04/06/202304/07/2023

Boys Lacrosse: Ten Players to Watch for 2023

Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch — Franklin senior Luke Davis will be one of the main players to watch when the boys lacrosse season kicks off. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

Players are listed alphabetically

James Boldy, Senior – King Philip

King Philip will be aiming to unseat Franklin from the top of the Kelley-Rex division and Boldy is one of the players that the Warriors are counting on to be in the mix for a league title. The senior is one of the most athletic goalies in the area, showing off great quickness and reflexes to deny even the best attackers. During the regular season, Boldy made 225 saves, stopping more than 66% of the shots that he faced. The Warriors allowed a league-low 122 goals last season. A vocal leader in the cage, Boldy makes sure his defense is positioned well and his reading of the game allows him to make big saves. KP will be hoping to make more noise in the Div. 2 playoffs this season, leaning on Boldy and the defense to come through and make the Warriors hard to beat.

2023 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

Jeff Chaput, Senior – Canton

Canton is in the same situation as a handful of other Hock teams as they lost their leading scorer from last year in Sam Carlino (over 150 points over the last two seasons), but the Bulldogs have some good pieces left in the attack that will make them a serious contender for the Davenport division title this year. One of them is Jeff Chaput, an experienced attacker that has the ability to score big goals in big moments. He is coming off a strong junior campaign in which he scored 21 goals and had 17 assists during the regular season. Canton has some younger, inexperienced pieces this year so first-year head coach Tommy Galvin will be leaning heavily on his more experienced players like Chaput.

2023 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

Jayden Consigli, Senior – Franklin

Last spring, the Panthers put up record-breaking numbers, scoring nearly 60 more goals than any other team and having all three of the attackers hit the 100-point mark on the season. Consigli is a main piece of an offense that led Franklin to the Div. 1 quarterfinal. As a junior, the UMass Lowell commit scored 78 goals and dished out a team-high 56 assists. He was second only to teammate Luke Davis in points last year. Quick, creative, and capable of pulling off stunning goals and threading the needle on a pass, Consigli earned Eastern Mass. All-American honors last year. His movement off the ball makes him a constant threat. The Panthers know that they have an attack capable of putting up historic numbers and they will be counting on Consigli and company to fire the team to another league title and another tournament run.

2023 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

Luke Davis, Senior – Franklin

Franklin boasts one of the most potent attacking units in the state and that group is led by Davis. The reigning league MVP and HockomockSports.com Player of the Year was dominant last spring, with 94 goals and 42 assists, leading three Panthers that all surpassed the 100-point mark on the season. With Davis as the spearhead of the offense, Franklin scored nearly 60 more goals than anyone else in the league. The Boston University commit showed during the football season how strong and elusive he can be and he is even harder to stop on the lacrosse field. A creative finisher, who can score from anywhere, Davis is already a two-time Eastern Mass. All-American. The Panthers reached the Div. 1 quarterfinal a year ago and have loaded up the non-league schedule again this spring with intentions of going even further, and Davis leading statistically the best attack in program history has them confident a deep run is possible.

2023 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

Ryan DeGirolamo, Senior – Mansfield

One of the most vocal players on the field, DeGirolamo is the backbone of the Mansfield defense and one of the main reasons why the Hornets pulled off an upset of King Philip to reach the Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen last spring. Including that playoff game, Mansfield held three of its final five opponents to five goals or fewer and DeGirolamo’s ability to make big saves and communicate with his defense (and anyone else that gets near the cage) were big reasons why. His size gives opponents very little to aim at and keeps them away from the crease, while his quickness keeps out shots from distance. The Hornets will be hoping to make their first season in the Davenport a title-winning one and having DeGirolamo’s experience in the cage is going to be critical to make that happen.

Noah Isleib, Senior – Oliver Ames

Oliver Ames missed out on the postseason last year but the Tigers have some key pieces in key spots and are hoping that will help push the program in the right direction. Although the defensive unit will be relatively inexperienced, head coach Ben Devlin has a great foundation with three-year starter Noah Isleib in net. Before he heads up to West Hartford, Connecticut in the fall to play at St. Joseph’s, Isleib will man the cage once again for the Tigers. Despite being under heavy pressure last season, Isleib consistently made terrific saves that frustrated opposing offenses.

Jacob Ligor, Senior – Milford

Milford is looking to take a step in the right direction this season against a difficult league schedule, and the Hawks have some talented pieces among their returners; the Hawks have all but one starter back from last year. One of the most experienced players on the roster is senior Jacob Ligor, who has been a reliable option in the attack for the past two seasons. Ligor recently committed to play lacrosse at American International College and is coming off a junior season where he led the Scarlet Hawks in scoring with 24 goals and nine assists. Ligor is a hard-working piece of the attack that has a knack for finding the back of the net. He’s off to a good start this season with four goals and three assists in the first three games.

