Mansfield, 3 @ Xaverian, 2 – Final – Xaverian tied the game in the top of the seventh inning but the Hornets responded with the winning run in the bottom half to walk off with the win. Senior Sam Nugent (2-for-2, two runs) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and then stole second. Mike Hargadon put a bunt down to advance the runner but a collision at first allowed Nugent to scamper around third and home for the winning run. Mansfield took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Hargadon drove in Jake Gerraughty and Nugent with a double. Mike Scibilia went five innings, scattering five hits and one walk, striking out two with one earned run allowed. Kyle Moran got the win in relief, allowing one run on two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.
Sharon, 3 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – Sharon jumped ahead in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run but North Attleboro responded with two in the bottom half to walk off with the win. Eagles freshman Dan Zagoren smacked a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to give Sharon a 3-2 lead. In the bottom half, Shawn Watters reached on an infield error to lead off, Kyle Briere pinch ran and stole second, and Owen Harding single up middle advanced him to third. Briere scored on a slow roller single down the first base line by Brendan McHugh, moving Harding to third. North coach Mike Hart put Todd Robinson in as a pinch-runner at third and the senior rewarded him, racing home on a wild pitch for the winning run. Sharon went up 1-0 in the first on an RBI single from Noah Martinez but North sophomore Dennis Colleran scored classmate Jared Penta with an infield single to make it 1-1. North took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when McHugh drew a two-out walk and scored on a single from Penta. Matt Seavey struck out nine in five innings of work for North, allowing one earned run on four hits and three walks.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Brockton, 1 – Final
Softball
Foxboro, 17 vs. Ursuline Academy, 10 – Final – Morgan Sylvestre and Chelsea Gibbons each hit a home run and Foxboro’s offense exploded for 17 runs in a win over Ursuline Academy. Nicole Theriault had a big day offensively, going 4-for-5, and Jill Finn added three hits for Foxboro.
King Philip, 20 @ Milford, 0 – Final (5 inn.) – King Philip senior Heather Nix tossed her second straight shutout, allowing just two hits and one walk in five innings, striking out 10 to earn the win. Meghan Gorman paced the Warriors’ offense with a leadoff home run in the first, finishing with four hits and seven RBI. Paige Berdos (three-run home run) and Raegan Simeone each had three hits for the Warriors while Faith Turinese added a three-run home run.
Mansfield, 2 @ Braintree, 4 – Final – The Hornets put the tying run on base in the top of the seventh and had the go-ahead run at the plate but couldn’t connect for a timely hit, falling to Braintree on the road. The Hornets put a run on the board in the third off the bat of Ashlyn Conley (2-for-3), who doubled in Caty DeMassi (2-for-3). Mansfield added another run in the sixth when DeMassi knocked in Mady Bendanillo (2-for-4), who led off with a double. Megan Letendre and Sydney Woods also had a hit each for Mansfield. Sarah Cahill allowed six hits and struck out three for the Hornets.
Oliver Ames, 4 @ Walpole, 9 – Final – Oliver Ames had an early lead and got within one run in the fifth inning but Walpole scored four runs late to pull away with the win. OA jumped ahead with a suicide squeeze by Katie Mills (2-for-4, RBI, run) knocking in Katie Abreu (4-for-4, two runs scored) in the first inning. OA scored another in the second inning when Mollie Crabtree crossed the plate on an error. Grace Simone was 3-for-4, Kayla Georgeu was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Colleen Larson struck out two in six innings of work.
Taunton 7 vs. Bishop Feehan, 2 – Final – Taunton sophomore McKenzie McAloon led off the top of the second with her first career home run, sparking the Tigers to a big non-league win against a strong Bishop Feehan team. McAloon added a sac fly in the third to make it 2-0, Taunton added three more runs in the fourth on back-to-back doubles from Jaime Brown (two hits, two RBI) and Alexa White (3-for-4, three RBI) to make it 5-1. White then tacked on two more runs with a two-run double in the sixth. Feehan loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh but Kelsey White (7IP, 4H, 2BB, 9K 0ER) limited the Shamrocks to just one run. Paige Silvia and Ava Venturelli (double) each had two hits and scored twice for the Tigers.
Boys Lacrosse
Foxboro, 15 @ Bishop Feehan, 5 – Final – Junior Aidan Stapleton had a hand in five goals, helping the Warriors pick up a win on the road over Feehan. Stapleton scored twice and had three helpers, both Brendan Tully (three goals, assist) and Pete Conley (two goals, two assists) had four points, and Charlie Baughan scored a hat trick. Freshman Matt Tully made 12 saves in net for Foxboro.
Oliver Ames, 10 @ Ashland, 11 – Final – Junior Shane Kilkelly led Oliver Ames with four goals and three assists while Remi Creighton and Sandro Masciarelli each found the back of the net twice for the Tigers.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro vs. Norton, 4:00
Milford, 12 vs. Norwood, 10 – Final – Milford saw a three-goal lead disappear in the second half when Norwood tied the game at 8-8 but the Hawks scored four straight goals to earn a win over the Mustangs. Jillian Michelson, Eva Parson, Katie Maietta, Hanna Bangert, and Tatiana Martinez had strong defensive performances in front of Savannah Rosado to help preserve the win. Senior Captain Katie Drysdale scored her first goal of the season, Annie Flanagan netted three goals, Emily Haley, Sophia Bucal, and Elena Bon Tempo had two each, and Riley Campbell and Brianna Maietta both scored once for the Hawks.
