Baseball Division 1
#17 Walpole, 2 @ #1 Franklin, 5 – Final – A four-run fifth inning helped Franklin land a comeback win over an upset-minded Walpole team. The visitors built a two-run lead by scoring once in each the second and third innings, and kept Franklin in check for the first four innings. Eisig Chin reached on an error in the fourth inning to score Ryan Gerety (single), and Henry Digiorgio did the same to bring Jase Lyons (fielder’s choice) home to make it 2-2. An RBI single from Ben Jarosz brought Chin home for the go-ahead run and Luke Sidwell’s squeeze bunt plated Digiorgio to make it 4-2. Chin added a sac fly in the sixth to score Rex Cinelli (single) to add an insurance run for Franklin. Austin Campbell impressed in six innings of work, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out six for the win. Dillon Cashin needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in order in the seventh to get the save. #1 Franklin will host #9 Bridgewater-Raynham on Saturday at 6:00.
#11 Milford, 1 @ #6 St. John’s Shrewsbury, 2 – Final
#15 Mansfield, 6 @ #2 Leominster, 2 – Final – Mansfield jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never trailed to earn an upset of second-seed Leominster on the road. A leadoff double from senior Conner Zukowski followed by an RBI double from junior Jake Maydak set the tone for the Hornets, who jumped out to a lead just two at-bats into the game. Two batters later, junior Matt DeShiro smacked a two-run home run to right and just like that the Hornets had a 3-0 lead. Leominster got on the board with a solo home run in the second but a two-out RBI single from sophomore Luke Rogan brought Drew Urban home to restore the three-run lead. Senior Aiden Jones delivered a huge double in the sixth inning to plate a pair of runs (Wyatt Bolduc, Urban) to extend the lead to 6-1. Leominster got one back in the sixth and had two runners on in the seventh by Maydak finished the complete game by inducing an infield grounder. Maydak struck out three, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks for the win. #15 Mansfield will be on the road against #10 St. Mary’s on a date and time to be announced.
Softball Division 1
#19 Franklin, 0 @ #3 Taunton, 3 – Final – A three-run fourth inning proved to be plenty of offense for Taunton junior Sam Lincoln, who tossed a complete game shutout to lift the Tigers over league rival Franklin in a playoff showdown. Kaysie Demoura led off the fourth with a single and came home to score after a bunt from Hayley Krockta and an infield error. Brooke Aldrich, who was hit by a pitch, and Morgan Fitzgerald (fielder’s choice) also scored in the inning after a Franklin error. Bella Bourque and Ava Venturelli each had a pair of hits for the Tigers; Lincoln scattered three hits and didn’t issue a walk while striking out 12 batters for the win. Kiera Kotwicki, Katy Liberman, and Dana Stott each had a hit for Franklin. Kotwicki was strong in the circle, allowing two runs (one earned) one five hits and no walks; freshman Sophia Sacramone gave up just one unearned run on one hit and one walk, striking out one in three innings. #3 Taunton will host #11 Woburn on Friday night at 7:00.
#10 Attleboro, 4 @ #7 Bishop Feehan, 7 – Final
#15 Chelmsford, 0 @ #2 King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip freshman Ali Gill launched a two-run home run in the first inning and freshman pitcher McCoy Walsh had another stellar showing in the circle as the Warriors blanked Chelmsford. Walsh, who finished with a dozen strikeouts, retired three in a row in strikes after a leadoff walk in the first inning and in the bottom half, senior Sarah Cullen led off with a single and Gill followed with a bomb to right field for an early 2-0 lead. A two-out single from Charlotte Raymond kept the third inning going, Ava Kelley followed with a base hit, and Liv Petrillo drove one up the middle to bring Raymond home to make it 3-0. Chelmsford threatened in the fourth when the fitst three batters reached to load the base with no outs but Walsh induced a grounder to third and Kelley fired home for the force out. After a strikeout, Walsh got another infield grounder for the third out. #2 King Philip will host #7 Bishop Feehan on Friday night at 7:00.
Division 2
#12 Nashoba, 1 @ #5 North Attleboro, 4 – Final – Behind another stellar performance from Kelley Colleran, North advanced to the Div. 2 quarterfinal for the second consecutive year. Colleran struck out 18 and allowed four hits and one run. Just like in the first round, North got off to a quick start at the plate. In the first, Colleran and Maryellen Charette drew walks (Grace Forman running for the catcher). A passed ball moved them both into scoring position and Emma Hanwell doubled to make it 2-0. In the third, Molly Willey singled with two outs and Charette drew another free pass. Hanwell also walked and Lucy Palmer came up with a clutch single to score a pair.
Boys Lacrosse
Division 2
#9 Mansfield, 6 @ #8 Walpole, 14 – Final –In a tough, physical game, the Hornets couldn’t overcome six penalties and fell to the Timberwolves. Freshman Andrew DeGirolamo had a big game offensively with three goals and two assists. Andrew Burnham and freshmen Tommy Vallett and Nico Smith all scored once, with Smith adding a pair of assists. Cody Gordon set up one of the goals. Ryan DeGirolamo finished with 16 saves in the loss.
Boys Tennis
Division 2
#22 Nauset, 0 @ #6 Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon took care of business, dispatching visiting Nauset with a clean sweep — all in straight sets. Sophomore Jacob Slavsky emerged from a hard-fought first singles match with a 7-5, 7-6 (5) win, junior Matthew Lally dominated on his way to a 6-1, 6-0 verdict, and junior Alex Budovalcev rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at third singles. In doubles action, the sophomore tandem of Sava Kassev and Joel Zwicker only dropped a single game in a 6-0, 6-1 win while seniors Hyojae Park and Savir Basil were victorious at second doubles (6-2, 6-2). #6 Sharon will travel to the Winchester Tennis Club on Friday to take on #3 Concord-Carlisle at 4:00.
Girls Tennis
Division 2
#11 North Attleboro, 2 @ #6 Sharon, 3 – Final – In a battle of Hockomock League division champions, it was the Davenport’s Sharon that edged out the Kelley-Rex’s North Attleboro to advance to the Division 2 Round of 8. The Rocketeer won at first and second singles with Lauren Hunt (6-2, 6-1) and Megan Atwood (5-7, 6-4, 17-15) taking wins, but the Eagles got one victory at third singles and swept doubles to win the match. Senior Ale Aguilar picked up a 6-4, 6-1 third singles victory, the team of seniors Abby Vilk and Sophia Oh landed a 6-2, 6-4 first doubles win, and the team of sophomores Jenny Sand and Olivia Landstein secured a 6-1, 6-1 verdict at second doubles.
Baseball
Attleboro, 4 @ Bishop Feehan, 12 – Final – Ryan Landry (RBI), Peter DelPozzo, Casey Victorio (RBI), and Johnny Pagano (run) each had a hit for the Bombardiers while Jackson Huntington tossed a scoreless sixth inning in relief, striking out a pair.
Canton, 6 vs. Brookline, 3 – Final – Canton rallied from two runs down and then broke open a tie game with a three-run fourth to pick up an important non-league win, as the Bulldogs fight for a playoff spot. Brookline scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, but the Bulldogs answered back with three in the second. After the Warriors tied the game with a run in the fourth, Canton put together a three-run rally in the bottom half to take control. Hayden Rose went the distance on the mound to pick up the win. He walked three and allowed five hits, striking out seven. Jack Digirolamo led Canton’s efforts at the plate with a pair of hits and four RBI. Matt Hart continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-3 with a run, Shane Kelleher and Nick Gillis each had two hits, with Gillis driving in a pair. Owen Lane and Matt Chafin each doubled and scored runs.
Foxboro, 2 vs. Oakmont, 3 – Final – Foxboro carried a 2-1 lead into the final inning but visiting Oakmont (#3 in MIAA Division 3 rankings) plated a pair in the top of the seventh to take the win. Ryan O’Leary went 2-for-3, Sean O’Leary hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, and both Tyler Prescott and Mike Marcucella had a hit. Nolan Gordon had a strong start for the hosts, allowing one run on five hits and three walks, striking out four in five innings.
Mansfield, 7 @ Xaverian, 10 – Final – Mansfield had 10 hits and pushed across seven runs but couldn’t overcome an early deficit against this year’s recently crowning Catholic Conference champions. Jake Maydak continued his strong month by going 2-for-3 with three RBI, Wyatt Bolduc (two runs), Brian Butler (run), and Anthony Saraiva (two RBI, two runs) each added a pair of hits, and Conner Zukowski and Aiden Jones each had a base hit. Luke Rogan pitched well in relief for the Hornets, striking out six with seven hits and no walks resulting in three runs (two earned) in four innings.
Softball
Franklin, 12 @ Braintree, 6 – Final – Franklin had a big start with five runs in the first inning and finished strong with seven runs in the sixth to pull away from the hosts. Junior Katie Dowley and sophomore Marley Allen led the offensive charge, each going 4-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored while sophomore Sarah Boozang had three hits and two runs scored. Carly Johnson-Pellegri (RBI, run) and Katy Liberman (double, two RBI, two runs) each added two hits in the win. Freshman Sophia Sacramone pitched well in relief, allowing just one run on four hits and one walk, striking out five in 4.1 innings of work.
Boys Lacrosse
King Philip, 14 vs. Bishop Feehan, 11 – Final – King Philip scored a pair of goals late in the third quarter to create some separation and held the Shamrocks to just one goal in the fourth quarter to land a key non-league win. The Warriors built a five-goal lead (10-5) by halftime but the visitors pulled even with a 5-0 run in the third; KP tacked on two late goals to stake a 12-10 lead going into the fourth. Offensively, Hayden Schmitz scored four goals and had two assists, Donovan DeVellis recorded seven points (three goals, four assists), Mason Thompson potted a pair along with three helpers, and Noah Minkwitz scored a hat trick. Tommy Kilroy had a trio of assists, Pat Weiblen scored once with one assist, Henry LeClair scored once, and Alex Viscusi added one assist. James Boldy had another strong game in net for KP, turning away 10 shots.