2023 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

Jake Kaufman, Junior – Sharon

After reaching the Division 2 state tournament a year ago, the Eagles are aiming to make it two seasons in a row this year. One of the biggest questions will be offensive production as Sharon graduated its leading scorer in Brady Daylor (who finished fourth in the entire league with 109 points in the regular season) and its second-leading scorer in Ben Shocket (46 points). But with graduation comes opportunity and the Eagles have a handful of players looking to fill the void. One of those is junior Jake Kaufman, a returning piece of the Eagles’ attack. Kaufman has experience up front after scoring 15 goals and adding two assists in the regular season last year. He will work along with Sam Rothbaum again and the Eagles added Dylan Cummings to the mix this year; the offense is off to a good start with Kaufman netting a pair of goals in Sharon’s 11-10 overtime win over KP.

Conor Noone, Senior – Foxboro

Noone had to bounce back from an early-season injury last spring, but it didn’t prevent him from being one of the top attacking threats in the league. The Merrimack College commit helped a relatively young Warriors squad reach the Div. 3 quarterfinal and was the spearhead of an offense that scored the third-most goals in the Hock. Noone scored 23 goals and had a team-high 31 assists, despite missing several games. He continued to show off his ability to score in a variety of ways and from just about any angle. His willingness to make the extra pass opened up extra scoring chances for his team, but he could also take on a defense when the Warriors needed a goal. Foxboro will be hoping to get a full season of Noone’s attacking threat to get back on top in the Davenport division and compete with the top teams in D3.

2023 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

Carter Shelton, Senior – Attleboro

Attleboro has seen steady improvement over the past few seasons, increasing its win total each year, and Shelton’s emergence as one of the most consistent attackers in the league was a huge factor in the Bombardiers finishing with the second-most wins in program history and scored a program-best 165 goals. He was top 10 in the league last spring with 47 goals and 37 assists. His size and strength around the cage made him a tough player to mark, but he was also able to see passing lanes that opened up chances for his teammates. Attleboro will hope to increase its win total for the fourth straight year and Shelton’s development as a dynamic scorer gives the Bombardiers hopes of getting into the playoff conversation.

2023 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

04/04/2023

2023 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2023 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

Attleboro

2022 Record: 6-11
2022 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Kevin Patton
Attleboro took a step in the right direction last season as it improved its win total and had one of its best offensive seasons in its program’s young history. Head coach Kevin Patton is hoping the upward trajectory continues this season.

2023 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

After a big increase in offensive production, expectations remain high for a similar output as the Bombardiers have its top two scorers back from a year ago in seniors Carter Shelton and Cole McKenna. Shelton will return to the attack after finishing inside the top 10 in the Hockomock League in points, tying for ninth with 47 goals and tying for eighth best in the league with 37 assists. A lot of those assists went to McKenna, an end-to-end midfielder that really sets the tone on both ends. McKenna had 25 goals and 12 assists a year ago. Senior Jack DiLiddo and sophomore Nathan Conroy are also back in the mix in the attack, giving the Bombardiers an experienced group up front.

As the Bombardiers strive to make the state tournament, another positive is the experience on the defensive end. Junior Harry Wheaton is back in the net for the third straight year and is among the most experienced goalies in the league after turning away 237 shots last year. He has a veteran group in front of him as well led by senior Bobby Sawyer, juniors John Wheaton and Ethan Lyons, and sophomore Matt Silva — all returning varsity players. Meanwhile, McKenna will be joined in the midfield by fellow returners and classmates Spencer Sherck and Patrick McAvoy. Junior Tyler Graney and freshman Landon Vieira will also be in the mix for meaningful minutes in the midfield.

“With a solid returning core with varsity experience, we will be relying on these guys to provide leadership and hard work to help us achieve our goals,” Patton said.

Canton

2022 Record: 5-12
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Tommy Galvin
Former Canton standout Tommy Galvin, who was the interim coach during the 2021 season when the Bulldogs won a share of their third-ever Davenport division title, takes over as head coach this season and will be looking to get his squad back into content for the league crown.

There isn’t much experience on this year’s squad so Galvin will be leaning heavily on the handful of veterans he does have on the squad. The offense will face the task of replacing the production of last year’s leading scorer Sam Carlino, who had over 150 points between the past two seasons. Senior Jeff Chaput will lead the charge offensively as one of the few returners in the attack, coming off a season with 21 goals and 17 assists. Junior Brendan Tourgee anchors the midfield unit and had a terrific sophomore campaign, adding to the offense with 22 goals and 26 assists. Freshmen Ethan Keleher and Michael Thomas could make an immediate impact right away.