Oliver Ames vs. Ursuline Academy, 4:00
Sharon, 15 @ Cardinal Spellman, 4 – Final – Sharon’s Rose Wald had a great game, making seven saves to limit the Cardinals to four goals, helping the Eagles punch their ticket to the state tournament with a win. Emma Eberhardt dominated at draws, winning 19-of-21 attempts and paced the offense with seven goals and four assists. Jenna Goldstein added four goals and an assist, Bridget McManus scored a pair of goals, Mia Lappen (goal, two assists) had three points, and Cass Barbera had a goal and an assist for the Eagles.
Boys Tennis
Milford, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield won all three singles matches in straight sets and swept doubles play in a victory over visiting Milford. Luke Nickerson won 6-2, 6-0 at first singles, Luke Devine notched a 6-3, 6-1 win at second singles, and Nilay Pangrekar didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Dheeraj Valluru and Sam Donella picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles while Justin Weiner and Peter Rouvalis emerged with a 4-6, 6-2, 10-7 win at second doubles.
Oliver Ames, 0 vs. Milton, 5 – Final
Stoughton, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon won a pair of matches in singles action and took both doubles matches to beat Stoughton. Junior Alberto Olivei earned a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles and freshman Rueman Bhattacharyya didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. Senior Max Brody and freshman Max Chen earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles while senior Alex Aspel and junior Jake Ross secured a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles. Stoughton sophomore Waseem Sablon battled to a 6-4, 6-3 win at first singles.
Taunton, 4 vs. Durfee, 1 – Final – Taunton senior Brett Beaulieu earned a win in straight sets at first singles for his 60th career victory, making him the program’s all-time wins leader. Beaulieu won 7-6, 6-0 at first singles, Charlie Fiske added a 6-2, 6-4 win at second singles, and Dylan Kullas secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of Trevor Hart and Ryan Hebert dropped just two games at first doubles, winning 6-0, 6-2.
Girls Tennis
Mansfield, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Mansfield went on the road and won two matches in singles action and swept doubles play to knock off host Milford. Lizzy Elsner shined in a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singles and Aryana Khosravani picked up a 6-2, 6-2 win at third singles. The team of Lauren Hobaica and Sam Sternburg recorded a 6-4, 6-3 win at first doubles while Alex Burnham and Alex Wendland prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 10-4 at second doubles. Milford’s Juliana France won 6-1, 6-1 at second singles.
Sharon, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final
Taunton, 3 @ Durfee, 2 – Final – Taunton once again swept singles play to get a close win over Durfee. Jillian Pagliuca earned a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles, McKenzie Lucie won 6-0, 6-1 at second singles, and Jocelyn Pagliuca picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles.
Boys Volleyball
King Philip, 3 vs. Bellingham, 0 – Final – King Philip improved to 13-2 on the season with its second sweep of Bellingham this season (25-8, 25-6, 25-14). Junior Kyle Desrochers had 14 service points, including five aces, and made the switch from libero to setter for the final set and recorded 11 assists. Cam Corey (four aces) and Max Armour (two aces) each had 10 service points for KP. Eric Altobello put down a team-high eight kills while Jimmy Peterson and Mike O’Brien each recorded six kills apiece.
Milford, 3 vs. Norton, 0 – Final – The Hawks defended home court to earn their 14th win of the season with a 3-0 (25-6, 25-14, 25-14) win over Norton. Milford had 12 different players record a kill, with Tiago Filadelfo putting down a team-high six kills and Zach Browne added five. Nathan LeBlanc had 10 digs for Milford.
Taunton, 3 @ Quincy, 2 – Final – Taunton rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win the final two games and the match, 3-2 (21-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 15-8) over the Presidents. Chris LaCourse led the way with 51 assists and 21 digs with Tyler Stewart (15 kills), Fabio Goncalves (14 kills), Alex Tavares (11 kills), and Gage Kingman (11 kills) having strong games at the net offensively.
Sharon, 4 vs. Moses Brown (R.I.), 2 – Final – Sharon junior Max LeBlanc pitched a complete game and the Eagles’ offense pounded out 13 hits in a win over Moses Brown. LeBlanc allowed just one earned run on two hits and six strikeouts. Senior Noah Martinez (double) and sophomore JD Rittenberg each had three hits while LeBlanc (double), sophomore Justin Brown, and junior Jake Fritz (double) each recorded two hits.
