05/09/202305/11/2023

Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/10/23

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Attleboro, 0 @ Milford, 7 – Final – Milford mustered up some early offense and senior Evan Cornelius was in control on the mound to help the Hawks land a key win over Kelley-Rex rival Attleboro. A three-run first inning proved to be all the run support Cornelius needed but Milford added on one run in the third, one in the fourth, and two more insurance runs in the sixth. Cornelius tossed six shutout innings, scattering three hits and four walks along with five strikeouts to earn the win; Mason Baldic threw two scoreless innings in relief, allowing only one hit and one walk while fanning five. Offensively, Damien Carter went 2-for-3 with another triple, recording one RBI and three runs. Nick Koch added two hits from the leadoff pot, Sean McGee drove in three runs, and Keith Lee had one RBI the win. Brody McKenna had a single, a walk, and stole two bases for Attleboro.

Sharon, 1 @ Canton, 13 – Final (5 Inn.) – Canton had three big innings offensively, punctuated with a six-run fifth inning to end the contest. Matt Chafin went 2-for-4 (four RBI, three runs, stolen base) including a three-run home run to put an exclamation mark on the win. Hayden Rose (RBI, run) added two doubles, Jack Digirolamo had a single, two RBI, and two runs, and both Matt Hart and Matt Lesser had two RBI in the win. Kyle Redquest had a solid showing on the mound, allowing just one hit on eight hits and one walk. Harry Librot went 2-for-2 for the Eagles while Liam Conway, Palash Raina, Drew Yaffe, Alex Coughlin, and Seth Bonner each had a hit.

Foxboro, 2 @ Mansfield, 8 – Final – Sparked by a two-out home run from Matt DeShiro in the first inning, Mansfield landed a key win over fellow Davenport title contender and rival Foxboro on Wednesday. The Warriors took the momentum early on Sean O’Leary’s solo home run in the top of the first but DeShiro answered in the bottom half, scoring Sam Martin — who had a two-out walk — to take the lead for good. The Hornets extended their lead with four runs in the second and tacked on two more in the fourth after the Warriors got one back in the top half. DeShiro, Conner Zukowski (triple, two RBI, two runs), and Jake Maydak (two doubles, RBI) each had two RBIs in the win while Brian Butler had a single, two walks, a stolen base, and a run scored. Connor Curtis earned the win, scattering five hits and two walks for two runs, striking out eight in 6.1 innings of work; DeShiro got the last two outs, including one strikeout. O’Leary finished 2-for-3, adding a second RBI with a double in the top of the fourth, scoring Ryan LeClair (triple).

King Philip, 0 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – Franklin junior lefty Austin Campbell dazzled on the mound, tossing a complete game shutout against a talented King Philip squad. Campbell allowed only three hits — all singles — and issued just one walk while striking out eight in seven scoreless innings. The Panthers provided run support by pushing a pair of runs across the plate in both the third and fourth innings. Senior Ryan Carlucci led off the bottom of the third with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice from Ryan Gerety. A single to right from Jase Lyons opened the scoring, and then Lyons — who stole second — came sprinting home on a single from Eisig Chin. Matt Kelley had a leadoff single for KP in the top of the fourth but was caught stealing by Franklin catcher Tyler Bellan. A one-out single from Ethan DePaolo ignited the Panthers in the fourth as Luke Sidwell reached on an error to put two runners on. DePaolo came home to score on a single from Carlucci and Sidwell scored on a sac fly from Gerety to make it 4-0. Rudy Gately pitched well in the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits and one walk, striking out four in six innings.

Taunton, 9 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – In just his third career start, Taunton sophomore Johnny Escobalez tossed a no-hitter as the Tigers bounced back in a big way by blanking North Attleboro. Escobalez retired the side in order in the first, second, third, fifth, and sixth innings; after a pair of walks to start the seventh, the sophomore got back-to-back strikeouts before getting a grounder to second to end it. He quickly worked around a leadoff error in the fourth, erasing a pair on strikes, finishing with 11 for the day. Offensively, Taunton took the lead on a solo home run from Ryan MacDougall in the second and never looked back, plating four more in the third, one more in the fifth, and three in the seventh. Brayden Cali went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and two runs, and Sean Murphy added two hits, including a double, with two RBI. Braden Sullivan, Dawson Bryce, and Shawn Cali also had an RBI in the win.

Oliver Ames, 12 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final (6 inn.) – Andrew Zagami had a strong performance on the mound and Oliver Ames’ offense roared to life in a big win on the road at Stoughton. Zagami scattered five hits and no walks, striking out five in six shutout innings. Offensively, Lucas Riley had a big day at the plate as he went 3-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored. Harrison Fitzpatrick (two runs), Matt Lawson (two RBI, run), and Patrick Finnerty (two runs) each added two hits, Ryan Lemay had a double and two runs scored, Drew Hall added a double, Jack Perron had two RBI, and both David Rodgers and Nick Ferrini drove in a run.

Softball
Milford, 0 @ Attleboro, 13 – Final (5 Inn.) – After being no-hit on Tuesday, Attleboro’s offense rebounded quickly. The Bombardiers pounded out 14 hits to bounce back with a win. Paige Quaglia and Lily Routhier both drove in four runs to lead the Attleboro attack at the plate. Freshman Jenna Callahan allowed only three hits (just one to the outfield) to pick up the shutout in the circle. Attleboro took the lead in the first when Sarah Maher reached on a bunt hit, stole second, reached third on a throwing error, and scored on a passed ball. In the second, Emily Eby led off with a single, stole second and scored on a single by Quaglia. The game was broken open in the third. Lauren Eby singled in a run and Quaglia blasted a homer over the fence in right to plate three more and make it 6-0. Milford got out of the inning on a nice lunging grab by shortstop Olivia Baglione. Attleboro added four more in the fourth. Routhier brought in one with a single, Emily Eby drove in a pair with a single, and Callahan helped her own cause with an RBI groundout. Milford center fielder Sarah Wengal threw out a runner at the plate for an inning-ending double play. In the seventh, leading by 10, Routhier ripped a walk-off, bases loaded double to left center, bringing in all three runs.

Canton, 15 @ Sharon, 2 – Final – Chloe Guerschuny (two RBI), Sam Grady (three RBI), and Kailyn Durham (two RBI) led the charge offensively for the Bulldogs with two hits apiece, and Shaelyn Murphy earned the win in the circle with just two hits allowed.

Mansfield, 3 @ Foxboro, 10 – Final – After a scoreless first inning, Foxboro scored in each inning after en route to a 10-3 verdict over visiting Mansfield. Freshman Meghan Kelley went 3-for-4 with a run, sophomore Emma Callahan added two hits, two runs, and an RBI, and junior Fiona Dunn went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored for the Warriors. Sophomore Ava Hill also drove in two runs for Foxboro while freshman Mia Flanagan had a double, an RBI, and two runs. Vittoria Cuscia earned the win in the circle, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk, striking out nine. Jill Koppy went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Hornets while Callie Lake, Molly Kucharski, Avery Lake, and Dani Jameson each had one hit.

Franklin, 0 @ King Philip, 12 – Final (5 Inn.) – King Philip senior Liv Ali punctuated a big third inning with a bases-clearing triple and the Warriors rolled to a big win over Franklin, earning a season sweep of the Panthers. Ava Kelley, Maddie Paschke, and senior Ava Lanza (2-for-3, three RBI, run) each drove in a run before Ali ripped a double to center to score three runs in a six-run third inning. Senior Charlotte Raymond had a big day at the dish, launching a first-inning home run to present KP with another early 2-0 lead and added a double as well. Senior Sarah Cullen had a double, an RBI, and a run scored, senior Libby Walsh scored two runs, and senior Charlotte Griffin had a leadoff single in the second, a walk, and scored two runs. McCoy Walsh allowed just one hit and one walk in five shutout innings, striking out nine.

North Attleboro, 0 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Taunton sophomore Brooke Aldrich led off the bottom of the seventh with a triple to right field and came home to score on a wild pitch two batters later to hand the Tigers a walk-off win after another pitcher’s duel between the two squads. Sam Lincoln dazzled in the circle for the hosts, tossing a no-hitter shutout with only one walk issued, striking out 15. Kelly Colleran was equally impressive for the Rocketeers, holding a dangerous lineup to one run on four hits and no walks, striking out 13. Kyleah Plumb and Bella Bourque had bunt singles in the sixth but Colleran stranded them at second and third with a big strikeout. Kaysie DeMoura also had a single for Taunton.