There are only a handful of seniors on the team so there is plenty of opportunity for new faces to step in and find a spot in the lineup. Galvin will be looking to find the right combination of players in order to find the recipe for success this season. Defensively, junior Colin Blake is back in the mix and will be a leader on that end of the field. Galvin believes the Bulldogs have a smart and tough defensive core that will play in front of a competitive group of goalies.

“I am very excited to begin my head coaching career with this group of kids,” Galvin said. “They come to practice every day ready to learn and always give 100%. We have some new faces but also a lot of two and three-year starters who we will lean on, especially at the start of the season. I expect to be competitive in every game and am looking forward to the season starting this week.”

2023 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

Foxboro

2022 Record: 14-7
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Quarterfinal
Coach: Matt Noone
Foxboro has always been in the picture in the Davenport division title hunt, having won four in the past six seasons, and with nine returners back it looks like the Warriors will be in the mix once again this year.

There’s no doubt that the Warriors will have one of the best attacks in the division, and in the entire league, with the talent they have back up front. Senior Conor Noone has been scoring goals and making plays for the Warriors since his sophomore season, finding the back of the net 23 times during the regular season last year and added a team-high 31 assists. Sophomore Jon Sacchetti is coming off an impressive freshman season and will look to take the next step this spring, and sophomore Aidan Waller rounds out the Warriors’ attack group. Senior Finn Stapleton is another seasoned veteran and his presence on both ends will be vital for Foxboro’s success this year.

Stapleton will be joined in the midfield by a trio of talented juniors in Ryan Cotter, Luis Sulham, and Ian Foley — all multi-sport athletes that can get up and down the field and make plays on both ends. Sophomore Ian Williamson and freshmen Cam Delesky and Michael McCabe will provide depth in the midfield. Defensively, it starts in the cage with junior Adam Addeche, who begins his third campaign as the starting goalie. He will have a familiar face out in front with junior Jack Sullivan returning to anchor the defensive unit while sophomores Jaiden Jean and James Dee Gaffney will look to fill out the defense.

Franklin

2022 Record: 15-6
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Quarterfinal (Kelley-Rex champion)
Coach: Lou Verrochi
Every spring, Hockomock teams start the new season hoping this will be the year that Franklin loosens its grip on the Kelley-Rex division and each time the Panthers return with the talent to not only win state titles but to compete with the best programs in the state. In fact, longtime coach Lou Verrochi believes this might be as good a team as he has ever had.

Franklin’s attack will be among the best in the state. Senior Luke Davis is already a two-time All-American, senior Jayden Consigli was an All-American last year, and senior Tyler Sacchetti joined his attacking partners by recording more than 100 points in 2022. All three are Div. I commits. The Panthers have loads of depth in the midfield with senior Ravin Chaudhury providing box-to-box work and classmate John Walshe a standout defensive midfielder. Juniors Eddie O’Brien, Ryan Grasso, and Drew Hansen can all jump into the attack and produce, while seniors Chris Drake and Brian Leonard will provide cover in the defensive half.

The defense has more experience this season. Senior Ben Harvey will be the anchor of a strong group of poles. Senior Braeden Leonard has battled injuries but is finally healthy and ready to step into a big role and sophomore Drew McCarthy will be the third starter. Senior Connor Sullivan and sophomore Flynn Baker will split time between LSM and close defense. Junior Matt Corvi and senior Mike Galvin give Franklin two strong shot-stoppers in goal and senior Justin Alexander is one of the best FOGOs in the state.

“We also have many players waiting in the wings that can really play,” Verrochi said. “I’m very excited for this season.”

2023 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

King Philip

2022 Record: 13-5
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Hal Bean
King Philip has been chasing Franklin at the top of the Kelley-Rex division since the team shared the title in 2014. The Warriors are hoping to finally unseat the Panthers this spring but also to put together a tournament run after last season’s postseason came to an abrupt end at the hands of rival Mansfield. After graduating 16 seniors from last year’s roster, KP will have to quickly incorporate a lot of new faces to make that title challenge.

The attack will be led by junior Donovan DeVellis. He scored 30 goals last year and was second on the team in scoring. This spring, he’ll lead the line. Also helping out in attack will be Pat Weiblen, Justin Kosh, Aiden McCarthy, and freshman Mason Thompson. Senior Alex Viscusi and Noah Minkwitz will take charge of an athletic midfield. They will be joined by Hayden Schmitz, Cullen McCarthy, Brandon Berdos, Thomas Kilroy, Henry Leclair, Nick Longobardi, and Jake Booth.