Baseball
Foxboro, 0 @ Attleboro, 8 – Final – Attleboro’s defense was strong and the offense pounded out 10 hits in a win over Foxboro. Max Amaral (4IP, 2H), Anthony Deyesso (2IP, 2H), and Jacob Gorman (1IP, 0H) combined for the shutout for Attleboro. And with a total of just two strikeouts, Foxboro put pressure on the Bombardiers defense, which did not commit an error, highlighted by nice catches from Alvaro Espinal and Sam Larkin in the outfield. The Bombardiers scored three runs in each the second and fourth innings to build separation. Tim Callahan, Espinal (two RBI), Ryan Morry (RBI), and Troy Van Vliet (RBI) each had two hits for Attleboro.
Canton, 1 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield scored a pair of runs in each the first and second innings while starting pitcher Kyle Moran was strong on the mound in the Hornets’ win over Canton. Moran allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks, striking out nine in six innings of work. Offensively, John Carney went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Dan Saraceno (run), Mike Hargadon (RBI), and Nick Dumouchel (run) each had a pair of hits for Mansfield. Chris Rota had two hits for the Bulldogs.
North Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin scored once in each the first, third, and sixth innings and junior Liam Dailey tossed a complete game with just one unearned run allowed as the Panthers beat North Attleboro to claim “The Cup” – the first year the trophy has been awarded since 1909. Alex Haba was the catalyst for two of those runs, drawing a two-out walk in the first, stealing second, and taking the next two bases on wild pitches. In the sixth, Haba tripled to right center and scored on a base hit from Jake Macchi. In the third, Joe Lizotte singled, took second on a pickoff attempt and scored on an RBI single from junior Jack Nally. Dailey scattered six hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Jared Penta and Jake Carroll each had two hits for North. Sophomore Dennis Colleran allowed three hits, issues three walks, allowed two runs and struck out four in five innings of work.
Stoughton, 5 @ King Philip, 1 – Final – Stoughton junior Jacob Kaplan and senior Zak Paquette came through with clutch hits in the top fo the sixth inning to lead the Black Knights to a win on the road. With the game tied 1-1 and the bases loaded, Kaplan had RBI single to put the Knights ahead 2-1. Paquette then delivered a two-out, two-run single to extend Stoughton’s advantage to 4-1. Stoughton added an insurance run in the seventh when junior George Currier had a two-out single to knock in Robbie Seaman (three hits, two runs), who singled and stole both second and third. Paquette earned the win on the mound, limiting KP to one unearned run on four hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. Catcher Michael Nazzaro had another strong game behind the plate defensively, throwing out a pair of runners.
Sharon, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Chris Pearsons launched a two-run home run to center field at Frothingham Park to lift the Tigers to a win over the visiting Eagles. Pearsons (save), Tyler Avery, and Jack Richardson were solid in relief for Oliver Ames. Senior Sean O’Brien made a terrific catch on a ball in the gap in the seventh inning, turning it into a double play to help OA secure the win. Jake Erlich added a double for OA and threw a runner out attempting to steal early in the game. Sharon starter Noah Martinez allowed just five hits in six innings of work, striking out seven. Justin Brown had an RBI single to score Max LeBlanc (double) to put Sharon up 1-0 in the fourth.
Milford, 7 @ Taunton, 13 – Final – Taunton’s offense had its best performance of the season, scoring a season-high 13 runs in a win over Milford. Sophomore Danny MacDougall paced the Tigers with two hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Joseph Crawford added three hits and Lucas Martins had three hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
Softball
Attleboro, 10 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Brenna Morse launched a three-run home run, McKenzie Bergdoll had a two-run home run, and Makenzie Killough had a solo shot to lead Attleboro to a win on the road at Foxboro. Jenna Gittle earned the win in the circle for Attleboro.
Canton, 2 @ Mansfield, 6 – Final – Canton twice took a one-run lead but Mansfield answered each time, the second time pulling ahead for the win. The Bulldogs went up 1-0 in the fourth but Mansfield answered with a run in the fifth. After Canton went up 2-0 in the sixth, the Hornets rallied for five runs in the bottom half. Casey Moussette led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, Sarah Cahill reached on a fielders choice, Kara Benanillo singled to score a run, and Megan Letendre singled to load the bases. Mady Benanillo singled to score a run, Caty DeMassi knocked in a pair of runs with a single, and Ella Verheggen singled to bring a run home to make it 6-2. Sarah Cahill was strong in the circle for the Hornets, giving up five hits and striking out 13.
Franklin, 5 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Franklin notched seven of its eight total hits in the sixth inning, resulting in five runs and a win on the road at North Attleboro. Ally Shea led off with a single, Anna Balkus had a bunt single and both moved up a base on an infield error. Gabby Golace drove in a run with a ground out, Maddy White followed with an RBI single, and back-to-back base hits from Jackie Cherry and Sarah Jackson loaded the bases. Tara Hartnett had a two-run single to make it 4-1 and Kylie Bouzan added an RBI single to plate Jackson to make it 5-1. North Attleboro took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double from Katie Daby. Cherry earned the win in the circle, allowing just three hits, one walk and one hit batter with three strikeouts.