Milford, 16 @ Hudson, 0 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
King Philip, 15 vs. Bishop Feehan, 5 – Final – KP rolled to a big win over a fellow D1 playoff contender. Sarah Brown led the way offensively with four goals, while Nicole McDonald had a hat trick and Makenzie McDevitt scored twice and assisted on two others. Alyssa Legere chipped in with two goals and a helper and Abby MacDonald and Kelly Holmes each found the back of the net twice. Emily Campbell made five saves to backstop a strong defensive effort.
Mansfield, 12 @ Norwood, 8 – Final – Mansfield outscored Norwood 6-4 in each half to pick up a crucial win in is bid to get back into the D2 tournament. Ava Adams scored five times and Brooke Butler added four goals for the Hornets. Rose Maher (assist), Carys Colby, and Maeve Anastasia each scored once in the win. Lola Varricchione dished out a pair of assists and Keira Fitzpatrick set up one goal. Caitlyn Zajac made 13 saves to help the Hornets beat the Mustangs, who are ranked No. 22 in the division.
Milford, 15 vs. Hudson, 8 – Final – Milford freshman Avalina DiGiallonardo had a strong showing in net in her first career start to help the Hawks land a season sweep of Hudson. Sophomore Alexa Landry netted a game-high five goals while senior Emily Croteau moved into a tie for second place in program history at 150 points after adding three goals and three assists. TJ Downing and Kiara Ortiz each added a pair of goals while Erin Michelson, Yasmin Martinez, and Jordan Douglas each scored once. Senior Molly Hartman earned her first career point, assisting on a goal from Ortiz.
Boys Tennis
King Philip, 1 vs. Xaverian, 4 – Final
Girls Tennis
Franklin, 0 vs. Dover-Sherborn, 5 – Final
King Philip, 4 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – King Philip took two wins from singles and doubles to land a victory on the road over Foxboro. Shea Mellman (6-3, 6-0) and Caroline Freese (6-2, 6-2) took straight-set victories at second and third singles, respectively. The team of seniors Carlie Burns and Priya Riar only dropped a pair of goals in a 6-1, 6-1 verdict at first doubles, while senior Lauren Casper teamed up with Jaelyn Dang for a 6-4, 7-5 second doubles win. Foxboro’s Hailey Kornbluth picked up another impressive win at first singles (6-0, 6-0) for the Warriors.
Baseball
Taunton, 12 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Taunton’s offense roared in the second inning and sophomore Johnny Escobalez had another strong outing on the mound in a win over Attleboro. Escobalez allowed only one unearned run on one hit and one walk, striking out seven in five innings to earn the win. Brady Boucher (two strikeouts) tossed a scoreless inning in relief. Offensively, Sean Murphy opened the scoring with an RBI triple, Braden Sullivan added an RBI double, and Bryce smacked his second three-run home run in the past week to put the visitors ahead 6-0. Bryce and Murphy (three RBI) each had three hits, AJ Lewis and Dwayne Burgo each had two hits, and Ryan MacDougall added a solo home run. Cooper Johnson had two RBI for the Bombardiers and Andrew Gorman had one.
Oliver Ames, 16 @ Canton, 6 – Final (6 Inn.) – Oliver Ames had its biggest offensive output of the season, pounding out 17 hits on the way to a 16-6 win. Seniors Jack Morley (two RBI, four runs) and Patrick Finnerty (two RBI, two runs) led the charge with four hits apiece. Lucas Riley also had a big day with a double and a triple, driving in five runs in the process. Nick Ferrini (run) and Ryan Lemay (two RBI, three runs) each had a double. For Canton, Jack Digirolamo went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs, and an RBI while Matt Hart and Kyle Redquest each had two hits and a run scored.
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 12 – Final (5 Inn.) – Buoyed by a pair of early five-run innings, Foxboro landed a 12-1 decision over visiting Stoughton. Ryan LeClair (run), Ben Angelini (double, triple, four RBI, two runs), and Louis Carangelo (triple, RBI, three runs) each had two hits in the win. Freshman Aidan Stow and sophomore Ryan O’Leary each drove in a pair for the Warriors. Senior Alex Stern earned the win for Foxboro, allowing one run on three hits and four walks, striking out a pair in four innings.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – A three-run third and strong pitching from Austin Campbell helped Franklin fight off an upset bid from the visiting Rocketeers. To start the bottom of the third, Ryan Gerety drew a leadoff walk, stole second, took third on a wild pitch, and came in to score when Luke Sidwell reached on an error. An infield single from Henry Digiorgio put runners on the corners, and both came in to score on Tyler Bellan’s single to center. North made it interesting in the top of the third by scoring two runs with two outs. Gio Martello scored after a walk, a double from Dillon Harding, and a passed ball to get North on the board. Derek Maceda followed with a single to bring Harding in to cut the deficit to one but Dillon Cashin (1.1 IP, 1H, 0BB, 0R, 2K) came in to get the third out of the inning. Austin Campbell earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out 10 in 5.2 innings. Jordan Paradis pitched well for the Rocketeers, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks, striking out six in four innings while Martello tossed two scoreless innings in relief.
Milford, 5 @ King Philip, 9 – Final – After some early offense from both teams, King Philip was able to outlast Milford in a battle of two strong teams. The Scarlet Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first but King Philip plated three runs in the bottom half and four more in the second, and never trailed the rest of the way. Milford pulled within two runs with a three-run third but KP pushed across one run in each the fourth and fifth innings. Matt Kelley went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs and Brendan Sencaj also had two hits along with three runs. Drew Herlin drove in a pair and Tommy Martorano had three RBI, two coming on a big double in the second inning. TJ Ahern was stellar in relief, tossing four scoreless innings with just two hits and one walk allowed, striking out three for the win. Louis Consigli went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Damien Carter had a two-run inside the park home run, and Joey McGee and Sean McGee each had one RBI.
Sharon, 0 @ Mansfield, 13 – Final (5 Inn.) – Mansfield scored its fourth straight win, capitalizing on early offense against Sharon. The Hornets scored three times in the first, four runs in the second, twice in the third, and four more in the fourth. Sam Martin (three runs, RBI), Matt DeShiro (three RBI, two runs), and Joe McIntyre (run) each had two hits to pace Mansfield offensively. Brian Butler drove in two runs while Anthony Saraiva, Jake Maydak, Luke Rogan, and Will Lund each had one RBI. Connor Curtis earned the win, tossing 3.1 perfect innings with four strikeouts while Yuv Sakhalkar tossed 1.2 shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Softball
Attleboro, 0 @ Taunton, 11 – Final – Taunton’s Sam Lincoln and Cate Larson combined to allow just one hit while the Tigers offense scored in four out of six innings in an 11-0 win over visiting Attleboro. Lincoln didn’t allow a hit in five innings, issuing just one walk while striking out 10 while Larson had three strikeouts and no walks in two scoreless innings. Offensively, Bella Bourque went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored, Mia Torres went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and a run, Ava Venturelli had two hits (including a double and a home run), three RBI, and one run scored, and Hayley Krockta recorded a pair of hits (one home run), two RBI, and a run scored. Kaysie DeMoura also had a home run for the Tigers.
Foxboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final
Franklin, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final (8 Inn.) – North scored in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game and then won it in the eighth on a Maryellen Charette base hit. Franklin opened the scoring in the first on Sarah Boozang’s first homer of the season. In the bottom of the half of the first, Kelly Colleran stole third and came home to tie it on the throw. The Panthers regained the lead, but in the sixth Arianna McDavitt singled, took second on a Molly Willey bunt, and came home on a single by Emma Hanwell. With two outs in the eighth, Willey doubled and came home to score on Charette’s hit up the middle. Colleran picked up the win for North, striking out 16 batters.
King Philip, 12 @ Milford, 0 – Final (5 Inn.) – King Philip plated five runs in each of the first two innings and that was plenty of offense for junior Jordan Bennett, who tossed a five-inning one-hitter for the Warriors. Bennett allowed just one single (a two-out hit in the second) and walked a pair, striking out five for the win. Offensively, Ava Kelley went 3-for-3 with three runs, Libby Walsh homered for the third time in three days, and Liv Petrillo had a double, two RBI, and a run scored.
Sharon, 1 @ Mansfield, 12 – Final – Mansfield pounded out 13 hits and scored in all but one inning to earn the win. The Hornets got on the board in the first. Liv Madeira singled, stole second, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a bunt single by Molly Kucharski, who tagged up to score on a Jill Koppy fly ball later in the inning. Madeira drove in Reilley Slaney with a two-out single to make it 3-0 in the second. In the fourth, Mansfield broke the game open. Madeira plated a pair of runs on a ground out and Kucharski and Koppy added RBI singles. The next inning, again with two outs, one run scored on an error and Kucharski came through with a two-run single. Sarah Marchand led off the sixth with a walk, stole second, and scored on an error. Kucharski and Slaney finished with three hits apiece, while Avery and Callie Lake and Madeira each had two hits. Amanda Schwarz allowed three hits to pick up the win.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 18 vs. North Quincy, 4 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Franklin, 14 @ Concord-Carlisle, 13 – Final (OT) – Franklin rallied from three goals down to force overtime and Katie Peterson found the back of the net to earn a hard-fought win for the Panthers. Peterson scored six times and dished out a pair of assists. Kaitlyn Carney added a pair of goals and a pair of helpers, while Lindsay Atkinson (one assist) and Jamie Tanner each scored twice. Julia Flynn had a big game in the Franklin defense and won three draw controls, including the one in overtime. Franklin’s defense came up big down the stretch, including Riley Cross who recently returned from injury, causing turnovers and allowing the Panthers to overcome the deficit.