Defense has been a consistent strength for the Warriors. They allowed a league-low 122 goals in 18 games last season. Senior goalie James Boldy will be the leader of the defensive unit and will have a lot of depth in front of him. Juniors Tyler Douglas and Jack Berthiaume will be helped out by freshman defenseman Brodie McDonald, whose potential makes him one to watch. The defense will also see contributions from Luke Stehley, Averi Dangelo, Drew Bowen, Jackson Fornash, and backup goalie Finn Cunningham.

The King Philip boys varsity lacrosse team finds ourselves in familiar territory playing in competitive games against teams in and out of the Hockomock League and working towards improving previous years’ standings,” said KP coach Hal Bean. “This year’s captains James Boldy, Alex Viscusi, and Donovan DeVellis are great individuals and a joy to coach. I am very fortunate to have them leading this program.”

Mansfield

2022 Record: 8-12
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen
Coach: Tim Frias
Mansfield’s defense came up strong in the closing stretch of the 2022 season, holding three of its final five opponents to five goals or fewer, including rival King Philip in the opening round of the playoffs. The Hornets have an experienced group at both ends of the field hoping to carry that momentum into the new year and put together a title challenge in their first year in the Davenport.

Up top, the Hornets return a talented group of attackers. Senior Drew Sacco will be the leader of that group, but he will have plenty of help from juniors Tommy Smith and Will Riley. Freshman Andrew DeGirolamo will give Mansfield a strong four-man rotation hoping to set the ton near the opposition cage. The midfield will be led by seniors Aiden Steele, Cody Gordon, Grady Sullivan, and junior Andrew Burnham, all of whom are strong two-way players. Juniors Sam Oliveira, Logan Pereira, and Ben Grella and freshmen Nico Smith, Tommy Vallett, and Donovan Minton will give Mansfield enviable strength in numbers.

The defense will also have a lot of depth this season. Senior Liam Barry, juniors Nolan Bordieri and James DeGirolamo, and sophomore Thomas Gormley will lock things down at close defense. Senior Stephen Mullert, junior Dylan Sansone, and freshmen Ben Hoopis and KJ Mahoney will provide extra help at LSM. Senior goalie Ryan DeGirolamo will be back in the cage this season to give the Hornets extra leadership in defense.

Milford

2022 Record: 1-15
2022 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Austin Costa
Milford coach Austin Costa, who has played for the Portuguese national team, is excited that the Hawks could be poised for a step forward as a program this spring. With all but one starter returning from last season, more than 20 underclassmen adding depth to the roster, and enough players in the program to have a JV team for the first time in seven years, Milford has the depth to make a mark.

The attack will be loaded with experience, as all three starters are back. Senior Jacob Ligor is the team’s top scorer and the AIC commit will again be counted on to lead the line alongside classmate Eric Farrell. Sophomore Jayden Martins could be poised for a breakout season. The midfield is loaded with young talent including freshman Henry Baldic, who will also try to be a contributor on face-offs. Freshmen Jason Stokes and Ricky Nashawaty and sophomores Anthony Maietta, Robbie DeGasperis, and Matthew Lioce will all be contributors this season.

Senior Nick Casilli is the leader of the defensive unit and senior goalie Alex McGuire will help keep things organized at the back. Junior Oliver McKee is a newcomer that will add strength in defense and freshman Dylan Burns is expected to have an instant impact with his speed. Freshman Ethan Charczenko will be a defensive midfielder who should see immediate playing time.

Costa said, “I think this is going to be another great step for Milford in our goal of growing the lacrosse program and competing in the Hockomock. With a great balance of senior leadership and talented underclassmen, I cannot think of a better group to reset the expectations and reach new goals for Milford lacrosse. The excitement, the numbers, and the energy are back for Milford lacrosse.”

2023 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

North Attleboro

2022 Record: 18-3
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Quarterfinal (Davenport champion)
Coach: Ryan Izzo
North Attleboro won 18 games and the Davenport division title in 2022, but the Rocketeers graduated 12 seniors and will have a new coaching staff this season. Former Walpole, UMass, and MLL standout Ryan Izzo takes over after a couple of seasons coaching Norton and he inherits a young roster that will be looking to gain valuable experience.

Senior goalie JT Gallagher is back in the cage this season and will be an important leader for the defensive unit. Classmate Julian House and junior Connor Rajotte return on close defense and will be counted on to mark some of the opposition’s best attackers. Senior Jack Regan will be the leader of an attacking group that graduated a lot of production from last year. Sophomore Brady Backner is the team’s top returning scorer but has an injury to start the season.