Oliver Ames, 7 @ Sharon, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames didn’t commit an error, playing excellent defense while senior Colleen Larson earned the win in the circle, allowing two runs on nine hits and one strikeout. The Tigers plated four runs in the top of the seventh inning with two-outs to pull away from the Eagles. Kayla Georgeu (double) and Abbi Holmes each knocked in a pair of runs in the seventh to create the separation. Sophomore Grace Simone had two hits and three runs and senior Katie Mills had two hits, an RBI, and a run scored.
King Philip, 2 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final (10 inn.) – King Philip didn’t get its first hit until the seventh inning but that turned into the tying run, and then used a home run in the top of the 10th to escape Stoughton with a win. Stoughton sophomore Nicole Baker kept the Warriors off balance until Meg Gorman led off the seventh with a single, coming home to score the tying run on Faith Turinese’s sacrifice fly. Liliana Rolfe led off the 10th with a home run for the winning run. Turinese allowed a first inning run to Stoughton when Karly Estremera led off with a single and scored on a sac fly from Lexi Baptista, but then prevented the Knights from scoring again over the next nine innings, despite nine total hits from Stoughton. Baker allowed a total of just four hits while striking out 12 and got strong defensive performances from Estremera at third and Baptista in center.
Taunton, 19 @ Milford, 0 – Final (6 inn.) – Taunton senior Alexa White scattered four hits and struck out 14, tossing a complete game shutout to lift Taunton to a win. Abbie McDonough (two RBI), McKenzie McAloon (RBI), Ava Venturelli (RBI), Skylar Rheaume (triple, two RBI), and Rylie Murphy each had two hits for the Tigers.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 12 @ Plymouth South, 5 – Final – Canton built a five-goal lead by halftime and held a 9-2 lead by the end of the third quarter on its way to a win over Plymouth South. Nick Mackay was strong defensively and sparked the Bulldogs at the faceoff X. Dylan Coyne had a terrific game in net with 26 saves, turning away a strong Plymouth South attack. Tommy Vaughan (four goals, two assists) and Griffin Coach (three goals, three assists) each had six points for the Bulldogs while Dan Cohen scored twice.
Stoughton, 2 @ Foxboro, 14 – Final – Foxboro extended its win streak to seven with a win over the visiting Black Knights. Freshman Tom Sharkey netted a pair of goals, Jack Avery and Matt Collins each scored once and had one assist, and Dylan Kerrigan scored once for the Warriors.
Girls Lacrosse
Milford, 5 @ Attleboro, 8 – Final – Trailing 3-2 at halftime, Attleboro rattled off five straight goals over the first 15 minutes of the second half to pull away with the win. Kyra Lyons paced the offense with four goals and Sydney DiLiddo scored once for the Bombardiers. Holly Kailher netted her first goal of the year while Campbell Compton and Hannah Webster each scored their first career goal for Attleboro.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Foxboro continued its unbeaten start to the season, earning a pair of wins in both singles and doubles action to beat Attleboro. Freshman Garrett Spillane won 6-3, 6-1 at first singles and junior Sean McAvoy didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of junior Noah Hicks and senior Brian Gardner notched a 6-2, 6-1 win at first doubles and the team of sophomore Justin Neale and freshman Max Kornbluth secured a 6-0, 6-3 win at second doubles. Attleboro’s Jared Cooper prevailed 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 at second singles.
Mansfield, 5 @ Canton, 0 – Final – Mansfield went on the road and earned a sweep of the Bulldogs. Luke Nickerson (first singles, 6-2, 6-0), Luke Devine (second singles, 6-2, 4-6, 10-5) and Nilay Pangrekar (third singles, 6-1, 6-2) swept singles action for the Hornets. The team of Sethu Odayappan and Max Bank picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win at first doubles while Sam Donellan paired with Dheeraj Valluru for a 6-0, 6-2 win at second doubles.
Franklin, 4 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – For the second straight match, Franklin’s Liam Marr pulled out a big win, this time over North Attleboro’s Jonah Manso, in a battle of top sophomores in the league. Marr won 6-2, 6-2 while Rohan Herur notched a 6-3, 6-2 win at second singles. Franklin’s first doubles team of Saketh Saripalli and Vayshnav Malhotra recorded a 6-3, 6-1 win while Saket Gandham and Shoumik Sompally prevailed 6-3, 2-6, 10-6 at second doubles for the Panthers. North Attleboro sophomore Sam Gallagher won 6-0, 6-0 at third singles.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon won all four matches in straight sets, earning a fifth point by default. Freshman Rueman Bhattacharyya won 6-1, 6-1 at first singles, freshman Alex Chen recorded a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles, and senior Max Brody picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win at third singles. Senior Alex Aspel and junior Jake Ross teamed up for a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles.
King Philip, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – The Warriors took all five matches in straight sets to record a win over Stoughton. Nick Putney picked up a 6-2, 6-4 win at first singles, Marco DiStefano didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second singles, and Jack Cannon lost just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles. KP’s first doubles team of Nate Ihley and Zak Ryan won 6-0, 6-0 at first doubles while Jake Mager and Tyler Dowd teamed up for a 6-3, 6-0 win at second singles.