Stoughton, 7 @ Oliver Ames, 8 – Final – Oliver Ames jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first three innings but had to hold off a furious comeback bid from the Black Knights, escaping a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning to earn a key division win. Doubles from Maddie Homer, Devon Morris, and Caitlin Miller helped the Tigers push across three runs in the first inning while a two-run double from Paige Taylor and a two-run home run from Homer highlighted a five-run third for OA, resulting in an 8-0 advantage. Stoughton’s offense came alive in the sixth as Julie Powers, Anna Hobbs, Kerry Driscoll, Leila Alaoui, and Camryn Whitman all had RBIs to score six runs and get Stoughton right back into the game. Alyssa Edwards (walk) scored on a single from Whitman in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to just 8-7, and Caitlin Driscoll reached on a bunt to load the bases with one out. OA pitcher Katie Melendy induced a grounder to Homer at short and she got the force out at home, and then Melendy got a shallow pop up to second for the final out.

Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 4 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 13 – Final

King Philip, 5 @ North Attleboro, 6 – Final – North extracted revenge from the first meeting between the two squads, squeaking out a one-goal victory in a non-league contest. For KP, Noah Minkwitz (assist), Hayden Schmitz (assist), Donovan DeVellis, Tommy Kilroy, and Henry LeClair each scored once, Mason Thompson recorded two assists, and James Boldy made 12 saves in net.

Mansfield, 16 @ Braintree, 4 – Final – Mansfield picked up a big non-league win on Wednesday. Tommy Smith (two assists), Cody Gordon, Nico Smith (one assist), and Andrew Burnham all recorded hat tricks for the Hornets. Tommy Vallett had three assists and Andrew DeGirolamo had one helper. Drew Sacco added two goals and an assist. Nico Smith was 14-of-15 on face-offs to give Mansfield plenty of offensive opportunities and Ryan DeGirolamo made 11 saves.

Milford, 10 vs. Seekonk, 7 – Final – Milford avenged a loss to the Warriors from earlier this season, notching a 10-7 non-league victory on Wednesday afternoon. Jayden Martins had a big day for the Scarlet Hawks as he found the back of the net six times while Jacob Ligor added two assists and freshman Harry Baldic chipped in with a goal.

Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 15 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 14 – Final (OT)

Canton, 5 vs. Natick, 15 – Final – Devan Spinale hit a career milestone but the Bulldogs couldn’t keep pace with visiting Natick in a non-league clash. Spinale had two goals and assist, eclipsing the 100-point mark for her career. Emily McCabe added three goals and Ashley Balunas made eight saves in net for Canton.

Milford, 6 @ Norwood, 13 – Final

Sharon @ Ursuline Academy, 4:00

Taunton, 15 @ Stoughton, 10 – Final – Five different Tigers found the back of the net as Taunton went on the road and landed a win over Stoughton. Maddi Szala led the charge with a team-high six goals as well as two assists and Taryn Campbell notched four goals in the win. Cali Melo had a hat trick along with two helpers, Raquel Azevedo had one goal and one assist, and Caroline Vallarelli (goal) and Isabella Leite (assist) each had one point. Mel Jesus made 14 saves for the Tigers. Morgan Groppi (10 draw controls) and Amanda Reid each had three goals to lead Stoughton, Nicole Reid (two goals) and Casey Groppi (two assists) each had two points, and both Hazel McBurney and Sarah Riker scored once for the Black Knights. Jordan Coleman made five saves in net for the hosts.

Boys Tennis
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Attleboro’s Kyle Neuendorf bounced back after dropping the first set to emerge victorious at first singles, highlighting the Bombardiers’ 4-1 win over Milford. Neuendorf rallied for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 win while Tyler Rocchio emerged from a tight first set at second singles to land a 7-5, 7-1 win. Attleboro’s first doubles pairing of Luke Hinton and Brady Rosen notched a 6-4, 6-1 win, and Noam Cook and Clay Tyler rolled at second doubles to a 6-0, 6-0 verdict. Milford’s Corey Rattray took a 6-4, 6-4 decision at third singles.

Canton, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon dropped just two games total from its two doubles matches and added two more straight set victories in singles action to take down visiting Canton. Sava Kassev and Rithvik Neti only lost one game in the second set (6-0, 6-1) at first doubles while Joel Zwicker and Savir Basil dropped just one game in the first set (6-1, 6-0) to sweep doubles action. Junior Matthew Lally added a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles and Alex Budovalcev earned a 6-2, 6-0 win at third singles. Canton junior Max Kupferman was once again on his game, taking a 6-0, 6-4 win at first singles.

Mansfield, 4 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – A clean sweep in singles action highlighted Mansfield’s road win at Foxboro. Neema Khosravani (6-3, 6-2 at first singles), Nikhil Nain (7-5, 6-4), and Iniyan Karruppusami (6-2, 6-2) all won in straight sets in singles action for the Hornets while Mansfield’s first doubles tandem of Josh Weiner and Jacob Weiner landed a 6-2, 7-5 win. Foxboro’s second doubles pairing of Greg Simone and Nathan Cote prevailed in see-saw battle by wining both sets via tiebreaker (7-6 (4), 7-6 (0)).

Franklin, 3 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – Franklin won first doubles in three sets, clinched a win at second doubles with a second set tiebreaker, and added one win from singles action to edge out host King Philip. Franklin senior Eric Tomaino and junior Ahan Shetty prevailed in the third set after splitting the first two for a win at first doubles (6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-2) while Aaron Ramaswamy and Andrew Amante closed out a competitive second doubles match in straight sets with a 6-3, 7-6 (8) win. Franklin senior Tyler Fitzpatrick added a key singles win, landing a 6-3, 6-1 win at second singles. KP’s Jacksom Hom won 6-4, 6-1 at first singles and Arjun Kollu added a 6-0, 6-2 win at third single.

North Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Brody Carter emerged with a hard-fought win at first singles and North Attleboro swept doubles action to take a 3-2 decision over a much-improved Taunton squad. Carter prevailed 7-5, 6-2 at first singles, the team of Brody Gaulin and Carson Dameron only lost one game in a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles, and the team of juniors Arnav Raghuvanshi and Aaryan Anjna overcame a one-set deficit at second doubles to clinch the win (3-6, 6-3, 6-2). Taunton’s Martin Frankimet earned a 6-4, 6-1 win at second singles and Heitor Sens landed a 6-4, 6-4 third singles victory.

Stoughton, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final

Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Attleboro won in straight sets at first and third singles as well as both doubles matches to return home from Milford with a 4-1 victory. Maddie Fuscaldo notched a 6-1, 6-2 win at first singles and Aarna Sodhani dropped just two games in a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles for the Bombardiers. Attleboro’s first doubles team of Zoe Stanley and Kyra Johnson impressed in a 6-1, 6-0 result while the all-sophomore tandem of Julia Leonardo and Katie Lortos added a 6-1, 7-5 win at second doubles for the visitors. Milford senior Kaylee Whitney recorded a 6-1, 7-5 win at second singles.

Sharon, 4 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Sophomore Camila Cutter had an impressive win at first singles for the Bulldogs but Sharon’s depth was on full display as the Eagles returned from Canton with a 4-1 decision. Cutter came out of a back-and-forth first singles battle with a 6-4, 6-4 win. Sharon junior Navya Shukla (6-1, 6-4) and senior Ale Aguilar (6-1, 6-0) took wins at second and third singles, respectively, for the Eagles. The team of seniors Sophia Oh and Abby Vilk won a tiebreaker in the first set before completing the win in the second (7-6 (0), 6-1), and senior Ellie Zhao and junior Akshata Adkoli added a 7-5, 6-1 win at second doubles for Sharon.

Foxboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield won two of three singles matches and both doubles matches to avenge an earlier loss to the Warriors and secure its first victory of the season. Claire Copp won 7-5, 6-1 at second singles and Caroline Guravauge took third singles 6-2, 6-0. The second doubles team of Rachel Goldman and Anushka Srivastava swept second doubles without dropping a game. The first doubles match went three sets. Savannah Corey and Jillian Hanley took the first set 6-3, but Foxboro’s Katelynn Dineen and Emily Stow rallied to win the second 6-1. The Hornets got the point with a 10-4 tiebreaker win in the third. Foxboro’s Hailey Kornbluth continued her dominant season at first singles, winning 6-0, 6-0.