King Philip, 11 vs. Hopkinton, 8 – Final – Nicole McDonald scored three times and KP picked up a solid non-league win over Hopkinton. Sammy Cloutier and Emily Heslin each scored twice for the Warriors and Mara Boldy played a strong game defensively to help KP pull out the win.
Taunton, 5 @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 22 – Final – Caroline Vallarelli scored twice for the Tigers, who also got a goal apiece from Maddi Szala, Cali Melo (one assist), and Raquel Azevedo.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Behind a pair of wins in both singles and doubles action, the Bombardiers landed a 4-1 win over host Taunton. Both Kyle Neuendorf (6-4, 7-5) and Tyler Rocchio (6-1, 7-6 (1)) earned hard-fought wins at first and second singles, respetively, for Attleboro while Luke Hinton and Brody Rosen (first doubles, 7-5, 6-3), and the tandem of Noam Cook and Clay Tyler (second doubles, 6-1, 6-3) added doubles wins. Taunton’s Heitor Sens continued his stellar season at third singles with a 6-1, 6-4 win.
Foxboro, 4 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final
Franklin, 3 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – Franklin junior Jay Gorgas prevailed in the third set to secure a win at first singles and clinched a 3-2 win for the Panthers. Gorgas won 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 while senior Tyler Fitzpatrick notched a 6-2, 6-1 win at second singles. Franklin also got a win from the team of junior Andrew Amante and sophomore Aaron Ramaswamy (6-3, 6-4) at second doubles. North Attleboro junior Quinn DiFiore posted a 6-2, 6-2 win at third singles, and the team of senior Brody Gaulin and junior Carson Dameron added a 6-2, 6-4 win at first doubles for the Rocketeers.
King Philip, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Milford took a three-set win at first singles but King Philip won the other four matches to secure a win on the road. Arjun Kollu only dropped a pair of games in a 6-1, 6-1 second singles match and Luke Bailor added a 6-2, 6-4 win at third singles for the Warriors. KP swept both doubles matches with Noah Ihley and Brent Schneider landing a 6-4, 6-4 first doubles win and Leo Manning and Logan Riley prevailing 6-7, 6-0, 6-2 at second doubles. Milford’s Tyler Andreotti emerged from first singles with a 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 win.
Sharon, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – A pair of strong doubles performances plus one singles win anchored the Eagles to a key division win over Mansfield. Sharon’s first doubles team of seniors Hyojae Park and Rithvik Neti picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win at first doubles while junior Savir Basil and sophomore Joel Zwicker emerged from doubles with a 7-5, 6-1 win. Junior Matthew Lally added Sharon’s lone singles win with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at second singles. Mansfield sophomore Neema Khosravani prevailed from a tough battle at first singles with a 7-5, 6-4 win, and junior Iniyan Karruppusami scored a 6-2, 6-3 third singles victory.
Girls Tennis
Taunton, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Taunton landed two wins in singles action along with one more from doubles play to edge out Attleboro on the road. Junior Ava Alves was impressive in a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles for the Tigers while junior Morgan Smith added a 6-3, 6-1 third singles victory for the visitors. Taunton’s third point came from the junior tandem of Caroline Pietnik and Sam Parrett (6-2, 6-2) at second doubles. Attleboro’s Maddie Fuscaldo notched a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles, and the all-junior tandem of Presley Biller and Kyra Johnson rallied for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 win at first doubles.
Stoughton, 2 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final
North Attleboro, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – The Rocketeers used a singles sweep plus one more win in doubles action to secure a win on the road at Franklin. Junior Lauren Hunt (6-1, 6-0), sophomore Megan Atwood (6-4, 6-2), and senior Grace Noreck (6-0, 6-2) all won in straight sets to sweep singles. The all-sophomore tandem of Jayla Stone and Grace Manning rallied for a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7) win for North’s fourth point. Franklin’s Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen teamed up for a 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles.
Milford, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – King Philip bounced back from a loss on Monday with a clean sweep on Tuesday, taking all five matches in straight sets. Ahunna James didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 first singles, win, Shea Mellman only lost one game in a 6-0, 6-1 second singles victory, and Caroline Freese landed a 6-4, 6-4 win at third singles. KP’s first doubles team of Carlie Burns and Priya Riar notched a 6-2, 6-1 win, and the Warriors’ second doubles team of Lauren Casper and Jaelyn Dang grabbed a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Mansfield, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon continued its undefeated season with an impressive win over Mansfield, taking all five matches in straight sets. Judy Song (first singles) and Ale Aguilar (third singles) both rolled to 6-0, 6-0 wins while Nayva Shukla landed a 6-1, 6-1 decision at second singles. Both of Sharon’s doubles teams (Sophia Oh and Abby Vilk at first singles, and Ellie Zhao and Zayna Cheima at second doubles) picked up 6-1, 6-1 wins.
Outdoor Track
Franklin @ Milford, 4:15
Boys Volleyball
King Philip vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 4:45
Baseball
Stoughton, 0 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Hayden Rose spun a gem, firing Canton to an important division win. Rose went the distance, pitching around five walks and allowing just one hit. He struck out 11 batters, including striking out the side in the seventh to seal the victory. Canton’s lone run came in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Hart drew a walk and came around to score on Matt Lesser’s triple over the right fielder’s head. Owen Lane also added three of Canton’s seven hits from the leadoff spot. Jeriel Cuello had Stoughton’s only hit. Black Knights starter Joseph Rush took the loss despite a strong start. He allowed just the one run and five hits in 3-1/3 innings. Hunter Malkin pitched 2-2/3 scoreless innings of relief with four Ks.
Mansfield, 10 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Mansfield scored three runs in the third and four more in the fourth to break things open and seal a win that keeps the Hornets close with Foxboro in the Davenport title hunt. Sam Martin (two doubles) and Wyatt Bolduc (double) each had two hits and drove in a pair of runs, scoring three runs combined as well for the Hornets. Mansfield also got a hit and three runs scored from Conner Zukowski, a hit and two RBI from Jake Maydak, and a hit and RBI from Luke Rogan. Maydak also picked up the win on the mound, throwing six innings with three earned runs, three walks, and two strikeouts. Rogan closed the game with a scoreless seventh. Harrison Fitzpatrick was 3-for-3 leading off for OA, scoring twice. Matt Lawson added two hits and a run, Patrick Finnerty had an RBI triple, and Jack Morley drove in one for the Tigers.
Milford, 10 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – Milford scored 10 unanswered to come from behind and pick up a big road win. Damien Carter starred at the plate and on the mound for the Hawks. He went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a triple, a homer, and five RBI. Carter also overcame allowing three runs in the first two innings to throw a complete game with eight strikeouts. Nick Koch had two hits and reached base five times, Evan Cornelius had a pair of hits, and Sean McGee had a hit and reached base four times for the visitors. Jordan Paradis had a hit, a run, and an RBI and Ayden Delaney had a hit and drove in two for North.
Softball
Canton, 5 @ Stoughton, 18 – Final (5 Inn.) – Canton scored four runs in the second and added a fifth in the third to take early control of Friday’s divisional matchup, but the Black Knights put together a remarkable rally to pull out the win. Stoughton scored nine runs in the fourth and then added nine more in the fifth to seal the victory. The hosts had 14 hits as a team. Freshman Julia Monaghan had three hits to lead the way, scoring once and driving in a pair. Kerry Driscoll drove in four with a pair of hits. Julie Powers (three runs and two RBI), Anna Hobbs (three runs and three RBI), and Alyssa Edwards (two runs and an RBI) all had two hits apiece. Camryn Whitman scored twice and brought in another. Driscoll picked up the win in the circle, going the distance with no earned runs and a pair of strikeouts. Jess Wright scored once and drove in two for Canton, while Kailyn Durham drove in two, Chloe Guerschuny had two hits, and Laura Valkanas had a run and an RBI in the loss.
Sharon, 2 @ Foxboro, 9 – Final – Foxboro scored four times in the first and never looked back, picking up a win that keeps it in the running for the Davenport title. Ava Hill went 2-for-4 with a triple, a run scored, and two RBI. Emma Callahan was 3-for-4 and scored three times. Vittoria Cuscia had a pair of hits and drove in two. Cuscia picked up the win in the circle, giving up no earned runs and striking out five. Maddie Hu and freshman Annabel Gruss each had two hits for the Eagles. Manasa Josyula struck out seven in the loss.
Taunton, 13 @ Franklin, 0 – Final (5 Inn.) – Taunton pounded out 16 hits and had its fifth straight shutout to stay unbeaten. The Tigers broke things open with a six-run fourth inning. Kaysie DeMoura went 3-for-4 with a double, scoring twice and driving in three. Bella Bourque also was 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Kyleah Plumb (two runs, RBI), Ava Venturelli (two runs, two RBI, and a homer), and Mia Fernandes each had two hits. Brooke Aldrich tripled and drove in three and Hayley Krockta had a double, run scored and RBI. Sam Lincoln made the runs stand up with another strong outing in the circle. She struck out 11 in five innings and allowed just two hits. Sarah Boozang and Hailey Fales had the hits for the Panthers.
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames plated four runs in the second inning to take the lead and then held off a late rally from the hosts, getting the final out with the tying run at the plate. Maddie Homer, Devon Morris (run), Katie Melendy (RBI), Katherine Farley, Erin Martin (RBI, run), Crystyliah Covel (double), and Paige Taylor each had a hit for the Tigers. Melendy earned the win in the circle, allowing three unearned runs on six hits and one walk, striking out five in a complete game. For Mansfield, Liv Madeira had a pair of hits and Callie Lake, Erin Radley, Molly Kucharski, Jill Koppy, Avery Lake, Dani Jameson, and Allie Koppy each added one hit.