Girls Tennis
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro dropped just one game in singles action and added a win in three sets at second doubles to beat Attleboro. Sophomore Pam Nelson won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles, sophomore Sarah Prag recorded a 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles, and senior Julia Muise picked up a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Maggie McAuliffe and Kethry Milne prevailed 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 at second doubles. Attleboro’s Lauren Anthony and Nicole Matheson battled to a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win at first doubles.
Canton, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Canton earned a clean sweep in singles action to pick up a win on the road at Mansfield. Rachel Kupferman (first singles) and Natalie Keppler (second singles) each won 6-0, 6-0 while Sarah Hernandez battled to a 6-3, 6-1 win at third singles. Mansfield’s Hannah Podolske and Sam Sternburg recorded a 7-5 (7-6), 1-6, 10-6 win at first doubles while Alex Burnham and Lauren Hobaica picked up a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win at second doubles.
North Attleboro, 5 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – North Attleboro went on the road and won all five matches in straight sets to get the sweep. Tara Nair won 6-2, 6-0 at first singles, Mae McLaughlin recorded a 6-2, 6-4 win at second singles, and Olivia Wills picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win at third singles. North Attleboro’s first doubles team of Sam Martino and Haley Strom won 6-2, 6-2 at first doubles while Brototi Nandi and Jayli Carmichael won 6-3, 6-4 at second doubles.
Sharon, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – The Eagles won all three singles matches in straight sets and earned another victory in doubles play to beat Oliver Ames. Nupur Shukla won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles, Charlize Martinez secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles, and Sophia Fein won 6-1, 6-2 at third singles. The team of Lauren Glass and Jessica Tarnoff won 6-0, 6-2 at first doubles for the Eagles. Oliver Ames’ Erika Mekler and Kate McCormick picked up a 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 10-8 win at second doubles.
Stoughton, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final
Milford, 0 @ Taunton, 5 – Final – The Tigers defended home court, winning all five matches in straight sets to sweep the visiting Scarlet Hawks. Jillian Pagliuca won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles, McKenzie Lucie picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles, and Jocelyn Pagliuca won 6-2, 6-1 at third singles. The team of Sam Martin and Brianna Fevrier earned a 6-4, 6-1 decision at first doubles and Ogechi Ariguzo teamed up with Kayla Parrett to win 6-2, 6-1 at second doubles.
2018 Record: 9-11 2018 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Steve Dunlea
After missing out on the playoffs by just one game last season, the Bombardiers are hoping to their experience will help them reach the state tournament this year.
Attleboro has experience in its pitching staff, behind the plate, and both in the infield as well the outfield. The Bombardiers pitching was a strength last season and should be again this year. Eoin Kelleher, the 2017 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year, returns for his senior season and will be the anchor on the staff. Junior Ryan Morry impressed during his outings last season and lefty Camden Fitzpatrick will be in the mix as well.
The Bombardiers will be very strong on the left side of the infield. Senior captain Mason Houle will man third base while junior Tim Callahan, a starter last season, takes over at shortstop. Junior Lorenzo Wilson is slated to take the job at first base while Morry and junior Nick McMahon will split time at second base. While it’s a strong group defensively, all four will be relied upon to step up offensively. Attleboro had just 80 runs total last year, least in the Kelley-Rex division.
Another big part of the offense will be center fielder Alvaro Espinal. Espinal is arguably the best fielding outfielder in the league and will also bring a spark to the Bombardiers lineup at the plate. Senior captain Robbie Furtado will fill in at left field while Sam Larkin and Troy Gamache will both see time in right as well as designated hitter. Behind the plate, Troy Van Vliet gives the Bombardiers some experience while sophomore Bailey Camacho gives first-year head coach Steve Dunlea some flexibility at the position.
“The strength of this team is its senior class leadership and team chemistry,” Dunlea said. “We really have a well-balanced team that is strong in all phases of the game. It’s going to be a fun group to watch this year.”
2018 Record: 5-15 2018 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Ben Shuffain
A strong core of returning players along with some young talent should make for a fun season for the Bulldogs in 2019.
After losing a few key pieces from 2018, there is a good mix of experienced players and talented youth for first-year head coach Ben Shuffain to work with. The Bulldogs will look to three senior captains to the lead the way: Matt Pigeon, Paul Corcoran and Robert Sullivan. Pigeon is a three-year starter behind the plate who batted .368 last season. Corcoran and Sullivan will anchor a deep pitching staff that has looked solid in the preseason.
The pitching staff will also include seniors Kevin McGonigle, Nick Murray, and Joe Bates. Along with them Shuffain will also lean on junior Chris Rota and sophomores Nate Hewitt and Matt Connolly on the mound.
The infield has a double play duo that has shown to work well together featuring senior Mike Konzal and returning second baseman Nathan Quan. Offensively Canton will look to senior Max Macort along with juniors Owen Lahane and Lucas Bryant, and sophomore Steven Burbank.
“We have been very fortunate to have a lot of work outside so far this spring and I think it is going to help us start off on a positive,” Shuffain said. “The team is coming together and we have a great group of kids who really want to turn this program around.”