“Young squad with great senior leadership,” Izzo said about his roster. “Will be a good test this year in regards to understanding the speed at this level and the skill set from those really well-rounded teams. We will look to compete at a high-level day in and day out. With a lot of first-year players on the squad, we may be inexperienced on paper, but what’s lacking in skill, will be made up with toughness and outworking our opponents. Looking forward to a great season for North.”

Oliver Ames

2022 Record: 7-11
2022 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Ben Devlin
Even after graduating a 50-goal scorer, Oliver Ames has plenty of scoring punch back from last year’s team. Defensively, the Tigers will have only one returning starter so will be counting on several new faces to step into bigger roles this spring and have instant impacts as they try to get into the playoff mix.

Senior Ben Reardon is coming off a 55-goal, 29-assist season and will be the leader of the attacking group, while junior Alex McAndrew and sophomore Shawn Teehan will join him up front. Teehan stepped into a starting role by the end of his freshman season. Junior Ryan Jaco provided 23 goals from midfield last year and he’ll be joined by his twin brother Evan, who is moving forward from his defensive midfield role. Senior Jake Manthous will handle face-offs and get more time on offense this season, while senior Victor Romeiro and junior Owen Bourne will both see playing time.

The defense will be relatively inexperienced, but junior Landon Grothe is a three-year starter. Senior Jason Zalis saw plenty of action as a sophomore but missed his junior season and junior Liam Dunlap, sophomore Bryce Deibel, and freshman Lawrence Dear will compete to be the third pole. Junior Jack Corey takes over at LSM after being converted from attack. Senior Noah Isleib, a St. Michael’s commit, is back for his third year as the starting goalie and he will be backed up by junior Ethan St. Jean.

“We continue to try to rebuild and compete in a very difficult Hockomock League,” said OA coach Ben Devlin. “We look for several returning, younger players to pick up some of that lost production. We are hoping that our defense is improved over last year with some increased depth and experience from several key players. As always, our toughest games are within the league. Every Hock team is talented and well-coached, but our goal as always is to try to win enough games to make the tourney.”

Sharon

2022 Record: 9-10
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Jon Shocket
Sharon continues to build experience with a relatively young roster. The Eagles have only one senior on the roster this season, but they will still be looking to get back into the state tournament and stay in the mix in the Davenport division.

The defense will continue to learn on the job. Sophomores Ben Goldberg and Zack Berstein will be back at the poles with classmate Matt Powers in the cage. On the other end of the field, the attack features junior Sam Rothbaum and Jake Kaufman with newcomer Dylan Cummings getting the chance to contribute right away.

The midfield will be athletic and is probably the team’s most experienced group. Ryan Brown will give the team energy on both ends of the field and Ronan Widland will be back at LSM. Gabe Korn and Jordan Weisman will add depth and production in the midfield.

“We will have some growing to do,” said Sharon coach Jon Shocket. “We have only one senior on the squad so this year and next will be super exciting!”

2023 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

Taunton

2022 Record: n/a
2022 Finish: n/a
Coach: Brendan Chambers
Taunton is playing varsity boys lacrosse for the first time since 2018, but the Tigers are hoping that the experience and cohesiveness of the roster will carry the team through the season. Although it hasn’t been at the varsity level, many of the seniors have been playing together since eighth grade and the Tigers have a host of underclassmen that could step in and play big roles.

The defense will be led by senior Ethan Fitzsimmons, whose game IQ will be crucial against some of the top attackers in the Hock. Senior Jake Leonard will also play close defense. Freshman Riley Mellin will be in the mix on defense as sophomore Landen Rodrigues works his way back from an injury. Freshman Oren Cullins will be in the cage after a strong JV season that saw him go 10-4 and allow five goals per game. Senior Dylan McCaughey will be at LSM.

Offensively, the Tigers will be relying on three seniors. Last year’s leading scorer Israel Cruz has a nose for goal and will be the focal point of the attack. Thomas Murphy and Colton Scheralis will also get the chance up top and bring different facets in front of goal. Senior Tommy Selfridge is dropping back from attack into the midfield to balance the lineup and initiate the offense from the top of the cage. Seniors Colt Kennedy and Connor McGrath are capable dodgers and add more experience to the top midfield line. Eighth-grader Jameson Vallarelli has made a positive impression in the preseason and also looks ready to make an immediate impact.

“With a senior-heavy, determined squad, many of whom have been playing together since eighth grade, we are looking to fit the pieces together to have a competitive season in the Hock,” said Taunton coach Brendan Chambers.

2023 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

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.