North Attleboro, 4 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Kelly Colleran set a new program record (breaking the one she has set several times already this spring) by striking out 21 batters in seven innings. She also scored the winning run, drew a pair of walks, and stole a base. The big hit for the Rocketeers was a pinch-hit, two-run homer from freshman Grace Forman to break the game open in the fifth inning. Arianna McDavitt set the tone offensively with three hits and a run scored and Maryellen Charette had a pair of hits. Emma Hanwell had a double and a run scored, while Maddie Bailey, Molly Willey (RBI), and Lucy Palmer all had one hit. Milford had four hits as a team, with Olivia Baglione going 2-for-4 from the lead-off spot. Ava Baglione and Grace Bonina each had one hit. Maeve Driscoll allowed only two earned runs for the Hawks, striking out seven in the loss.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 17 @ Dedham, 14 – Final – Freshman Michael Thomas scored six times to lead the Bulldogs to their second win of the week. Jeffrey Chaput and Ethan Keleher each scored five times and AJ Thomas scored once for Canton. The Bulldogs did the bulk of the scoring in the first half, going into the break with a 12-8 lead.
Mansfield, 10 vs. Silver Lake, 11 – Final (OT) – Mansfield lost a tough game against a fellow tournament contender. Drew Sacco scored three goals and dished out an assist. Twice in the fourth quarter Sacco scored to tie the game and eventually force overtime. Cody Gordon added a hat trick and a pair of assists and Tommy Smith had two goals and an assist. Andrew DeGirolamo found the back of the net once for the Hornets. Ryan DeGirolamo made 18 saves in the loss.
King Philip, 8 vs. Weymouth, 13 – Final – KP lost a tough challenge against a fellow playoff contender. Makenzie McDevitt (one assist), Alyssa Legere, and Nicole McDonald all scored twice for the Warriors. Emily Campbell made 16 saves in the loss.
Mansfield, 3 @ Bishop Feehan, 11 – Final – Ella Palanza, Brooke Butler, and Stella Moore each scored once for the Hornets. Palanza added an assist.
Taunton, 7 @ North Attleboro, 15 – Final – For Taunton, Cali Melo found the back of the net four times, Caroline Vallarelli added a pair, and Hailey Tanguay scored once. Maddi Szala added an assist and Mel Jesus registered six saves.
Sharon, 5 @ Medway, 19 – Final
Boys Tennis
Canton, 4 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – A clean sweep in singles action highlighted Canton’ 4-1 decision on the road over neighboring Stoughton. Max Kupferman, Bharat Ramanathan, and Justin Ngan each won 6-0, 6-0 in singles action and the Bulldogs added another win at second doubles. The team of Drew Garrett and Matt Writer overcame a one-set deficit to emerge with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win. Stoughton’s Anthony Maylack and Aadit Khond secured a 6-0, 6-3 win at first doubles.
Sharon, 5 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Sharon swept Foxboro and remained unbeaten in league play. The first singles match was the closest, as Jacob Slavsky pulled out a super tiebreaker win over Raj Jetty. Jetty took the opening set 6-4, but Slavsky came right back to win the second 6-0 and then took the tiebreaker 10-5. Matthew Lally (6-4, 6-1) and Alex Budovalcev (6-1, 6-1) both won in straight sets. The doubles matches were also straight set wins for the Eagles. Sava Kassev and Rithvik Neti won 6-0, 6-3 and Kevin Li and Hyojae Park won 6-2, 6-1.
Taunton, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – Franklin earned a win that keeps it just one back in the win column in the battle for the Kelley-Rex title. Jay Gorgas won a 9-7 tiebreaker in the first set to get a straight sets win (7-6, 6-2). Tyler Fitzpatrick won the opening set 6-4, dropped the second by the same score, but then won the third set tiebreaker 11-9 to get the point. The doubles teams of Eric Tomaino and Ahan Shetty (6-4 7-5) and Andrew Amante and Aaron Ramaswamy (6-3, 6-3) each won in straight sets for the Panthers.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield swept the Tigers to hang around in the Davenport title race, just one back in the loss column of leader Sharon. The Hornets took the three singles matches in straight sets. Neema Khosravani (6-1, 6-2), Nikhil Nain (6-0, 6-4), and Iniyan Karruppusami (6-1, 6-3) earned three points for Mansfield. Freshmen Kingston Carey and Justin Curtis also won in straight sets at second doubles – 6-1, 6-1. The first doubles match was the lone point to require three sets. Josh and Jacob Weiner pulled out the win after dropping the first set to Nick Wagner and Brendan Teehan. The Weiners won 6-7, 6-3, 10-8.
North Attleboro, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – North pulled out a win that moves it back into a first-place tie with Attleboro atop the Kelley-Rex. Although the Rocketeers earned four points, it was a hard-fought battles, as four of the five individual matches went to three sets. At first singles, Brody Carter dropped the opening set against Tyler Andreotti 2-6, but bounced back to win the next two sets 6-1, 6-3. Darren Ling had a similar experience at second singles, dropping the first 2-6 against Connor Wong, but then winning 6-3, 6-2 to take the point. Milford’s Corey Rattray won the lone point for the Hawks. After splitting the first two sets with Quinn DiFiore (6-7, 6-4), Rattray won the super tiebreaker 10-6. The doubles matches were also close. Arnav Raghuvanshi and Aaryan Anjna needed three sets to hold off Sean Prevelige and Todd Ostertag 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Neo Shum and Jeremy Carter won the only match that went in straight sets, taking second doubles 6-1, 6-2.
Girls Tennis
Stoughton @ Canton – Postponed to TBD.
Foxboro, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon clinched the Davenport title with the win over Foxboro. It is the seventh league title in the past eight seasons (two of those shared with Foxboro). Hailey Kornbluth continued to roll for the Warriors and earned the 6-2, 6-4 win at first singles. Sharon won the rest. Navya Shukla (6-0, 6-0) and Ale Aguilar (6-1, 6-2) won at straight sets to round out the singles matches. Abby Vilk and Jenny Sand (6-0, 6-1) and Olivia Landstein and Sophia Oh (6-0, 6-1) won the doubles matches while only dropping two games combined.
Franklin, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Franklin stayed in the running for the league title with a big road win. Izzy Trull (6-1, 6-0) and Brooke Taylor (6-0, 6-0) each won their singles matches in straight sets. Taunton also got a point at second singles with Ava Alves taking her match 6-4, 6-2. The Panthers swept doubles. Sydney Tolonen and Brooke Daniels won 6-4, 6-3 and Allison Bagley and Ava Davies won 6-3, 7-5.
Mansfield, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – OA won the first and second singles matches without dropping a game and added a win at second doubles to secure the victory and a sweep of the season series with the Hornets. Hannah Farber and Olivia Querzoli breezed through their matches, both winning 6-0, 6-0. The doubles team of Ella and Marina Mierzwinski finished off the win for the Tigers with a 6-2, 6-1 win. In the first meeting, Mansfield was swept, but the Hornets made this a tough match for the Tigers. Caroline Guravage took her third singles match 6-4, 6-2 and the doubles pairing of Jillian Hanley and Savannah Carey won 6-1, 6-3.
Milford, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North won all three of the singles matches to secure a win that moves the Rocketeers slightly ahead of KP in the Kelley-Rex title race. Lauren Hunt, Megan Atwood, and Grace Noreck all won their matches without dropping a game. Ava Merril and Lily Bogonis won their doubles match for the Hawks and Audrey Brannigan and Paige Caldon won 6-2, 6-3 at second doubles.
Boys Volleyball
King Philip, 1 @ Taunton, 3 – Final
Milford vs. O’Bryant, 5:15
Baseball
Attleboro, 1 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – Shawn Cali had a strong performance on the mound and the Tigers used early offense to score a 4-1 win over a tough Attleboro squad. Cali only allowed one hit and one walk in six shutout innings, striking out four to earn the win. Taunton senior Dawson Bryce had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, hitting an RBI double in both the first and third innings. Ryan MacDougall also had an RBI double in the third and AJ Lewis scored Jared Spencer with a single two at-bats later. Jonny Pagano pitched well for Attleboro, scattering eight hits and two walks, striking out two in five innings of work. Sean O’Hara tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Bombardiers while Andrew Gorman had a seventh inning RBI single.
Canton, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – OA scored twice in the third and once more in the fourth and was able to pull out its second league win of the season. Ryan Lemay (double) and Drew Hall each drove in runs for the Tigers, while Harrison Fitzpatrick, Jack Morley, and Matt Lawson (double) each provided hits. Andrew Zagami made the three runs stand up by holding the Bulldogs to just four hits and two runs in a complete game win. The Bulldogs scored once in the fifth and the seventh to get back within one. Brendan Clegg had a pair of hits and Andrew Gillis and Hayden Rose each drove in runs for Canton. Kyle Redquest had a strong start in defeat, allowing two earned runs over six innings.
Foxboro, 12 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final (5 Inn.) – Foxboro sophomore Tom Watts was solid on the mound and the Warriors’ offense exploded for 12 runs over a three-inning span in a win at Stoughton. Watts allowed one run on three hits and five walks, striking out a pair in four innings to get the win while Pradyu Gubbala threw a perfect inning in relief. Sophomore Ryan O’Leary had a huge day at the dish, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Sean O’Leary (RBI, three run), Louis Carangelo (two RBI, three runs), and Ben Angelini (RBI, two runs) each had two hits in the win.
Franklin @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/25 at 3:45.
King Philip, 3 @ Milford, 1 – Final – King Philip was held to just three hits but the Warriors rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to stun Milford. KP was held to a single in the third and a single that was thrown out at second in the fifth, but its offense came through in the clutch. Freshman Johnny Prater drew a lead off walk and moved to second when Max Robison was hit by a pitch with one out. Matt Kelley delivered the big hit, roping a double to left to bring both runners home to put KP ahead for the first time. Kelley, who advanced to third on the throw, came home for the third run on a wild pitch. Milford took the lead in the bottom of the second as sophomore Joe Butler was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored when classmate Joey McGee reached on an error. Rudy Gately kept the Warriors in the game with a strong pitching performance, allowing just the one run on five hits and two walks, earning the win with six strikeouts in six innings. Sophomore Nate Pennini earned the save, working around a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh for a scoreless inning. Milford’s Evan Cornelius surrendered three runs on three hits and five walks, striking out an impressive 16 batters in a complete game effort.