King Philip, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin swept both doubles matches and one key win in singles action to secure a close 3-2 win over visiting King Philip. Sophomores Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen continued their impressive campaign at first doubles for the Panthers, notching a 6-0, 6-3 win, and Franklin’s second doubles team of senior Allison Bagley and junior Ava Davies prevailed in a tight match 6-4, 6-4. Junior Brooke Taylor was impressive in a 6-0, 6-0 victory at third singles for the hosts. KP’s Ahunna James dropped just one game in a convincing 6-0, 6-1 first singles win and junior Shea Mellman added a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles.

Oliver Ames, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames overcame one-set deficits at both second and third singles to finish off the sweep of Stoughton. Hannah Farber continued to roll at first singles for the Tigers, who were playing their third match in as many days. Farber notched a 6-0, 6-2 win, Olivia Querzoli bounced back from dropping the first set to win in a super tiebreak (4-6, 7-5, 10-5), and Stella Zachos did the same at third singles after dropping a tiebreaker in the first set (6-7 (3), 7-5, 10-8). OA’s first doubles team of Ava Barth and Emily Beaulieu dropped just two games in a 6-0, 6-2 victory while Marina Mierzwinski and Ella Mierzwinski teamed up to take a 6-0, 6-4 win at second doubles.

Boys Volleyball
King Philip, 1 @ Norwood, 3 – Final
Milford, 0 @ St. John’s Prep, 3 – Final

04/04/2023

2023 Hockomock League Softball Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2023 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Attleboro

2022 Record: 15-7
2022 Finish: Reach Div. 1 Sweet Sixteen
Coach: Mark Homer
Attleboro is hoping a mix of experienced veterans and skilled newcomers will keep the squad playing competitively in the best league in the state, and more specifically maybe the most talented division across any sport in the league.

Senior Lily Routhier returns to the circle after going 8-2 last season, striking out 47 with a 2.24 ERA during the regular season. Routhier will likely see an increase in innings with the graduation of Lindsey Perry (69 innings), and she’s also one of the best offensive weapons in the league after posting a 0.510 average (fourth in the Hock) with 41 hits and 45 RBI. There are a lot of weapons in the lineup back with senior captains Rylie Camacho (0.410) and Lauren Eby (0.490) leading the way, and senior Sarah Maher, fresh off a 36-hit, 22-RBI regular season, will take over in center field and set the table offensively from the leadoff spot. Paige Quaglia, Merry Bosh, Lilly McGilvray, Jenna Callahan, and Nina Sullivan are all in the mix to get some time in the outfield and provide offensive depth.

In the infield, there are some newcomers looking to find a spot in the lineup. Maddie Moran and Victoria Parent are in the mix for time at third base while Emily Eby, who had an impressive freshman campaign with 20 hits, will play at second base. Destiny Miranda is also competing for time behind the dish while Ari Amaral will continue to be a force with her bat in the lineup.

“Things will not change for us as far as offense and defense, and we will work to be consistent and continue to improve as the season goes on,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Homer. “We want to be at our best when the competition calls for it and find positives in all adversity that we will face during the season. We want to continue the success we had as a team last season and improve. Every game will be a challenge for us.”

2023 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Canton

2022 Record: 4-16
2022 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Sandy Lombardi
With seven returning players, Canton coach Sandy Lombardi is confident that the Bulldogs can make a jump in her second year in charge. Playoff contention is the aim for a team that won only four games in 2022 but also lost four games by four runs or less, including a pair by just one run.

Junior first baseman and pitcher Jess Wright was the team’s MVP last season and she returns to the heart of the lineup along with senior catcher Olivia Mackwell. The pair combined for 48 hits and 30 RBI last season, so will be important pieces in the heart of the order. Also returning for the Bulldogs are junior shortstop Laura Valkanas, sophomore infielder Chloe Guerschuny, and an outfield of junior Anna Lehan and sophomores Klara Redquest and Kailyn Durham. Senior Abby Chin carries an injury into the season but Canton will hope that she can return to contribute.

Canton is hoping that a group of newcomers will add the depth it needs to compete over a long season. Junior Alexa Gordon and freshman Shaelyn Murphy can both step into the circle to give the Bulldogs big innings. Freshmen Abby Stock and Caitlin Reynolds and junior Sami Grady can all fill spots in the infield and junior Kaitlyn Bigham is a versatile player off the bench.

“We have a great mix of returning varsity players and new varsity players,” Lombardi said. “We are looking to improve on our record from last year and to qualify for the tournament.”

Foxboro

2022 Record: 12-10
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Sweet Sixteen
Coach: Mark Maguire
It has been over 51 years since Foxboro last won a softball league title, but with experienced pitchers and a versatile lineup of players who can fill in at multiple positions, this might be the season that the Warriors can finally come out on top.

Pitching depth should be a strength for the Warriors this season. Sophomore Vittoria Cuscia was a league all-star after being Foxboro’s ace last year and classmate Emma Callahan was an all-star as an eighth grader. Despite their youth, both pitchers have already won games in the postseason. Both players will also fill in at third base. Sophomore Ava Hill, who is already entering her third season on varsity, will move from first to behind the plate.

The Warriors should be athletic this year. Freshman Meghan Kelley will get the start at short, the latest in a line of talented underclassmen to step into that position, and will bat third. Freshman Mia Flanagan and sophomore Autumn Stowell can each play second base, while junior Angelina Rifai, sophomore Natalia Leach, and Stowell will get time at first. The outfield is experienced with all three starters returning. In left is Leach, while sophomore Jillian Slattery is back in center, and junior Fiona Dunn will be in right. All three will also be in the middle of the order for the Warriors. Freshman Emma Fisler will get chances to contribute in multiple positions.

“Our strengths are our young, tough pitchers,” said Foxboro coach Mark Maguire. “We are very athletic in the outfield and we have pretty good team speed. Although we are a young team, mostly freshman and sophomores, this group has been ‘battle tested’ the last couple of years playing significant games in the Hockomock League and state tournaments.”

2023 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Franklin

2022 Record: 11-10
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Breanna Shaffer
Last season, Franklin won nine games in the league, but was only able to take fourth in the Kelley-Rex division. This year, the addition of North Attleboro makes the division even deeper, but the Panthers will turn to King Philip alum, and two-time state champion, Breanna Shaffer and lean on an experienced lineup to try and make a push up the standings.

The Panthers will have plenty of pitching depth this year. Senior Kiera Kotwicki returns in the circle and has the experience of battling the top teams in the league. Senior Caroline Bruso and freshman Sophia Scaramone will also get their chances to toe the rubber. Senior catcher Hailey Fales will guide the pitching staff as well as being a big bat in the heart of the Franklin lineup.

Junior Carly Johnson-Pellegri is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign and returns at short. Senior Katy Liberman is back at third base, while sophomore Sarah Boozang takes over at first base and junior Katie Dowley will be at second. Seniors Reece Allen and Dana Stott are back as starting outfielders and classmate Avery Chalk will step into the outfield as well.

“This group of seniors work hard and lead by example every day,” said Shaffer, who previously coached JV at Canton and Sharon. “The leadership and experience that they bring to this team will leave such a positive impact on this program. I am excited to see what this team will accomplish this season!”

King Philip

2022 Record: 22-3
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Quarterfinal (Kelley-Rex champion)
Coach: Kate Fallon-Comeau
King Philip comes into every season with state title aspirations. This spring, the Warriors have added motivation, as the defending Kelley-Rex division champions watched rival Taunton, who KP beat twice in the regular season, go all the way for the second year in a row. The league seems as competitive as ever, but the Warriors return a strong core that looks ready to make a run at another title.

There is plenty of experience and leadership coming back this season. Junior Jordan Bennett will be in the circle for the third year in a row and has developed into an ace who can be relied upon against even the strongest lineups. Freshman McCoy Walsh and junior Taylor Regan will add depth to the pitching staff and can eat up some innings. Junior Maddie Paschke will be behind the dish to work with the pitchers.

Seniors Charlotte Raymond and Sarah Cullen will both patrol the outfield this season, while classmate Ava Lanza will be at third. Sophomore Liv Petrillo returns to the left side of the infield while senior Libby Walsh is back in the mix this season. Junior Ava Kelley had a big season at the plate in 2022 and she returns to take the third outfield spot.