2018 Record: 5-16 2018 Finish: Reached D3 South First Round Coach: Derek Suess
Foxboro graduated 10 seniors from last year’s squad but there are 12 Warriors returning with varsity experience looking to make another trip to the state tournament.
The Warriors will be relying on their pitching staff this year to lead the way. There is a lot of optimism surrounding the rotation with senior Anthony Mollica and sophomore Sean Yoest each possessing plenty of varsity experience. Those two will be the top guys in the rotation while sophomore Cam Prescott has impressed during the preseason and could fit into the third starting spot. Seniors Guy Quartarone, Brian Duncan, and Philip Thomas as well as juniors Michael Devlin and Joe Cavaleri will be in the mix as well.
When he isn’t on the mound, Mollica will be the anchor of the defense from the shortstop position. He will be joined by sophomore Michael O’Toole at first base, Cavaleri will man third, and Thomas will take over at second base. Senior Adam Lanctot will also see time at second base this season for the Warriors.
In the outfield, Duncan — a senior captain that missed all of last season — will be the anchor, with Devlin handling center field duties and junior James Kaeser rounding out the Warrior outfield. Junior Zach Jenkins will also be in the mix for time in the outfield while junior Kyle McGinnis takes over behind the plate and will be relied upon as a key piece of Foxboro’s offense.
“Mentally, we have to have the same focus, energy, and intensity every single game,” said Foxboro coach Derek Suess. “There are no easy games in the Hockomock League. We must be consistent in our everyday approach in order to have a chance to compete for a league title.”
2018 Record: 21-5 2018 Finish: Division 1A (Super 8) State Champions Coach: Zach Brown
Coming off the program’s first-ever Super 8 state championship, Franklin is going to have a big target on its back — and the Panthers know it.
Franklin lost its top three pitchers in Jake Noviello, Bryan Woelfel, and Jason Ulrickson. Those were the only three pitchers to play during the Panthers’ Super 8 run. This season, the Panthers will turn to the experience of Ben Guzman, Brennan Rivera, and Will Pacheco. All three made appearances a year ago with Guzman and Pacheco registering wins. Guzman is currently recovering from an injury suffered in the preseason but the Panthers are excited for his contributions when he returns. Juniors Liam Dailey and Cody Trotin will also be in the mix after starting for JV last season.
While the pitching staff gets settled in, the Panthers will rely on its defense and offense. After an up-and-down regular season last year offensively, Franklin will be trying to carry over the success it had in the state tournament. Senior Alex Haba is back at shortstop and is one of the best two-way players in the Hockomock. Jake Macchi had a terrific postseason and will be looking to carry that over into his final year starting at catcher for Franklin. Scott Elliott will be the veteran in the outfield for the Panthers as well as a top offensive weapon. All three players — Haba, Macchi, and Elliott — are committed to playing baseball at Merrimack.
Cooper Ross is coming off a strong postseason and will start at third base while junior Jack Nally had a standout sophomore campaign in center field and will move up to the top of the order to set the table for the Panther offense. JB Floris will move from the designated hitter spot to first base and brings an experienced bat with him. Senior Joe Lizotte should see time in the outfield while senior Shane O’Neil’s versatility gives Franklin a lot of options defensively.
“We know this isn’t last year, this is a totally different team with different dynamics,” said Franklin head coach Zach Brown. “We like the makeup of our team, with guys working hard and the seniors being good leaders. I think we could be pretty good defensively, and we’ve shown at times in the preseason to be pretty versatile on offense.”
King Philip is returning a lot of experienced players from last year’s squad and is hoping that will turn into an improved season and berth in the state tournament.
One big reason for optimism is a seasoned pitching staff, which features seniors David Morganelli and Terry Murray. Morganelli posted a 1.99 ERA last season along with 43 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched. Murray will be the second starter for the Warriors while juniors Chris Sawyer and Robbie Jarest are expected to factor into the rotation as the season progresses.
“David’s size, strength, and velocity make him a formidable pitcher,” said KP’s second-year head coach Greg Kessler. “His slider and ability to locate his fastball are one of the best in the league. David has an opportunity to be one of the best pitchers in the Hock. He is competitive and has improved a lot in terms of accuracy.”
Sawyer and Jarest will handle the left side of the infield again this year, with Jarest returning as the starting shortstop and Sawyer back manning third base. Both players will be key pieces at the top of KP’s batting order. Senior Ian Zimmerman returns at second base while senior Jake Anderson and sophomore Conor Cooke will both see time behind the plate.
Timmy Nault (.311 last year) will lead the way in the outfield while Zachary Zarba will figure in as well. There is a lot of competition for some open spots in the KP lineup as well.
“We have a lot of work to do this season, we need to improve on our hitting and driving the ball,” Kessler said. “We have a great group of seniors who are dedicated and excited to compete for a Hock Title. This senior group is a collection of great student-athletes and really represent KP well. They are leaders on and off the field”
2018 Record: 19-5 2018 Finish: Super 8 First Round Coach: Joe Breen
Mansfield had a very successful 2018 season that saw the Hornets win the Kelley-Rex division and earned a berth into the Super 8 tournament. But the Hornets enter the 2019 campaign hungrier than ever.