Sharon, 4 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield’s late game heroics continued on Monday as the Hornets walked off with a win over an upset-minded Sharon squad. Junior Matt DeShiro had a one-out double to right and came around to score on the game-winning single from classmate Jake Maydak. Sharon jumped out to a three-run lead, pushing across a pair in the top of the first on an RBI single from Jake Loomis, who came around to score himself on an error. The Eagles tacked on another run in the third on an RBI double from Palash Raina. Mansfield rallied to tie it in the bottom half when Dylan Saraceno scored on a wild pitch, DeShiro brought in a run with an RBI ground out, and Maydak reached on an error to score Sam Martin. Mansfield took its first lead, 4-3, on a single from sophomore Luke Rogan. Sharon pulled level in the top of the sixth on another RBI double from Loomis to make it 4-4. Cole Arundale pitched well for the Eagles, allowing five runs (two earned) on nine htis and a walk, striking out three in 6.1 innings. DeShiro also earned the win on the mound, tossing a scoreless seventh inning in relief. Maydak had a strong start, allowing four runs (two earned) on hour hits and a walk, striking out eight.
Softball
Taunton, 9 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Taunton sophomore Cate Larson dazzled in the circle in a dominant performance and the Tigers’ offense did almost all of its damage in a big fourth inning to secure a win on the road over Attleboro. Larson allowed just two hits and didn’t issue a walk, striking out an impressive 18 batters in a complete game. The Tigers plated eight runs in the fourth inning and the offense was highlighted by two hits apiece from Bella Bourque (two RBI, two runs), Hayley Krockta (two RBI, two runs), and Mia Fernandes (two RBI). Ava Venturelli also had a hit, a walk, an RBI and a run scored for Taunton. Lily Routhier and Rylie Camacho each had a hit for the Bombardiers.
Oliver Ames @ Canton – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/25 at 3:45.
North Attleboro, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – Kelly Colleran matched her program record with 19 strikeouts in seven innings, facing two batters over the limit and allowing just one hit, to pick up a bounce-back win for the Rocketeers. She also hit a solo homer, scored two runs, and drew three walks. Maddie Bailey had a hit and scored a run, Molly Willey drove in a pair, and Julia Forman scored what turned out to be the game-winning run. Lucy Palmer and Arianna McDavitt each had hits for North.
Milford, 1 @ King Philip, 15 – Final (5 inn.) – King Philip caught fire in the second inning, highlighted by senior Sarah Cullen’s grand slam, and the Warriors landed a big win over visiting Milford. Cullen had a big day at the plate with a pair of hits and the big home run — both coming in KP’s 13-run second inning. Freshman Ali Gill (2-for-4, two RBI, two runs) also had a home run in the inning. Junior Ava Kelley was a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs while junior Jordan Bennett went 2-for-2 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored. Junior Sydney Burch and sophomore Liv Petrillo also had two RBI for KP. Freshman McCoy Walsh earned the win, allowing one run on two hits and four walks, striking out five in five innings. Junior Maeve Williams had an RBI single in the top of the fourth to score freshman Angelina Bonina.
Mansfield, 11 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Mansfield plated five runs off four hits — all with two outs — in the first inning and never looked back in a win over Sharon. The Hornets ended with 12 hits, scoring once in each the second, fourth, and sixth before adding three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Avery Lake and Jill Koppy paced the offense with three hits apiece while Dani Jameson and Reilly Slaney each had two hits, and Allie Koppy and Callie Lake each had one. Jameson earned the win for the Hornets, scattering six hits while striking out seven. Ally Foulsham struck out six in a complete game effort and had an RBI for the Eagles.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 20 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – For Taunton, Izzy Cru z had two goals and an assist to pace the offense while Oren Cullins played well in net, making 14 saves for the Tigers.
Foxboro, 10 @ Hopkinton, 5 – Final – A pair of goals late in the first half helped Foxboro grab some momentum and the Warriors carried it into the second, dominating after the break to score a 10-5 win. The Hillers held a 3-0 lead before the Warriors finally broke through late in the first, cutting the deficit to 3-2 at half. Foxboro went on to outscore the hosts 8-2 in the second half to run away with the win. Tony Sulham had a team-high three goals, Conor Noone added six points — two goals and four assists — and Jon Sacchetti chipped in with a pair of goals to pace the offense. Finn Stapleton, Aidan Waller, and Ryan Cotter each scored once while Adam Addeche made 12 saves in net in the win.
Franklin, 20 @ North Attleboro, 6 – Final – Franklin built a four-goal lead after the first, extended it to seven by halftime, and ran away with it for good in the second half on the road at North Attleboro. Jayden Consigli (one assist) had a team-high four goals while Luke Davis (three assists) and Tyler Sacchetti (one assist) each added three goals in the win. Eddie O’Brien (one assist) and Ryan Grasso chipped in with two goals apiece.
Mansfield, 4 @ King Philip, 9 – Final – King Philip’s James Boldy and Mansfield’s Ryan DeGirolamo both delivered in a battle of two of the top goalies in the league, but it wa the Warriors that outlasted the visiting Hornets. Boldy turned away 14 saves in the win while DeGirolamo had another stellar outing, making 23 saves. Noah Minkwitz netted four goals and had two assists to lead the offensive charge for KP. Donovan DeVellis added two goals, Hayden Schmitz (two assist), Cullen McCarthy, and Nick Longobardi each scored once, and Mason Thomas (two assists), Justin Kosh, and Tommy Kilroy each had an assist. Nico Smith (two goals, one assist) and Tommy Smith (one goal, two assists) each had three points for the Hornets while Drew Sacco scored once and had one helper.
Sharon, 13 @ Oliver Ames, 7 – Final – Sharon and Oliver Ames were locked in a tight game throughout the first half but the Eagles were able to pull away for the win on the road. For OA, Ben Reardon scored a hat trick and had one assist while Ryan Jaco and Shaun Teehan each scored twice and added an assist.
Girls Lacrosse
Taunton, 3 @ Canton, 16 – Final – The Bulldogs had eight different players find the back of the net in a big win at home against visiting Taunton. Ella Yeaton paced the balanced attack with four goals while Nora Giannacopoulos added three for the Bulldogs. Kayleigh Koen (two goals) and Lauren Shatkin (two goals) each scored their first varsity goal in the win while freshman Olivia McCabe made her debut in net, turning away six shots.
Foxboro, 15 vs. Hopkinton, 8 – Final – Foxboro got contributions from all over in a big win against Hopkinton. Mya Waryas recorded a team-high seven points, scoring twice and spreading the ball around for five assists. Paige Curran chipped in with four goals and two assists, Val Beigel found the back of the net four times, Mary Collins scored a hat trick, and both Addie Riley (one assist) and Cate Noone (two assists) scored once. Sofia Lucente earned the win in the cage, making a pair of saves.
Franklin, 6 vs. Lincoln-Sudbury, 9 – Final – The Panthers got off to a great start but Lincoln-Sudbury rallied to take the win. Franklin scored the first four goals of the game but the visiting Warriors scored four of the next five goals to cut the deficit to just one, 5-4, at halftime. Katie Peterson had two goals and eight draw controls, Jamie Tanner scored twice with two helpers, and Kaitlyn Carney scored once with two assists.
Boys Tennis
Taunton, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Taking a pair of wins from both singles and doubles action, Attleboro defended home court with a 4-1 decision over visiting Taunton. Kyle Neuendorf and Tyler Rocchio both battled to tough three-set victories with Neuendorf grabbing a 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 win at first singles and Rocchio prevailing 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 at second singles. The team of Luke Hinton and Brady Rosen earned a straight set 6-3, 6-3 first doubles win, and Attleboro’s second doubles team of Noem Cook and Clay Tyler only dropped two games in a 6-2, 6-0 win. Taunton’s Heitor Sens emerged from third singles with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 win.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Canton swept singles action and added one more win in doubles play to defend home court against Oliver Ames. Max Kupferman, Bharat Ramanathan, and Justin Ngan each won in singles action, and the team of seniors Davis Lamb and Jorge Nebril secured a 6-3, 6-1 verdict at first doubles. OA’s Nick Wagner and Brendan Teehan dropped just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win at second doubles.
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – All four of Foxboro’s wins came in straight sets, two from singles action and a sweep of the doubles matches, to beat Stoughton. Raj Jetty rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles while Luca Meyer took home a 6-2, 6-2 decision at second singles for the Warriors. The team of Nathan Cote and Ryan Fossella won a tight battle at first doubles, 7-6 (4), 6-4, and the team of Greg Simone and Evan Paluzzi dropped just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win at second doubles.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin picked up three close wins to earn a tight win over visiting North Attleboro. All three of the Panthers’ wins involved a tiebreaker but were completed in straight sets. Ahan Shetty prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (3) at second singles and Andrew Amante added a 7-6 (2), 6-1 win at third singles for Franklin. The Panthers’ first doubles team of Eric Tomaino and Aaron Ramaswamy secured a 6-4, 7-6 (2) win at first doubles to help clinch the win. North Attleboro senior Brody Carter took a 6-4, 6-2 win at first singles while the junior pairing of Arnav Raghuvanshi and Aaryan Anjna landed a 6-3, 6-3 win at second doubles.