“We’re looking forward to another exciting season and competing in one of the best and most respected leagues in the state,” said KP coach Kate Fallon-Comeau.

2023 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Mansfield

2022 Record: 10-12
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen
Coach: Lori Letendre
Mansfield finished 4-2 in non-league play a season ago and reached the Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen. This year, the Hornets will play in the Davenport division for the first time and could benefit from not having two games apiece against perennial powers like Taunton, King Philip, and North Attleboro. With a roster that is still relatively young, only two seniors and nine freshmen, Mansfield will hope that being battle-tested in 2022 could help in a fight for a league title in 2023.

The Hornets graduated seven seniors, including five starters, from last year’s team, so there will be a lot of new faces in the lineup, but a talented group of juniors will provide leadership for the younger players. Junior Callie Lake was a spark plug for the Mansfield offense last season and a strong defensive center fielder. Junior Live Madeira returns at shortstop, giving the Hornets another good glove and tough out, while classmate Jill Koppy controls the game from behind the plate and fellow junior Molly Kucharski will start again at second.

Senior Amanda Schwarz will be the starting pitcher for the Hornets at the beginning of the season after sharing time with Julia Kelly last year. Mansfield will have plenty of depth in the circle this spring, as freshmen Molly Crowley and Dani Jameson can also step in and give them important innings.

Mansfield coach Lori Letendre said, “We have a lot of new players on the team this year and will be looking for leadership from our captains and returning starters. They are a talented group and I am starting to see the chemistry that will bring us together as a team. It should be a fun season!”

2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Milford

2022 Record: 3-17
2022 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Steve Divitto
With a young squad last season, Milford struggled through some growing pains during the spring of 2022. After only graduating a pair of seniors from the roster, the Scarlet Hawks are looking to compete against one of the most talented leagues in the state and make a push for the postseason.

Milford is still young as they don’t have any seniors on the roster this year but the majority of the players on the team have one or two years of experience already. There is a group of seven juniors that include catcher Maddie Burn, first baseman Camille Bonina, middle infielder Grace Bonina, pitcher/shortstop Maeve Driscoll (who can also play in the outfield), outfielder Olivia Luchini, who is back from injury, infielder/outfielder Maeve Williams, and outfielder Sarah Wengal. Head coach Steve DiVitto will be leaning on their experience and leadership to guide a young squad.

Cae Pellegrini, Jianna Fernandes, and Olivia Baglione emerged as key contributors as freshmen last year and are looking to take the next step this time out. Pellegrini returns to third base, Fernandes will patrol the outfield, and Baglione is back at shortstop. A group of freshmen featuring Ava Baglione, Angelina Bonina, Katelyn Kearnan, and Isabella Loscerbo will look to make an impact right away. In the circle, Driscoll will look to pick up where she left off last year before being derailed by injury, with freshman Angelina Bonina in line to get some innings as well.

“With no seniors this year, we will be looking to our juniors and returners as leaders,” DiVitto said. “While still considered young, the vast amount of game experience that our players have had makes us a veteran team. No more excuses; we are ready to compete in the best league in Massachusetts. The girls are ready to get on the field.”

North Attleboro

2022 Record: 17-7
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Four (Davenport champion)
Coach: Bill Wallace
After three straight Davenport titles, which was the first three-peat in program history, and reaching the Div. 2 Final Four for the first time last season, North Attleboro returns to the ultra-competitive Kelley-Rex division with a lineup that features a lot of new faces and a lot of underclassmen. The Rocketeers still expect to be right in the title mix and make another run in the tournament.

Pitching will be the key for North this season. Reigning league MVP and HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Kelly Colleran will be back in the circle as the team’s main starter. Colleran was dominant last year, both as a pitcher and a hitter, and will have big expectations this spring. Sophomore Arianna McDavitt got a couple of starts last year and freshman Grace Forman can step in to eat some innings as well. Sophomore Maryellen Charette will be behind the plate for North after a solid freshman campaign.

Colleran and McDavitt will also play short when not pitching. Senior Maddie Bailey and sophomore Mary Rogers will play second and freshmen Lucy Palmer (first base) and Molly Willey (third base) will take over at the corners. Sophomore Emily Tucker gives North versatility off the bench. The outfield will be relatively experienced, as seniors Emma Hanwell and Grace Simmons will be in center and right. Senior Julia Forman and her sister Grace can play multiple positions.

“If our hitting continues to improve, we should be a dangerous team,” said North coach Bill Wallace. “We will continue to work on defense and hitting but team chemistry and leadership will give us the opportunity to continue to grow as a team. I really enjoy coaching this group.”

2023 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Oliver Ames

2022 Record: 7-14
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Lindsey Allison
Oliver Ames didn’t graduate a single player from last season and the Tigers will be aiming for another playoff appearance and to make a run at their first league title since 2014. The Tigers should be solid defensively and have a lineup able to manufacture runs and they will hope to build on last year’s postseason experience.

Pitching is always critical and senior Katie Melendy returns for her third year in the circle. After a strong offseason, Melendy could be ready for a breakout year after putting up a 2.03 ERA last spring. Senior shortstop Maddie Homer and senior center fielder Caitlin Miller give OA a strong spine and junior catcher Katharine Farley brings her cannon of an arm back behind the plate.

Juniors Madison Monteiro, Paige Taylor, Sammy Johnson, and Skylar Dearborn are all back for the Tigers, while sophomores Emily Martin and Devon Morris round out the infield after solid freshman campaigns. Junior Crystaliah Covel and sophomore Ava Tracia are newcomers who will add versatility to the OA roster.

“It has been a really smooth transition into the season in order to get game-ready,” said OA coach Lindsey Allison. “We are looking forward to a great season and continuing to build on last year’s successes. In practices, the defense has been really solid, as they are all used to each other mostly from last season. Katie Melendy has put in a lot of work in the offseason, and we are looking forward to seeing her build on her success from last year with support from the power and speed of the OA lineup.”

Sharon

2022 Record: 2-16
2022 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Heather Poliferno
Sharon swept a season series with Duxbury last year, but struggled in Hockomock play, scoring only 13 runs in the 16 league games. The Eagles will go into this season hoping to pull some surprises and, with a roster that includes eight freshmen and sophomores, build some momentum for the future as well.

Ally Foulsham will get the call in the circle this season. The senior has worked this offseason to finetune her pitches and Sharon coach Heather Poliferno is hoping for big things from her captain both as a pitcher and in the middle of the lineup. Senior Natalie Kessler also returns for the Eagles. After spending 2022 in a utility role, playing multiple positions, Kessler will start in center this season.

Junior Natalie David will be moving from the outfield to first base this spring and is another hitter that the Eagles will be counting on to try and improve their offensive output. Junior Maddie Hu will be at shortstop, using her speed to cover a lot of ground in the field and causing havoc on the base paths.

Poliferno said, “Every year, we go into the season with the mentality of ‘why not us?’ We will be going into every game this season with that thought.”

2023 Hockomock League Softball Preview

Stoughton

2022 Record: 11-10
2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Laura Whittaker
Stoughton heads into the spring with a new coach, as Laura Whittaker takes over in the dugout. The expectations will remain high for a team hoping to challenge for the Davenport division title, which would be its first league title since 2005, and to make a run in the Div. 2 tournament.

The Black Knights will have a lot of returning talent to lean on this season. Senior Kerry Driscoll will be back in the circle, after an 11-8 season, and also in the heart of the order here she was the team’s leading hitter in 2022. Senior Camryn Whitman returns at shortstop with junior Alyssa Edwards next to her at third. Both players provide leadership and swing big bats to add to a potent lineup. Junior Julie Powers gives the Black Knights a lot of stability from behind the plate.

Juniors Leila Alaoui (second base) and Maddie Hinds (first base) round out an experienced, tested infield. Sophomores Caitlin Driscoll and Angelina Berry and newcomers Anna Hobbs and Lauren Price will give Stoughton plenty of speed in the outfield and some big arms to slow down runners. Julia Monaghan, Emersyn Grover, and Megan McGowan add depth and consistency to the lineup, while Alyssa Antonino, Grace Weisenberger, and Isabella Kuznitz give Whittaker a lot of versatility off the bench.

Taunton

2022 Record: 21-4
2022 Finish: Won Div. 1 State Championship
Coach: Michelle Raposo
The two-time defending Div. 1 state champions have a new coach this season, as Michelle Raposo, a starter on the Taunton teams that won titles in 2002 and 2003, takes over the Tigers this spring. Taunton looks poised to make a run at a three-peat with the return of six starters and the addition of one of the state’s top pitching prospects.

