04/09/202304/10/2023

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 04/10/23

Today’s games are listed below.

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.

Boys Lacrosse
Taunton, 2 @ Attleboro, 17 – Final

Franklin, 19 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game.

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

04/02/202304/05/2023

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 04/03/23

Today’s games are listed below.

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.

04/02/202304/04/2023

2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Attleboro

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.”

Canton

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.”

Foxboro

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.”

2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Franklin

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.”

King Philip

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.”

2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Mansfield

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.”

2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Milford

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.”

North Attleboro

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!”

2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Oliver Ames

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.”

2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Sharon

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.”

2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Stoughton

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.”

Taunton

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.”