Milford, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip’s second doubles team of Logan Riley and Ashrith Epuri rallied from a one-set deficit, earned a close win in the second set, and completed the comeback in the third set to get the win and clinch the match for the Warriors. Riley and Epuri won by the score of 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 while Luke Bailor earned a hard-fought 7-6, 6-3 win at first singles and Arjun Kollu secured a 7-6, 6-1 win at second singles. Milford’s Corey Rattray grabbed a 6-2, 7-6 win at third singles, and the team of Sean Preveligo and Todd Ostertag picked up a 6-4, 7-6 win at first doubles.
Mansfield, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon swept both doubles matches and took two more victories from singles actions in a 4-1 win over visiting Mansfield. Jacob Slavsky took the win in a hard-fought first singles win (6-3, 6-4) while Matthew Lally did the same at second singles, emerging with a 6-4, 6-1 win. The team of senior Rithvik Neti and sophomore Sava Kassev earned a 6-4, 6-1 win at first doubles, and Sharon’s second doubles pairing of senior Mihir Basil and sophomore Joel Zwicker won 6-2, 6-4. Mansfield’s Iniyan Karruppusami prevailed in a three-set battle, taking a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (4) win at third singles.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – A sweep of both doubles matches and a win at first singles helped Attleboro secure a key road win at Taunton. Maddie Fuscaldo took a 6-2, 6-1 win at first singles for the lone Attleboro win in single action. the Tram of Zoe Stanley and Kyra Johnson added a 6-1, 6-4 win at first doubles, and Julia Leonardo and Katie Lortos added a 6-1, 6-3 verdict at second doubles for the Bombardiers. Taunton’s Ava Alves didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 second singles win and Morgan Smith did the same for a victory at third singles for the Tigers.
Canton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames was victorious in a pair of tight doubles matches and the Tigers added two more wins in singles action to knock off Canton. The team of Ava Barth and Emily Beaulieu battled to a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win at first doubles for the Tigers, and OA’s second doubles pairing of Marina Mierzwinski and Ella Mierzwinski earned a 6-3, 7-5. Hannah Farber didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 first singles victory, while Olivia Querzoli earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at second singles. Canton’s Charlotte Powers took a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 decision at third singles.
Foxboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Foxboro’s second doubles team of Katelynn Dineen and Shannon McElhinney emerged victorious after a three-set battle to help the Warriors clinch the win over Stoughton. Dineen and McElhinney rallied from a one-set deficit to earn a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win for the Warriors. Hailey Kornbluth added a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singles and the team of Audrey Paolino and Analise Tia dropped three games in a 6-1, 6-2 first doubles win. Stoughton’s Nadia Prokopiuk battled to a 6-3, 6-3 second singles win while sophomore Dhruvi Patel won a marathon of a match, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) at third singles.
Franklin, 1 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North Attleboro picked up one of its best wins of the season, taking down visiting Franklin 4-1 behind a singles sweep and one doubles win. Junior Lauren Hunt earned a 6-2, 6-1 win at first singles, sophomore Megan Atwood picked up a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles, and senior Grace Noreck rolled to a 6-0, 6-2 verdict at third singles. North’s fourth win came from the sophomore pairing of Grace Manning and Jayla Stone, who took a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win at second doubles. Franklin’s Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen, both sophomores, grabbed a 6-0, 7-6 (4) win at first doubles.
King Philip, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – KP senior Ahunna James had a dominant showing, highlighting the Warriors’ clean sweep with all five matches won in straight sets. James didn’t drop a game in an impressive performance (6-0, 6-0) at first singles, Shea Mellman won by the same score at second singles, and Caroline Freese completed the singles sweep with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at third singles. The team of Caroline Burns and Priya Riar used a strong net game to secure a 6-1, 6-1 win at first doubles, and the team of Lauren Casper and Jaelyn Dang earned a 6-1, 6-3 win at second doubles for KP.
Sharon, 5 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Sharon showed no rust from 10 days off, sweeping the Hornets with all five matches being won in straight sets. Judy Song (6-1, 6-0), Navya Shukla (6-0, 6-0), and Ale Aguilar (6-1, 6-2) each won their singles matches. At doubles, the teams of Olivia Landstein and Sophia Oh (6-2, 6-0) and Alina Hou and Jada Villaroel (6-4, 6-4) earned wins for the Eagles.
Boys Volleyball
Milford, 3 @ Medfield, 0 – Final
Taunton @ Barnstable, 5:15
Baseball
Mansfield, 4 vs. North Quincy, 2 – Final – Mansfield completed a terrific week, going 3-0 with wins over Bridgewater-Raynham, St. John’s Prep, and North Quincy. Trailing by a run through three innings, Mansfield pushed across a single run in each of the fourth and fifth innings, tacking on two key insurance runs in the sixth inning. Junior Wyatt Bolduc led off the fourth with a single, advanced to third on a fly ball to right, and came home to score on an RBI ground out from junior Matt DeShiro to make it 1-1. In the fifth, junior Brian Butler led off with a single, moved to third on a pinch hit single from junior Matt Tyron, took third on a single from Aidan Jones, and scored on a sac fly from junior Connor Curtis to make it 2-1. Mansfield scored for the third straight inning as senior Sam Martin and DeShiro had back-to-back singles, and the bases were loaded after an intentional walk to junior Jake Maydak. A balk brought Martin home and an RBI double but Butler scored DeShiro to make it 4-1. North Quincy got one back in the top of the seventh, and brought the go-ahead run up with runners on the corners, but DeShiro (2IP, 1ER, 4H, 0BB, 2K) closed it out for the save. Sophomore lefty Luke Rogan earned the win, allowing one run in the top of the first inning, scattering five hits and three walks in five innings of work.
Oliver Ames, 7 vs. New Bedford, 11 – Final – Oliver Ames clawed its way back into the game but the Tigers couldn’t overcome a six-run first inning from visiting New Bedford. Sophomore Harrison Fitzpatrick had a strong day from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with a run scored while senior Ryan Lemay added two hits, including a double, and scored twice. Jack Morley (RBI), Patrick Finnerty (triple, RBI, run), Thomas Whiteside, and Jake Willard (run) each had a hit for OA.
Softball
Milford, 4 @ Hopedale, 2 – Final – After falling behind by two runs in the second inning, Milford rallied for four runs over the final two innings to pull off a comeback win over neighboring Hopedale. Ava Baglione and Cae Pellegrini both reached to start the sixth inning, and the former came home on a single from Camille Bonina to cut the deficit in half. Maeve Williams came through with a huge two-out double to score both Pellegrini and Bonina to put the Scarlet Hawks in front for the first time. Pellegrini added a two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh, scoring Olivia Baglione to extend the lead to 4-1. Maeve Driscoll eared the win, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks, striking out four in a complete game performance.
Boys Lacrosse
Foxboro, 9 vs. Scituate, 11 – Final – Foxboro came up just short in a consolation contest of the Chowda Cup, falling 11-9 to Scituate. Tony Sulham led the offense with three goals while Ryan Cotter, John Sacchetti, and Conor Noone (two assists) each had two goals for Foxboro. Adam Addeche made eight saves for the Warriors.
Franklin, 8 @ St. John’s Prep, 16 – Final – Franklin stayed close with the top team in the state through three quarters before Prep put the game away late. Luke Davis continued his strong start to the season with two goals and two helpers, while Jayden Consigli had a hat trick and Tyler Sacchetti added a pair of goals. Justin Alexander had his toughest test of the season but won 15-of-28 face-offs. Michael Galvin made five stops in goal and Matt Corvi added three saves.
Mansfield, 10 vs. Hanover, 8 – Final – Mansfield closed out the Chowda Cup with a solid win, finishing 2-1 in the tournament. Drew Sacco (assist) and freshmen Nico Smith and Donovan Minton all scored two goals apiece. Tommy Smith and freshmen Tommy Vallett and Andrew DeGirolamo (three assists) each found the back of the net once. Goalie Ryan DeGirolamo also got involved in the attack with a goal and an assist, while making 26 saves to help the Hornets pull out the win.
Oliver Ames, 9 @ Ashland, 5 – Final – Jake Manthous won all but one faceoff attempts to help Oliver Ames earn its second win over Ashland this week. Manthous went 12-for-13 on faceoffs while Noah Isleib was strong in net with nine saves. Ben Reardon paced the offense with four goals and an assist, Ryan Jaco added two goals, while Shaun Teehan (two assists), Landon Grothe, and Manthous each scored once.
Taunton players celebrate after beating Franklin to win the D1 state title. Both teams bring back strong teams and are contenders to win the state championship again this spring. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2022 Record: 5-15 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Steve Dunlea
Attleboro returns a strong core from last year and will be aiming to make some noise in one of the toughest divisions in the state. The Bombardiers had three one-run losses last year and two more in extra innings, and despite their record, just missed out on the state tournament. A big reason for that is the challenges they face throughout the season as the Kelley-Rex division last year featured both Division 1 state finalists (Franklin and Taunton), the Division 2 state finalist (KP), plus Mansfield, who reached the Division 2 final four.
The Bombardiers boast a lot of returning players up and down the lineup, and on the mound as well. Although it’s a young rotation, Attleboro has some talented arms that picked up some invaluable experience a year ago. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Tyler Dunlea (3-3, 2.74) will anchor the rotation a year removed from striking out 23 batters in 23 innings of work as a freshman. Junior Jonny Pagano is another righty that gained key experience last year and senior Sean O’Hara will be a veteran presence in the rotation. Senior Owen Lombardo, juniors Matt Harvie, Braxton Levin, Tyson Forte, and freshman Ryan Landry are all in the mix to get some innings in relief.
Offense will be an area that Attleboro will look to improve on as they go against some of the best pitchers in the area. Senior Danny Johnson is in his third year as a varsity starter and will lead a talented outfielder group that features Harvie and classmate Brody McKenna. Seniors Casey Victorio and Ran Martin, along with junior Jackson Huntington, will look to provide an offensive punch as well. Senior captains Peter Delpozzo and Cooper Johnson (0.364 average last year) are back in the fold and will lead by example both offensively and defensively for head coach Steve Dunlea. Pagano, junior Andrew Gorman, and sophomore Jacob Bettencourt are all battling for time in the infield as well. Aiden Hochwarter resumes his role as the starting catcher for the Bombardiers.