Pitching is always the place to start when thinking about a team’s state title qualifications and the Tigers will bring back sophomore Cate Larson, who was part of a pitching duo that helped Taunton win it all in 2022. In addition, junior lefty Sam Lincoln is back after a year away from the program and the Texas Tech commit would be a boost to any team’s staff. Senior Kaysie DeMoura is back behind the plate after a breakout season and her leadership and ability to work with both pitchers will be critical.

There is plenty of experience on Taunton’s roster. Senior Ava Venturelli had a standout season in 2022 and the Louisville commit is back in the outfield this year. Senior Kyleah Plumb is the spark plug at the top of the order, senior first baseman Hayley Krockta added power in the heart of the order, and senior Mia Fernandes will return at second base. Sophomore Brooke Aldrich returns at short following her solid freshman season. Eighth-grader Bella Bourque will take over at third and freshman Mia Torres will start in the outfield. Senior transfer Morgan Fitzgerald and Molly Carnes will give the Tigers extra depth in the outfield as well.

“The team chemistry these 15 girls have in such a short amount of time is remarkable,” Raposo said. “Not only do these girls have chemistry, they all have talent and determination to work hard and get better every day. I am excited to see where this season takes us as my first year taking over as head coach.”

2023 Hockomock League Softball Preview

05/10/202205/12/2022

Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/11/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Attleboro, 5 @ Milford, 3 – Final – Billy Saltmarsh and Ben Hochwarter combined for a strong pitching effort on the mound and the Bombardiers picked up a key win on the road at Milford. Saltmarsh struck out eight in 5.1 innings of work to get the win while Hochwarter had two strikeouts in 2.1 innings. The Bombardiers had eight hits on the day with Evan Houle, Cooper Johnson, and Saltmarsh each recording a pair. Brody McKenna added a base hit and a run scored and Tyler Dunlea had one hit and one RBI.

Stoughton, 3 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Stoughton used two runs in the top of the first inning, a key insurance run in the sixth, and a great pitching effort from Joseph Rush and Anthony Tilton to take down Canton for its first league win of the season. Anthony Girolamo smacked a two-out single to score both Brad Franey (walk) and Anthony Tilton (single) to give the Black Knights an early 2-0 lead. Rush allowed just one run on five hits and two walks, striking out one to earn the win. Tilton picked up a two-inning save, allowing two hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts in two shutout innings. Canton cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double from Eddie Gillis to score Matt Hart (triple) but Stoughton got it back in the top of the sixth on an RBI from Tilton. Hayden Rose tossed a complete game for the Bulldogs, allowing three runs in just five hits and one walk, striking out three.

Foxboro, 3 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Freshman Nolan Gordon tossed a complete game for his fifth win of the season and the Warriors scored three runs in the top of the sixth to stun North Attleboro on the road at Community Field. Gordon allowed just one run (unearned) on three hits and three walks, striking out five for the victory. The Rocketeers took the lead with the first run of the game in the fourth on a one-out triple from Tyler DeMattio, who came home to score after a throwing error on the same play. Foxboro rallied in the top of the sixth as Jack Watts reached on a dropped third strike and Ryan LeClair was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Sean O’Leary tied the game with a double to center to bring Watts home, and then on an 0-2 count, Louis Carangelo smashed a triple to right to bring in both LeClair and O’Leary to make it 3-1. Gordon worked around a one-out single from DeMattio in the sixth and a one-out walk to Dillon Harding in the seventh to get the win.

Taunton, 1 @ Franklin, 7 – Final – Franklin junior blasted a three-run home run over the fence in right field in a five-run third inning as the Panthers avenged a loss to Taunton from earlier in the season. Sophomore Henry Digiorgio and junior Jase Lyons had back-to-back RBI singles to put the hosts ahead 4-1 and then Chin sent a 2-0 pitch deep to right to make it 7-1. Franklin took the lead on a sac fly from Evan Raider in the bottom of the first before Taunton leveled things on an RBI single from Shawn Cali in the top of the second. The Panthers went back ahead in the bottom of the second with a sac fly from Ben Jarosz. James Kuczmiec, who normally comes on in relief for the Panthers, had a terrific outing on the mound with just one run allowed on five hits and two walks, striking out a pair in a complete-game effort. Evan Cali tossed three scoreless innings in relief for the Tigers, allowing four hits with two strikeouts.

King Philip, 1 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – After King Philip scored the first run of the game in the top of the fifth, Mansfield pushed across two in the bottom half and that was enough for the Hornets in a tight battle against the Warriors. Shawn Legere presented the visitors with a 1-0 lead with an RBI triple that plated Rudy Gately for a 1-0 lead. Mansfield starter Aaron Blinn (6 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 8 K) stranded the runner at third though, inducing a ground ball in the next at-bat. Cian Goulet reached on an error and took second to lead off the bottom half, advanced to third on a sac bunt from Aiden Jones, and then scored on an RBI single from Matt DeShiro to make it 1-1. Another KP error kept the inning alive and Conner Zukowski, who had walked earlier in the inning, came home to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Connor Curtis retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh, including two strikeouts, to get the save. Gately pitched well for the Warriors, going five innings with two runs (unearned) allowed on three hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Max Robison had three hits on the day for KP while Jake Maydak had two for the Hornets.

Sharon, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 9 – Final – Oliver Ames took the lead with a four-run third inning and then extended it by scoring again in the fourth, the sixth, and seventh to secure a win over Sharon. Ian Kelly and Nathan Carpentier each drove in a run and Jack Richardson plated two with a single in the third as the Tigers established a 4-0 lead. Brad Washburne scored on a passed ball and Nathanial Lewis added an RBI single in the fourth, Kelly drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth, and both Washburne and Ryan Lemay drove in a run in the seventh to make it 9-0. Sharon pushed across four runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh with Dan Okstein driving in a run with a single, Connor Blaney drawing a bases-loaded walk and Liam Conway plating two with a double to left. Richardson got the win on the mound, tossing 4.2 shutout innings with one hit and five walks allowed, and five strikeouts.

Softball
Milford, 0 @ Attleboro, 12 – Final (5 inn.) – Attleboro’s Lily Routhier had a game to remember, tossing a no-hitter while also having a big day offensively to lead the Bombardiers over visiting Milford. Routhier didn’t allow a hit or a walk in five innings of work, striking out four with strong defense behind her. At the dish, she went 3-for-4 and knocked in three runs. Lauren Eby also had three hits with four RBI, Sarah Maher added two hits and an RBI, and Lindsey Perry had a hit and an RBI in the win. Kayla Goldrick smashed a two-run homer over the fence in the bottom of the fourth for Attleboro.

Canton, 4 @ Stoughton, 6 – Final – Kerry Driscoll had a strong showing in the circle and Kate Bulger had a big day at the dish to lead Stoughton to a close win over Canton. Driscoll allowed just three hits in a complete-game effort for her eighth win of the season. Bulger had three hits on the day, including a double, and drove in a run. Leila Alaoui added an RBI double while Sydney Menz chipped in with a base hit and two RBI.

North Attleboro, 4 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – North extended its lead at the top of the Davenport division and swept the season series with Foxboro. Kelly Colleran continues to dominate in the circle, striking out 19 batters to match the program record that she set last Friday and giving up only two infield singles. North broke the deadlock with two outs in the fifth. Pinch hitter Arianna McDavitt singled to start a rally and came in to score the game-winner on Mandi Hanewich’s triple. After Ally Levine drew a walk, Colleran knocked in a pair of runs with a double. Maryellen Charette scored North’s fourth run in the sixth. She doubled and came in on a sac fly from Emma Hanwell. Zoey McDonough returned from injury for North and had a pair of hits.

Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 15 – Final (6 inn.) – Taunton led 4-3 heading to the bottom of the fifth and exploded for 11 runs over the next two innings to seal the win. The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and made it 4-1 in the third, but the Panthers got a pair of runs in the fourth to get back within one. Taunton got four in the fifth and then seven more in the sixth to close it out. Ava Venturelli was 4-for-4 with a pair of homers and drove in five runs to the lead the Tigers. Brooke Aldrich was 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBI, Hayley Krockta added a solo homer, and Mia Fernandes was 2-for-3 with three RBI in the nine-hole. Cate Larson went the distance, allowing no earned runs, to pick up the win.