After seeing an early exit from the Super 8, Mansfield is aiming to get back and make some noise in the tournament this year. There will certainly be holes to fill after graduating two top pitchers in Tyler Dalton and Kevin Dow, as well as the steady bat of Justin Pena and the terrific defense of catcher Cullin Anastasia. However, there are 11 players due back from last year’s team and a handful of new faces ready to make an impact of their own.
Junior John Carney and senior Kevin Moran will anchor the rotation; the Hornets unfortunately lost ace Connor Sheehan for the season to an injury. Both Carney and Moran have experience though, and Mansfield is looking to seniors Jake Gerraughty, Matt Scibilia, Aidan Angland, Connor Smith, and sophomore Greg Coyle to fill the relief and spot start roles.
Mansfield brings back two of its three outfielders from last year with centerfielder Sam Nugent and right field Dan Saraceno both returning. Speedy shortstop Mike Hargadon is also back so the Hornets have three key pieces from the top half of the lineup back to pace the offense this year. Look for Eric Longley, Jenkins, Smith, Gerraughty, and Scibilia to also factor into to the Hornet lineup this year.
“It’s been a wild offseason here between losing some of our top guys and coming down with the injury bug but we have a great group of self-motivated returning players that we will look to keep our program going in the right direction,” said Mansfield head coach Joe Breen. “There are a lot of positional battles and innings on the mound to be sorted out, but the staff is excited to see the boys compete over the first couple weeks of the pre-season to get ourselves ready for [the first game]. While we had some great success last season, the boys know that we are 0-0 and they are ready to carve their own path.”
2018 Record: 5-15 2018 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Alex Dion
After having a relatively young, inexperienced group in 2018, the Scarlet Hawks have flipped the script, bringing back six starters and eight total players and will be looking to ride that experience to an improved 2019 campaign.
Half of the returning starters are the three starting pitchers from last year, including senior Danny Corsini and juniors Colby Pires and Luke Rosa. Despite a 1-3 record last year, Rosa had a solid 2.97 ERA in 30.2 innings of work with 19 strikeouts. Corsini logged over 35 innings while Pires had over 24, so there is plenty of experience in the Hawk’s rotation.
Senior captain Matt Shaver returns to his shortstop position and will anchor the infield. Corsini and Pires will both see time at third base when they aren’t pitching, Justin Applebee is back for another season at second base, and Tyler Almeida continues his duties as the starting catcher for the Hawks. Senior captain Nick Marcolini gives the Hawks a left-handed option on the mound. Sophomores Carter Scudo (outfield) and Mario Lee (first, pitcher) will also factor in this year.
“I’m looking forward to the 2019 baseball season and am excited about the players that are on our team,” said Milford head coach Alex Dion. “This is a tough league with a lot of good teams and good coaches. I think we have an opportunity to be very competitive this year. I will lead on our returning seniors and captains to push this team in the right direction and I am excited about the young players we have in our program.”
2018 Record: 22-2 2018 Finish: Division 2 State Champions Coach: Mike Hart
North Attleboro is looking to replicate its success from last season, the best year in program history that resulted in the D2 State Championship. And with a solid group of returning players, there is optimism but the Rocketeers know it certainly won’t come easy.
“We are a team with a decent amount of returning players, but we will need everybody contributing to be successful,” said North Attleboro coach Mike Hart. “We are looking for guys to be more consistent, especially on the offensive side of the game.”
The Rocketeers have three returning starters in the infield, so that will certainly be relied upon as the season gets underway. Senior Nick Raneri started at third last season but will move over to first this year while seniors Shawn Watters and Ryan Warren will take care of business up the middle. Hart says there is a lot of competition for the final spot in the infield with a handful of players possibly seeing time. Brendan McHugh returns as the starting left fielder while Kyle Bolger, Russell Dunlap, and Kyle Briere are all in the mix.
Behind the plate, senior Todd Robinson and junior Owen Harding are battling for the starting spot.
While the Rocketeers look to get the offense going, they will rely on their pitching staff early on. Matt Wanless had a very strong junior year and will be counted on heavily this season while seniors Matt Seavey, Jake Palmer, Jake Carroll, as well as Dunlap and Briere, should be in the mix for innings. Sophomore Dennis Colleran will see an increased role this season and could emerge as a top option for the Big Red.
“We will rely heavily on our pitching staff to lead us, and with smart, mistake-free defense, we will be able to win some games,” Hart said. “I really like the competitiveness our team brings every day. If we can learn from our failures and grind through the tough parts of the season that are sure to come, I believe we can win some ball games.”
2018 Record: 16-8 2018 Finish: Reached D2 South Final Coach: Joe Abarr
Oliver Ames is coming off one of its most successful seasons, reaching the D2 South Final last year. The Tigers graduated some key pieces but there is a lot of players back that gives OA hopes at replicating last year’s success.
Senior Chris Pearsons will be a leader on and off the field for the Tigers, moving over from third base to take over the starting shortstop spot. Pearsons is one of the top players in the league, earning HockomockSports.com First Team honors last year after belting out 30 hits for an impressive .448 average. Not only is he a dangerous offensive player, he’s one of the top defensive players in the league as well.