2023 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
“I am very excited about this year’s team,” said Attleboro head coach Steve Dunlea. “We have excellent leadership in our three captains. Our pitching and defense will continue to be a strength for us. We also have a great mix of returning starters and new players on offense. These guys are well aware that we play in arguably the toughest division in Massachusetts and you have to be ready to compete every day.”
2022 Record: 9-12 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: David Walsh
Canton has a new head coach in David Walsh but the goals remain the same as the Bulldogs will be aiming to return to the state tournament again this year. With a talented core back in the fold from last year’s team, not only will the Bulldogs be in the mix to make the playoffs, they could contend for the Davenport division title.
The lineup will feature a lot of familiar faces from last year that is anchored by a seasoned senior class. Shortstop Matt Chafin is among the best players in the league and is committed to play at the next level at Brandies. He will be joined in the lineup by Jack Digirolamo, one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. Digirolamo led the team in average last season with a 0.446 batting average (29 hits), which was good for fourth in the entire league while Chafin finished at 0.350 with 16 runs scored. Senior Hayden Rose (Framingham State) is another familiar name that will play a lot of innings for the Bulldogs, coming off a season in which he hit 0.328 with a team-high 17 RBI.
Rose will anchor a pitching staff that will need to fill some holes this year. Rose was among the league leaders in terms of innings pitched last year, coming in second in the regular season in the Hock with 43.2 innings of working. He posted a 4-4 record with a 2.89 ERA, striking out 28. Andrew Butler and Zach Peters combined for over 50 innings last year but with both players graduated, there will be an opportunity for new faces to step up for Walsh. While the Bulldogs get the rotation set, Walsh is preaching fundamentals and having the team pride themselves on good defense.
“This will be a fundamentally sound group who is gritty, tough, and are not afraid of the everyday grind,” Walsh said. “We will rely on our pitchers to throw strikes, defense to be routine, and situationally hit. If we are able to do all three in each game we will be very competitive.”
2022 Record: 16-8 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Final Four Coach: Derek Suess
Foxboro was one of the feel-good stories last season as the Warriors made a dramatic tournament run to the state semifinals before falling to eventual state champ Austin Prep. While the Warriors are strictly focusing on the road ahead, last season set a new standard for Foxboro.
There is a lot of optimism that the Warriors can pick up where they left off because they have almost their entire roster back for 2023. Last year’s squad had a lot of young and inexperienced players that matured quickly throughout the year. Foxboro won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year as they start the season as a serious contender for the Davenport division title. On the mound, Foxboro has six players back that tossed varsity innings including their top three: senior Sean O’Leary (UMass Lowell), senior Mat Sullivan, and sophomore Nolan Gordon. Senior Alex Stern and sophomores Danny Jacobs and Tommy Watts are also back in the fold and the Warriors have added junior Pradyu Gubbala and sophomore Ryan O’Leary to the mix. Ryan LeClair, a veteran in the group, could also see time on the mound this year.
Sophomore Mike Marcucella returns behind the dish after earning the starting role as a freshman last year. LeClair (Stonehill) returns to shortstop and is one of the best defensive players in the region and he’s complemented by Sean O’Leary, who will play third when he isn’t pitching. On the right side, junior Tyler Prescott will man second base and he will also be counted upon to set the table for the offense out of the leadoff spot. Ryan O’Leary will take over at first base this season. Stern, Sullivan, and Watts will add infield depth when not on the mound.
The outfield will also have a lot of familiar faces with veteran Louis Carangelo back in left field after a breakout junior season. Carangelo was one of the most consistent offensive players in the Hock, hitting 0.333 with 16 RBI. Sophomore Ben Angelini has had a strong preseason so far and will patrol center for the Warriors while junior Shane Henri will be in right field. Senior Kenny Mello was a solid contributor for Foxboro last year but will miss the season with an injury. Freshman Aidan Stow and Gordon will provide outfield depth.
“Despite last season’s success, this season provides new opportunities and challenges for our ballclub,” said Foxboro head coach Derek Suess. “We will be battle-tested, with an always difficult Hockomock League schedule, and a strong non-league slate as well. We need to compete each day, at a championship-level standard, to give ourselves the best opportunity to reach the goals we have set for the season. Our leadership and culture have never been stronger.”
2022 Record: 23-4 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Final (Kelley-Rex champion) Coach: Zach Brown
Although Franklin has won three straight Kelley-Rex division titles, there is still plenty of motivation for these Panthers.
The Panthers are coming off a tough one-run loss in the Division 1 state championship to rival Taunton, but with a strong core returning it looks like Franklin will once again be among the top powerhouses in the state this year. One obvious strength will be the offense with five players back in the lineup from last year’s squad. Not only is it an experienced group (multiple players entering their third year starting), but it’s an incredibly talented one that features senior Ryan Gerety (Northeastern), senior Jase Lyons, senior Eisig Chin (Stonehill), senior Ben Jarosz, and junior Henry Digiorgio (Northeastern). Gerety and Chin will return to their spots in the outfield while Lyons (1B), Jarosz (3B), and Digiorgio (SS) are all back in the infield. Seniors Tyler Bellan, Luke Sidwell, and Ethan DePaolo also provide some experienced depth and newcomers Rex Cinelli, Ryan Carlucci, and Koen Bonetti will all try to contribute for head coach Zach Brown.
Pitching will be another strength with senior righty Alfred Mucciarone (UMass Lowell) back after going 5-1 during the regular season last year, posting a 2.33 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 42 innings. His experience gives the Panthers an ace to rely on as they navigate a difficult schedule. Junior lefty Austin Campbell could be the next breakout star for Franklin after some impressive outings last year, and juniors Jake Shaughnessy (LHP) and Matt Miller (RHP) fill out a strong core of pitchers. Both Chin and Lyons will also be in the mix while senior newcomers Dillon Cashin and Zach Ramaswamy are prepared to come on in relief when needed.
“We are returning a strong senior class and veteran core,” Brown said. “We are excited about how hard this group has been preparing for the upcoming season. The seniors have provided great leadership during the preseason and scrimmages.”
2022 Record: 16-9 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Coach: Jeff Plympton, Jr.
King Philip is another squad that is coming off a tremendous season (a trend among most Hock teams) as they reached the Division 2 state championship, falling to Milton. The Warriors are also following another trend in the league as they have the majority of their lineup back in the mix this season as they look to challenge for the Kelley-Rex division title in a loaded field.
The Warriors have a strong pitching staff in the league, highlighted by senior Rudy Gately. Gately has been KP’s ace for the past two seasons and will resume that role again this year. During the regular season, he tossed 39 innings and struck out 37, posting a 3.41 ERA. He will be joined by lefty Tommy Martorano, who missed virtually all of last year with an injury. Junior Tommy McLeish emerged as a reliable option in relief last year, striking out 22 batters in 20.2 innings and he should be in line for an expanded role this year.
Offensively the Warriors will have a big void with the graduation of Shawn Legere, one of the best hitters in the state. But head coach Jeff Plympton Jr. has plenty of options to work with, including senior Brendan Sencaj, who is coming off a terrific season in which he hit 0.371 with 15 RBI and 21 runs scored. Gately, a middle infielder, is a strong two-way player that hit 0.344 last year with 16 RBI and senior Matt Kelley is a great all-around player that will make the switch to center field this season, and another weapon in the lineup. Junior Max Robison is coming off a breakout campaign (0.359 average) and is one of the best defensive first basemen in the Hock.
“We are excited to be bringing back a great core of guys from our team last year,” Plympton Jr. said. “We’re hoping to build off of our success last season and continue to build a winning culture. We will have a lot of new arms in the rotation and a few very good returning arms from last year.”
2022 Record: 17-8 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Four Coach: Chris Hall
Mansfield lost some key contributors from a sizable graduating senior class that led the Hornets to the Division 2 Final Four a year ago, but the cupboard is far from empty for head coach Chris Hall.
The most experience back on the team comes on the offensive end with some key bats back in the lineup. Senior captains Sam Martin and Conner Zukowski look to man the left side of the infield while returning starters Matt DeShiro and Jake Maydak — both juniors — will hold down the right side. Zukowski had a great season at the dish, hitting 0.344 during the regular season with 15 runs scored while DeShiro had a breakout sophomore campaign, leading the Hornets in batting average with a 0.373 average and a team-high 25 hits, driving in 13 runs as well. Defensive wiz and captain Aidan Jones returns as the starting catcher for the squad.
There is a lot of competition in the outfield right now including junior Brian Butler, another returner from last year. Seniors Kyle Marnikovic and Will Lund are also in the mix along with juniors Wyatt Bolduc, Connor Curtis, Drew Urban, Dylan Saraceno, Anthony Saraiva, and Joey MacIntyre. Juniors Matt Tryon and Derek McGrath are versatile pieces that will bring some power to the lineup.
Mansfield lost its top three starters from a year ago in Jimmy Gilleran, Aaron Blinn, and Anthony Sacchetti, who combined to pitch over 100 innings during the regular season. Hall will turn to junior Connor Curtis, who didn’t allow an earned run in 16 innings of work in the regular season last year, recording three saves with 19 strikeouts. Maydak is also in the mix for an expanded role on the staff along with juniors Yuv Sakhalkar and Ryan Jeans, and sophomore Luke Rogan. Senior Nate Thibault will chip in as a reliever.
“Most teams who play in the Hockomock League have a chance to make a run at a state championship due to the competition you face every single game in the regular season,” Hall said. “I believe the makeup of our roster puts us in that conversation this year. This year’s team is a tight-knit, cohesive group that battles with one another at practice. They thrive off competition and work together to do whatever they can to best benefit the program. We are excited for the season and look forward to the challenges presented to us.”