Mansfield, 0 @ King Philip, 12 – Final (5 inn.) – King Philip’s offense came alive with eight runs in the bottom of the second inning and extended the lead with runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take down Mansfield. Emma Sheehan was stellar in the circle, allowing just one hit and one walk, striking out six in five scoreless innings. Charlotte Raymond drove in a pair to get the offense going and Mia Bennett pushed another runner home to make it 3-0, and then the Warriors added five more runs with two outs. Ava Kelley, Meg Sherwood, Liv Petrillo (walk), Raymond (HBP), and Bennett all brought in a run during the sequence. Raymond added an RBI in the fourth and then KP plated three more in the fifth: an RBI from Missy Canning, an RBI double from Taylor Regan, and a throwing error for the final run.

Sharon, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 21 – Final (5 inn.) – Oliver Ames came out on fire with nine runs in the first and 10 more in the second to take a big win over visiting Sharon. Junior captains Maddie Homer (4-for-4, five RBI, three runs) and Katie Melendy (2-for-5, four RBI, two runs) paced the offense for the Tigers. Junior Lexi Galsband, sophomore Madison Monteiro and freshman Devon Morris had two hits and three RBI each for OA. Melendy got the win in the circle, allowing just three hits with 10 strikeouts.

Boys Lacrosse
Milford, 3 @ Blackstone Valley, 18 – Final

Sharon, 9 @ North Attleboro, 18 – Final – Jared Vacher had a strong showing at the face off X, setting North Attleboro for a big day offensively in a non-league win over Sharon. Clayton Billingkoff and Matt Antonetti each had five goals apiece with three assists while Connor Ruppert added a pair of goals and four helpers. The Rocketeers played well defensively in front of JT Gallagher (seven saves).

Oliver Ames, 13 @ Hull, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames went on the road and returned home with a 13-4 verdict over Hull. The Tigers had five players find the back of the net with junior Ben Reardon leading the charge with seven goals. Wyatt Fritchman added a pair while Ryan Jaco, Alex McAndrew, Wes Tower, and Ryan Moore each scored once. Junior Noah Isleib made 10 saves in net for the win.

Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 12 @ Oliver Ames, 9 – Final – After building a one-goal lead at the half (7-6), Canton held the hosts to just half of that production in the second half to get a key win on the road. Ella Yeaton paced the attack for the Bulldogs with five goals while Emily McCabe added four goals and four assists. Elyse Broderick made eight saves in net to secure the win.

North Attleboro, 18 @ Sharon, 7 – Final – North jumped out to a 12-2 lead at halftime to pick up the road win. Bailey Garte scored three times for the Eagles, who also got goals from Keira Lydeard, Anna Hertzel, Lauren McLaughlin, and Kaitlyn Galeota. McLaughlin also gave the Eagles a strong presence on the draw and the defensive end of the field. Gilli Aronson stepped into goal for the first time this season and saved five of the 11 shots she faced, as the Eagles played nearly even in the second half.

Milford, 10 vs. Blackstone Valley, 6 – Final – After seeing a four-goal lead slip away to visiting Blackstone Valley, Milford scored five of the final six goals to secure the win. The Hawks had a 5-1 lead before the visitors chipped away, eventually pulling even at 5-5 early in the second half. Emily Croteau (two goals, three assists), Aislinn Bennett (four goals, two assists), Carly Haley (three goals, one assist), and Stephanie Goulet (goal) paced the offense.

Taunton, 5 @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 12 – Final – The Tigers had four different players find the back of the net but fell against Dighton-Rehoboth in a non-league clash. Maddison Szala led the way with a pair of goals while Sarah Clark, Cali Melo, and Riley Lemaire each scored once for the Tigers.

Boys Tennis
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Attleboro won all three singles matches and added one more victory from doubles action to defend home court with a 4-1 verdict over visiting Milford. Kyle Neuendorf overcame a one-set deficit to secure a 3-6, 6-0, 7-5 win at first singles, Ethan Johnson rolled in a 6-0, 6-1 decision at second sinlges, and Arnov Sodhani prevailed from a hard-fought third singles match with a 6-4, 7-5 win. Attleboro’s fourth point came from the team of Evan Sousa and Brady Rosen, battleing to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win. Milford’s second doubles tandem of Pedro DeSousa and Todd Ostertag battled for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.

Canton, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Canton’s Davis Lamb and Kevin Moltenbrey prevailed in a battle at first doubles that went three sets to secure the clinching point for the Bulldogs in a win on the road over Stoughton. Lamb and Moltenbrey earned a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 win to clinch the victory. Max Kupferman (6-0, 6-1) and Suraj Ramanathan (6-0, 6-0) added wins at first and second singles, respectively, for the Bulldogs. Stoughton got wins from Anish Sinha (third singles) and Anthony Maylock and Aadil Khond (second doubles).

North Attleboro, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – It took three sets for two matches but Foxboro finished off a 4-1 win over the Rocketeers at home. Senior Bo Canfield grabbed a 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 win at second singles while the team of freshman Luca Meyer and sophomore Ryan Fossella battled to a 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (3) win at first doubles. Garrett Spillane added a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles and Raj Jetty added a 6-1, 6-0 win at third singles. North Attleboro’s Aashman Gupta and Caleb Cheney earned a 6-4, 6-1 win at second doubles.

Franklin, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – With straight-set wins in all five matches, Franklin earned a sweep on the road over Taunton. Senior Vayshnav Malhotra earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles, senior Sameen Shaik added a 6-1, 6-2 victory at second singles, and senior Drew Mahoney grabbed a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. Seniors Tim O’Keefe and Thomas Broyles teamed up for a 6-1, 6-1 first doubles win while sophomore Ahen Shetty joined senior Ryan Rourke for a 6-0, 6-1 win at second doubles.

Mansfield, 5 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Sophomore Jacob Weiner and freshman Josh Weiner emerged from a competitive battle at second doubles with a 7-5, 6-3 verdict to complete Mansfield’s 5-0 sweep on the road. Kailash Elumelai (6-1, 6-0), Neema Khosravani (6-2, 6-0), and Iniyan Karruppusami (6-2, 6-1) combined to lose just six total games in the three singles matches and the tandem of senior Jonah Fine and sophomore Nikhil Nain added a 6-2, 6-3 win at first doubles for the Hornets.

Sharon, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final

Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – The Bombardiers took two wins in each singles and doubles play to defend home court against visiting Milford. Ella Lynch-Bartek secured a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singles and Maddie Fuscaldo added a 6-1, 6-2 decision at second singles for Attleboro. Attleboro’s two doubles teams continued their success as seniors Saharla Yusuf and Tina Lam grabbed a 6-1, 6-2 win at first doubles, and sophomores Kyra Johnson and Presley Biller earned a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles. Milford’s Serena Borges earned a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win in a hard-fought, competitive battle at third singles.

Stoughton, 0 @ Canton, 5 – Final – Canton got back into the win column after taking all five matches against visiting Stoughton. Camila Cutter (6-1, 6-3), Laura Correal (6-0, 6-1), and Olivia Maloney (6-2, 6-2) swept the three singles matches for the Bulldogs. The duo of Olivia Durham and Grace Powers notched a 6-0, 6-1 win at first doubles, and the tandem of Allie Wong and Kelli Woodworth added a 6-2, 6-1 victory at second doubles.

Foxboro @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Franklin defended home court in impressive fashion, taking all five matches in straight sets to take down Taunton. Izzy Trull notched a 6-0, 6-3 win at first singles, Chloe Essum added a 6-2, 6-3 second doubles win, and Sarah Schiavo grabbed a 6-4, 6-2 win at third singles. The team of senior Vedika Vinayak and junior Allison Bagley captured a 7-5, 6-0 win at first doubles, and senior Amulya Jayam and sophomore Ava Davies prevailed from second doubles with a 6-1, 6-4 decision.

