each had two goals and a pair of assists. Henry Baldic scored once for Milford, which led 5-3 at halftime, and Jason Stokes notched two assists.
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.”