2022 Record: 7-13 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Alex Dion
Similar to Attleboro, the Scarlet Hawks were a victim of playing in a division that had three teams reach a state championship game and another reach the final four. With another year of experience, Milford will look to challenge those top teams and make a push for the postseason.
The roster features a lot of familiar names that are either in their third or second year in the lineup and head coach Alex Dion is hoping that experience will lead to competing with some of the state’s best teams. The pitching staff starts with three-year starter and right-handed pitcher Evan Cornelius. A top two-way play and multi-sport athlete, Cornelius leads by example both on and off the field for the Scarlet Hawks. He went 4-2 last year with a 2.31 ERA, ranking among the league leader with 48 strikeouts in 30.1 innings of work. Junior righty Damien Carter is also in his third year while senior Tyler Caldon and junior Anthony LaPierre logged a lot of work on the mound a year ago and return as starters this year. Senior Mason Baldic and sophomore Ian Carter are both in the mix for innings this year as well.
While pitching looks to be a strength for Milford this year, the Hawks will rely on a lot of the same names to deliver offensively as well. Cornelius will man first base when he isn’t on the mound and is a reliable offensive option. Damien Carter, junior Sean McGee, and freshman Joey McGee are options in the infield alongside Cornelius while Ian Carter, Baldic, and sophomore Nick Koch are in line for opportunities in the outfield. Junior Keith Lee is back behind the dish as taking on that role a season ago and junior Nate Scudo can be effective in a variety of positions. Seniors Brady Butler, Tony Fontes, Jacob Gove, Guy Saintyl, and Cam DelPrete will provide key depth while junior Victor Martinez will look to provide some pop in the lineup.
“Looking forward to competing in this great league again this spring,” said Milford head coach Alex Dion. “We have a number of guys that have been together for three years now. I have seen strong leadership from veterans early on, a group of guys that are competitive on the mound, and some athletes that are eager to learn and compete at a high level.”
2022 Record: 18-6 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Four (Davenport champion) Coach: Mike Hart
The Hockomock League had so much success during last season’s tournament that the Rocketeers’ accomplishments almost get lost in the shuffle. North Attleboro went 13-3 in league play last year and reached the D2 final four, picking up wins over D1 state finalists Franklin and D2 state finalists KP in the process. Now the Rocketeers join a loaded Kelley-Rex division along with those two squads, defending state champs Taunton, and two improved squads in Attleboro and Milford.
That means North Attleboro has its work cut out for them as they not only try to navigate a difficult schedule but has a lot of holes to fill in the lineup after graduating nearly a dozen seniors from last year’s 18-win squad. Head coach Mike Hart has done a terrific job since taking over the helm of the program and he will be leaning on the handful of returners he does have to lead the way this year. Hart has a dozen more seniors this year led by veterans Derek Maceda, Dillon Harding, and Jordan Paradis. Maceda will patrol center field, Harding is at shortstop, and Paradis is a seasoned pitcher that had 18 strikeouts in 17 innings of regular season work. Maceda will also get some innings on the mound along with classmates Ayden Delaney Peter Santoro, junior Parker Abrantes, and sophomore Gio Martello, and Harding will be a go-to option to close games out.
Martello was a late-season call up to the varsity squad and made an impression in his short stint with the squad. He will complete the middle of the infield at second base and will be a key piece in the lineup offensively. Seniors Jack Munley, Mark Vogel, Delaney, and sophomore Bryce Kiser are also in the mix for spots in the infield. Along with Maceda and Paradis, seniors Kyle Conroy and Reed Collins, along with junior Chris Hanewich, will cycle throughout the outfield. Junior Nate Kelly and senior Harrison Gagne are competing for time behind the dish. Hart expects the defense to be a strength of this year’s squad.
“We are looking forward to a season of growth,” Hart said. “We have many quality players new to varsity baseball who are looking to take the next step in their development and continue the success we have been privileged to have over the last few seasons. Derek Maceda, Dillon Harding, and Jordan Paradis are three capable and proven players in all three phases of the game. We will look to our pitching staff to lead us. Our team has committed to getting better each and every day. We are excited to get out and compete!”
2022 Record: 11-11 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Joe Abarr
After graduating one of the largest senior classes in the league, there is plenty of opportunity to go around for Oliver Ames and head coach Joe Abarr this season. After an up-and-down year that included a playoff win, the Tigers will be looking to challenge the likes of Foxboro and Mansfield in the division title race.
With a lot of pieces departed from last year’s lineup, Abarr will start the season leaning heavily on the handful of returning pieces that played key roles last year. Senior captain Patrick Finnerty will be a major part of the defense and offense this year, as the Bentley University commit will patrol the center field and anchor the offense. On the mound, the Tigers will turn to senior captain Andrew Zagami to lead a relatively young staff that will include juniors Ian Kelley and Lucas Riley, both returners from last year’s team.
Abarr noted that there is a lot of competition in the squad right now as they battle for spots in the lineup, and he’s hoping the first few weeks will allow for a consistent lineup to emerge. Senior Nathan Luke, another returner from last year’s roster, will play the corners in the outfield at Frothingham Park this year.
“Many players have been stepping up in early practices and inter-squads and will be counted on early in the season,” Abarr said. “If we consistently stay after hitters and throw strikes we will be a competitive club. We have the potential to hit well, but the Hock’s pitching will be top-notch again based on some of the stellar returners around the league.”
2022 Record: 3-17 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Andrew Poliferno
The Eagles will have to replace some of the production lost from the 10 seniors that graduated from last year’s squad, but Sharon has some key pieces in key spots and will look to continue to improve.
One strength the Eagles will have early on is the return of almost all of its pitching staff back from last year, plus the addition of some more talented arms to create some strong depth at the position. Junior captain Luke Meixel was among the league leaders in innings pitched last season and will anchor this year’s staff. He had 33 strikeouts in 38 innings of work as a sophomore year and the Eagles are looking for him to take a big step this year. Senior Alex Coughlin will pair with Meixel to create a formidable 1-2 punch, and the Eagles will also get pitching contributions from Cole Arundale and Zach Loomis.
Senior Palash Raina is a captain alongside Meixel and Coughlin, and he will be a staple in Sharon’s lineup this season. He battled through an injury almost all of last season but is ready for a breakout final year on the diamond as he patrols center field. Head coach Andrew Poliferno believes there is a lot of depth — and internal competition — in the lineup, and that should improve production at the plate. Sophomore Drew Yaffe got his feet wet at the varsity level last season and will be looking to turn that experience into more production this year. Junior Liam Conway is back behind the dish after a strong defensive year in 2022.
“I’m really excited to see what this group of players accomplishes this season,” Poliferno said. “We have a large group of players on varsity and in the greater SHS baseball program who are hungry to compete and win games. My expectations for this team are high and that is a direct reflection of the level of talent and work ethic our players have exhibited since day one.”
2022 Record: 3-15 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Kevin Carty
Although the Black Knights lost a lot of production from its eight-member senior class that graduated last Spring, there is a lot of opportunity for new faces to work their way into the lineup for Stoughton head coach Kevin Carty.
There are some key pieces back in the mix this season after getting some valuable experience a year ago. Carty will lean on senior captains Sean Farley and Joe Rush to lead the way, with Farley both patrolling center field and pitching while Rush will play first base when he isn’t on the mound, and potentially some time behind the dish at catcher. There is also a strong contingent of players looking to build off of last year, including seniors Jeriel Cuello, who will play in the infield, and outfielder/pitchers James McCarthy and Liam Dunn, and Andrew Beder, who can play both in the infield and outfield, as well as on the mound.
Juniors Hunter Malkin, Ryan Summers, and Dom Belle all factored into the lineup for the Black Knights a year ago as sophomores and are in line for bigger roles this year. Malkin will pitch and play at first, Belle can play at both corners of the infield, and Summers will see time behind the dish at catcher.
“So far I could not be more impressed with the hard work and attitude from all of our players in the program, especially the new players on the roster,” Carty said. “I am very excited to work with these guys on a daily basis and can’t wait to see them improve throughout the season.”
2022 Record: 22-3 2022 Finish: Won Div. 1 State Championship Coach: Blair Bourque
The defending Division 1 state champions enter this season with a massive target on their back, but Taunton has the majority of its talented lineup back in the mix and is ready to take on all challengers, including a very competitive and skilled Hockomock League.
Athleticism, competitiveness, and experience will all be strengths for this year’s Taunton squad which has a lot of familiar faces in it including last year’s league MVP Ryan MacDougall, who had the game-winning home run in the state final against rival Franklin. The left side of the infield might possess the best duo in the state in seniors Braden Sullivan, a UMass commit with a strong bat that plays third base, and Dawson Bryce, a slick-fielding shortstop with consistent offensive production that is also going to play at the D1 level at Merrimack. That trio makes up the heart of the lineup for the Tigers and will make life difficult for opposing pitchers. Junior Brayden Cali, who started at second in the championship game, will be another key piece offensively for Taunton.
MacDougall also led the Tigers in innings pitched during the regular season, and classmate Shawn Cali was right there with him, posting a 4-2 record with a 1.60 ERA, striking out 27 in 35 innings of work. That gives Taunton a strong 1-2 punch in its rotation, but there’s also room for opportunity with the graduation of Evan Cali, who went 3-0 in the regular season and started the state championship game.
“The majority of our guys are multi-sport athletes who love to compete,” said Taunton head coach Blair Bourque. “And since many of our starters from last season are returning, they know the challenges of playing in arguably the most competitive league in the state as well as how to manage playing in the high-stress environment that is the post-season. Taunton has never been in a position with such high expectations so as a coach, I’m excited to see how my kids respond. This is a close-knit group and even with all the talent, they have great camaraderie.”