King Philip, 5 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – King Philip junior Ahunna James emerged from a battle at first singles with a hard-fought win, helping the Warriors complete a 5-0 sweep. James took a 6-3, 6-2 win at took over 90 minutes in a well-played match against Kate Martin. Shea Mellman added an impressive 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles and Sammie Taylor made her return to third singles with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Senior Resha Ajoy and Lauren Casper captured a 6-2, 6-1 win at first doubles while junior Caroline Freese and senior Palina Yakimovich settled in for a 7-5, 6-0 win at second doubles.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – The battle for the top spot in the Davenport division didn’t disappoint as three of the five matches went three sets before Sharon prevailed with a hard-fought win over a strong Oliver Ames squad. Sophomore Navya Shukla emerged with a 6-3, 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5) win at first singles, freshman Judy Song earned a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win at second singles, and junior Abby Vilk took a 6-3, 6-2 verdict at third singles. Sharon’s fourth point came from the doubles team of freshman Olivia Landstein and junior Ellie Zhao, who overcame a one-set deficit for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win. OA’s first doubles tandem of Caroline Peper and Morgan Vasiliou earned a 6-3, 6-2 win.

Boys Volleyball
Milford, 3 @ Nipmuc, 0 – Final

04/13/2022

Stoughton Holds Off Mansfield Rally to Secure Win

Stoughton softball — Melody Casna (36) puts a tag on Jill Koppy at second to catch her stealing in Stoughton’s 6-5 win at Mansfield. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

MANSFIELD, Mass. – It took a while for the Stoughton offense to kick into gear on Wednesday afternoon at the East St. Field, but the Black Knights scored three times in each of the sixth and seventh innings to open up a four-run lead with three outs to go.

Even with that lead, it was anything but easy to close it out.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Mansfield rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run in scoring position with one out, but Kerry Driscoll got a fly ball to left for the second out and sealed the 6-5 victory with her only strikeout of the day.

“We always do,” Stoughton coach Deb Parker said with a laugh when it was mentioned that the Black Knights made it interesting at the end. “Kerry does a nice job to keep us in every game and we know that we need to play defense behind her and we need to give her the run support. So far that’s what the plan has been and it’s been kind of falling into place.”

Mansfield coach Lori Letendre saw her team lose for the third time in three games this season, but all three have been close games against some of the top teams in the Hock. She sees a lot of positives from the way the Hornets continued to battle despite trailing in their final at-bat.

“Both games we played this season we left some runners on, today though we got some in. It’s an improvement over what we’ve been doing,” she explained. “They battled in that seventh inning and that’s all you can hope for. I’m very proud of their effort today. We came so close, it would’ve been sweet to pull that one out.”

There were runners on base in all but two innings, but early on neither team was able to come up with the clutch hit it needed to break the deadlock.

Sydney Menz led off the game by being hit by a pitch and stole second. Camryn Whitman bunted her to third, but Menz was too aggressive with her turn and Casey Moussette threw a strike across the diamond to Olivia DeTrolio for the second out. It proved extra costly because the next hitter, Alyssa Edwards (4-for-4, two doubles, two runs scored) lined a single to left.

In the bottom of the first, Callie Lake drew a lead-off walk and got to second, but Edwards made a nice play charging a grounder from Moussette to get the final out.

Stoughton ran into another out in the third. Edwards ripped a double to right center, but a good throw from right fielder Olivia Bovey caught her in a rundown between second and third. Shortstop Liv Madeira put the tag on her to end the threat.

“We ran ourselves out of a couple of runs,” Parker admitted. “That’s what we talked about after the game. We were a little too aggressive or a little too careless against a team that is very good and you can’t take your eyes off of them.”

Madeira made all three put-outs in that inning, also making a nice running stab of a liner in the hole, snaring a hard-hit liner that was right at her. In the fourth, the Black Knights threatened again. Melody Casna (3-for-3, two RBI) was hit by a pitch in the dirt and Driscoll (2-for-4, two RBI) singled to left. Madeira was able to get the lead runner at third and then second baseman Molly Kucharski caught a soft liner and doubled up the runner at first.

“Defense has been solid this year and that’s really what’s kept us in games,” Letendre said. “They know that they need to make these plays, so everything they go all out for.”

The Hornets took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Alanna Conley (1-for-3) reached on an infield single off Driscoll’s glove. Moussette (3-for-4, two RBI) followed with a single to center. A groundout moved both runners up and Kucharski singled in the game’s first run. Amanda Schwarz followed with her first clean inning, including her third strikeout of the game.

Stoughton has scored in double digits in two of its three wins, so it felt like a matter of time before the Black Knights were able to string together a few hits. Edwards got it started in the sixth with a double down the left field line, advancing to third when the ball got away for a second from the left fielder. Casna ripped a liner to center to tie the game.

Driscoll helped her own cause with a single and Maddie Hinds was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Julie Powers (1-for-2, two RBI) drew a walk to force in Casna with the go-ahead run. Leila Alaoui then singled to right to extend the lead to 3-1.

Mansfield quickly cut the lead in half. Kucharski reached on a fielder’s choice with two outs. Conley drew a walk and pinch hitter Cat Kipp singled to center. Kucharski was waived home and Menz made a perfect throw to the plate to seemingly prevent, but there was contact between Kucharski and Edwards as she rounded third, so the run counted.

It looked like the Black Knights had put the game away in the top of the seventh. Menz singled to left, got to second when Mansfield failed to get the force out, and reached third on a scorching single by Edwards that loaded the bases. Casna came through again with a single to bring in one. Driscoll hit a slow roller and Whitman was able to beat the throw to the plate.

After a fly ball to right for the first out, Powers singled to left to make it 6-2. Schwarz kept her cool, getting her fourth strikeout and a liner to center that Lake tracked down to end the inning.

“Amanda has pitched her heart out for us this season,” Letendre said. “No matter what happens, all she cares about is the next pitch. Sometimes it’s tough to face lineups like we’ve been facing, but there is no fear in that girl and she does a great job for us.”

The Hornets kept it interesting. Lake reached on an error to lead things off, Madeira walked, and Conley was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs and bring the potential tying run to the plate. Moussette came through again, driving a single to center that again halved the deficit. Jill Koppy hit a bloop just beyond the circle that Casna nearly snagged with a diving grab. Driscoll reacted quickly to get the force at second, while Conley scampered home to make it a one-run game.

With the potential winning run on base and just one out, Driscoll made the pitches she needed to so Stoughton could head home with the win.

“A couple of kids stepped up pretty big today and produced multiple hits and drove in some runs and that’s just what you want to have happen,” Parker said. “Definitely happy. Our plan is to maintain that the rest of the way and see where we come out at the end.”

Stoughton (4-2) will be back on the road on Thursday to face Brockton in a rematch of the season opener, which the Black Knights won. Mansfield (0-3) will get a quick turnaround as well, with a trip to Foxboro on Thursday, both teams looking for their first wins of the season.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

04/05/202204/06/2022

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 04/05/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 10 – Final (5 Inn.) – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Alfred Mucciarone gave up one hit over four innings and Ethan Voellemicke struck out the side in the fifth, as Franklin shut out Attleboro for its second win in as many days. Chris Goode and Evan Raider each drove in a pair of runs for the Panthers. Attleboro’s best chance came in the first Nate George drew a leadoff walk and two batters later Danny Johnson hit a sinking liner to right, but Eisig Chin made a stellar diving catch. Franklin took control in the bottom half with four runs. Ryan Gerety led off with a single and Jack Marino was hit by a pitch. Attleboro failed to handle a pair of bunts and both runners came in to score. Chin drove in a run with a single and would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch. Franklin added three more in the second. One-out walks to Joe Tirrell and Gerety and an infield single for Marino loaded the bases. Goode plated one with a sac fly and Raider followed with a single to bring in two. In the third, Franklin took advantage of a couple errors to add three more runs. Ben Jarosz singled and would score on a wild pitch, Henry DiGiorgio reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on an error, and Tirrell walked and came in to score on a sac fly from Goode. Hayden Hagerty broke up Mucciarone’s no-hitter to start the fourth but Franklin’s starter retired the next three hitters to strand the runner in scoring position.

Softball
Taunton, 4 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game.

Canton, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Chloe Guerschuny drove in three runs, including the game-winner in the top of the seventh to help the Bulldogs complete a comeback win. OA scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, including an RBI single from Katie Melendy, and two more in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run from Katherine Farley and an RBI single from Caitlin Miller. Canton responded with three runs in the top of the fifth, including a two-run base hit from Guerschuny.