Another key returner for the Tigers is catcher Jake Erlich, who will begin his third year starting behind the plate. Erlich is one of the top defensive catchers in the region and OA is looking for him to have a breakout season at the plate. Junior Jacob Levine showed flashes last season with some timely hits as a pinch hitter. This year, Levine takes over at first and the Tigers will be looking for him to bring a consistent bat to the lineup.
Reid Latham, who went 2-1 last season with a 2.85 ERA, focused heavily on pitching this offseason and will take over as the top starter in the Tigers’ rotation.
“We have an established lineup of varsity hitters with a handful of underclassmen that will be filling in gaps for us,” said Oliver Ames coach Joe Abarr. “Our pitching rotation should be solid as long as everyone stays healthy. Last year, the Hock proved to be one of the best leagues in the state. We need to show up and compete every day if we want to be successful.”
After a couple of seasons of being on the outside looking in, the 2019 Sharon Eagles are looking to make strides towards a state tournament berth.
Although it will be a relatively young group, there is strong senior leadership. Head coach Kee Arguimbau is hoping that a nice mix of veterans and new faces will result in a successful season.
Tarlin was also the ace of the staff for the past couple of seasons but senior Noah Kamens should be ready to step into the top spot after some real strong outings last year. A lefty, Kamens does a nice job mixing up his pitches and will be a key part of Sharon’s defense. Kamens will be complemented by 6’6 righty Max LeBlanc, who burst onto the scene a year and had some impressive outings. Jared Reef returns behind the dish and the Eagles are looking for him to have a breakout year offensively.
Junior Alec Filipkowski is moving in from the outfield to second base while sophomore Justin Brown returns to shortstop after picking up valuable experience last season as a freshman. Noah Martinez, who recently returned to Sharon after living in Florida, could be a key piece of the offense while playing the hot corner defensively.
Seniors Dairell Martinez and Matty Jacobsen will be doing their part for the Eagles in the outfield while = senior Ben Reinbold looks to have an impact for Sharon on the mound.
“This year’s team is young. Luckily, what we lack in experience, we make up for in solid leadership,” Arguimbau said. “The seniors have done a phenomenal job in establishing the culture for the team this season. The young guys in the program have followed their lead and have been working hard in the offseason and are ready to continue to put the work in every day.
2018 Record: 10-9 2018 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round Coach: Mike Armour
Stoughton had a solid season a year ago, but an early exit from the state tournament has left the Black Knights hungry for more in 2019.
It starts with the two co-captains for the Black Knights: senior Zak Paquette and senior Robert Seaman. Paquette emerged as Stoughton’s top option on the mound last season and will be counted on to take on a lot of innings again this season. Paquette isn’t the most flashy pitcher but he helps put Stoughton in position to win games. Seaman will start at shortstop and the Black Knights are looking to him for a big bat in the middle of the lineup.
Last year’s HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year George Currier is looking to pick up where he left off last season, giving the Black Knights flexibility with his ability to play anywhere on the field defensively. Seniors Cian Swierzewski, Kevin Dixon, and Kyle Gagnon are all experienced outfielders, James Genest III gives Stoughton a nice presence at the plate offensively, and Mike Nazzaro will handle catching duties.
Newcomers Clayton Rahaman and Jacob Kaplan should log some innings in the outfield, along with Cam Dirosa in the infield and Brady Conlin in the infield and on the mound. Senior pitcher Evan Jackman has impressed so far this preseason and will be a key piece of Stoughton’s starting rotation.
“The goal this season will be to compete every time we set foot on the field, playing sound fundamental baseball and doing the little things to put us in a position to win some ballgames,” said Stoughton head coach Mike Armour. “The boys have been working hard and I expect us to have some fun this year and play the game the right way.”
2018 Record: 1 2018 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round Coach: Blair Bourque
There is a lot of excitement in Taunton with its new turf field, but the Tigers are hoping it’s their performance on that field that will have people talking by the end of the year.
It all starts with pitching for Taunton this year. With two DI commits in Jack Moynihan (Siena) and Josh Lajoie (St. John’s), the Tigers will certainly be boasting one of the top pitching groups for another season. Moynihan posted a 1.44 ERA with 43 strikeouts while Lajoie fanned 36 batters and had a 1.52 ERA.
Both Moynihan and Lajoie provide a lot of offense as well, but the Tigers will need others to step up to fill some voids from graduation. Tyler Medeiros (.375) and Trevor Pietrzyk (.373) both graduated some Taunton’s offense so head coach Blair Bourque will be looking for some new faces to step up.
The Tigers will be looking to senior Evan Melo to give the offense a spark. Melo will patrol center field and set the table to the offensively from the leadoff spot. Junior Logan Lawrence impressed last year batting .336; Taunton will need his bat to provide pop in the middle of the lineup in 2019.
“We’re certainly excited about having the opportunity to showcase our new turf field,” said Taunton head coach Blair Bourque. “It’s really a dream come true. There’s something special about this year’s team, the senior leadership and camaraderie are substantial.”