Franklin, 5 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Franklin scored once in each of the first three innings and tacked on two key insurance runs in the top of the sixth to get the win on the road over Attleboro. Julia White had a one-out single in the top of the first and came around to score after a fielder’s choice and an error to put the Panthers ahead 1-0 but Attleboro answered with a run of its own to make it 1-1. Junior Hailey Fales had a one-out single in the top of the season, and courtesy runner Kelly Moussa scored after White grounded out to second with the bases loaded for a 2-1 lead. Georgia Harvey turned a leadoff single in the top of the third into a run to make it 3-1 before Attleboro made it a one-run game with sac fly in the bottom half. Reece Allen and Moussa came around to score in the top of the fifth for insurance. Aislinn Lavery got the win for Franklin, allowing two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts and no walks. Lindsey Perry was strong in the circle for Attleboro in a complete game effort, with just earned runs allowed with two strikeouts and two walks.

Foxboro, 13 @ Stoughton, 14 – Final – A back-and-forth offensive slugfest ended with Stoughton jumping ahead in the bottom of the six and then getting a scoreless top of the seventh to get the win. Sydney Menz led the Black Knights’ offense with a pair of home runs, including a two-run bomb in the sixth that plated the tying and go-ahead runs for Stoughton, plus a triple and four RBI total. Melody Casna added a double and two RBI while Leila Alaoui and Camryn Whitman each had a pair of hits, and Kerry Driscoll and Kate Bulger each had an RBI double. Driscoll got the win in the circle while Casna, Menz, and Maddie Hinds all turned in solid defensive performances for the Black Knights.

Boys Lacrosse
King Philip, 7 vs. Walpole, 9 – Final
Mansfield, 2 @ Nauset, 16 – Final
Sharon, 6 @ Cardinal Spellman, 7 – Final

Girls Lacrosse
Mansfield, 3 @ Bishop Feehan, 13 – Final
Canton @ Whitman-Hanson – Postponed to TBD.

Boys Tennis
Franklin, 5 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin grabbed its second win in as many days, this time sweeping all five matches in straight sets to knock off Attleboro. Vayshnav Malhotra and Thomas Broyles both won 6-0, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively, while Drew Mahoney earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of Tim O’Keefe and Ahan Shetty battled for a 7-5, 6-4 win at first doubles while Sameen Shaik and Jay Gorgas took a 6-0, 6-2 decision at second doubles.

Milford, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – It was a clean sweep for Mansfield, taking all five matches in straight sets. Neema Khosravani, Kailash Elumelai, Iniyan Karruppusami were the Hornets’ three victorious singles players, freshman Josh Weiner and sophomore Jacob Weiner won at first doubles, and sophomores Sirius Li and Nikhil Nain won at second doubles.

Canton, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Canton’s second doubles team of Kevin Moltenbrey and Max LaRose emerged victorious in a three-set thriller to clinch the win for the Bulldogs. Moltenbrey and LaRose split the first two sets before getting the win 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. The Bulldogs also got wins at first singles from Max Kupferman and at second singles from Suraj Ramanathan. OA senior Raphael Vache earned a 6-2, 6-3 win at third singles while the first doubles team of freshmen Alex Efremidas and Patrick Dolan grabbed a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Taunton, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – King Philip swept doubles action and got another pair of wins from singles play to defend home court against Taunton. The first doubles team of Diego Nieto and Noah Ihley rallied from a one-set deficit to win 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 while the tandem of Leo Manning and Arjun Kollu secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles for KP. Jonathan Cohen added a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles and Jackson Hom didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 third singles victory. Taunton’s Michael Kimmer won 6-3, 6-1 at first singles.

Foxboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – A singles sweep propelled Foxboro to a second straight win to open the season, this time on the road at Stoughton. Garrett Spillane battled to a 7-6, 6-0 win at first singles, Bo Canfield fought for a 7-5, 6-2 win at second singles and Raj Jetty had a strong showing in a 6-1, 6-0 win at third singles. Jake Berry and Joe Mark won 6-2, 7-6 at first doubles for the Black Knights while Stoughton’s second doubles team of Paul Medeiros and Aadil Khond grabbed a 6-3, 6-1 win.

Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – For the second straight match, Franklin swept both doubles matches and had a third win from third singles to get the win. Amulya Jayam and Shriya Rasish battled to a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win at first doubles, and Franklin’s second doubles team of Chloe Essam and Sydney Tolonen secured a 6-4, 6-1 win. Sarah Schiavo earned his second win of the season, taking a 6-4, 6-4 decision at third singles for the Panthers. Attleboro’s Ella Lynch-Bartek won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles while sophomore Maddie Fuscaldo prevailed with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at second singles.

Mansfield, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – The Hornets got a pair of wins in both singles and doubles action to record a win on the road over Milford. Kate Martin won her first singles match 6-1, 6-3 while Aadi Semeer earned a 7-5, 6-3 win at second singles. Mansfield’s first doubles team of Alexis Joyce and Clair Copp battled to a 6-3, 6-0 win while Jillian Hanley and Savannah Carey notched a 6-2, 6-2 second doubles win. Milford junior Serena Borges prevailed from third singles with a 6-0, 7-5 win.

King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Both doubles matches went to a third set before King Philip swept its way to a win over Taunton. The team of Lauren Casper and Resha Ajoy prevailed 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 at first doubles while Caroline Freese and Carly Burns rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) win at second doubles for KP. Ahunna James and Shea Mellman each lost just one set in identical 6-0, 6-1 wins at first and second singles, respectively, and Sammie Taylor added a 7-5, 6-1 win at third singles for the Warriors.

Stoughton, 0 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Foxboro defended home court with a five match sweet of visiting Stoughton, taking all five in straight sets. Athena Li didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, Hailey Kornbluth secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles and Makayla Peck earned a 6-2, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Abigail Costa and Juliana Preston lost just one set on their way to a 6-0, 6-1 first doubles win, and Foxboro’s second doubles team of Emily Stow and Sydney Lebow emerged with a 6-4, 6-3 win.

Boys Outdoor Track
Taunton @ Attleboro, 3:45

Stoughton, 97 @ Canton, 39 – Final – Kyle Downing won a pair of events and Canton won the 4×100 relay, but Stoughton secured the win on the road to open the season. Downing won both the 1 Mile (11:12.1) and the 2 Mile (5:13.1) for the Bulldogs, and the team of Youssef Kosta, Christian Hanlon, Andres Castro Alvarez, and Favor Ugah took first in the 4×100 in 48.5. Other winners for Canton were Sean Sullivan (discus) and Graham Stemm (javelin).

Oliver Ames @ Foxboro, 4:15

Franklin, 50 @ Mansfield, 77 – Final – Anchored by double-winners Dana Johnson, Dylan Buchanan, and Charles Newcomb, Mansfield opened the season with a win over Franklin. Johnson won both the long jump (19’7.5”) and the triple jump (41’3”), and added second place finish in the 110M hurdles (16.5). Buchanan won the 110M hurdles in 15.5 and won the javelin with a toss of 112’8, and Newcomb won both the shot put (40’6) and the discus (89’0). Other winners for Mansfield included Evan Rawlings (400M hurdles, 58.3), Myles Brown (100M, 11.4), Chris Leonard (1 Mile, 4:49.9), and Chamberlain Guthrie Jr. (200M, 24.4).

King Philip @ Milford, 3:45

Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Girls Outdoor Track
Taunton, 50 @ Attleboro, 84 – Final – Attleboro swept four events on its way to a season-opening win over visiting Taunton. Rebecca Rainey and Jahela Douglas each won a pair of events, with Rainey taking first in the 400M hurdles (1:18.8) and the high jump (4-6), as well as a third place finish in the 200M (29.1). Douglas was the winner in the 100M (13.2) and the triple jump (31-5.5) and added a second place leap of 14-10 in the long jump. Other winners for Attleboro included Emilia Smith (1 Mile, 5:48.0), Elayna Marinelli (javelin, 98-1), Diana McArthur (discus, 72-2) and the 4×100 team of Jadyn Hoyt, Mabel Sandoval, Erimar Torres, and Kylee Browning.

Stoughton, 80 @ Canton, 56 – Final – Canton’s Kylie Hanlon added her name to the school record book but the Bulldogs fell at home to Stoughton. Hanlon tied the school record in the 100M, taking first in 12.4. Kiara Cerruti won the 1 Mile and was second in the 800M, and the team of Gabby Herivaux, Talya DeGraw, Katie Oliver, Syriah McCruse was first in the 4×100 in 52.3.

Oliver Ames @ Foxboro, 4:15

Franklin, 58 @ Mansfield, 78 – Final

King Philip @ Milford, 3:45

Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45