Baseball
Attleboro, 4 vs. Melrose, 2 – Final – Attleboro put the finish touches on the regular season with a 4-2 decision over visiting Melrose. Sean O’Hara tossed a complete game for the win, allowing only two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk, striking out four. Cooper Johnson had a big day offensively for the Bombardiers as he went 3-for-3 with an RBI double in the first and scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. Casey Victorio scored two runs for the hosts, Owen Lombardo had a hit and an RBI, and Peter DelPozzo scored one run and had two walks.
Franklin, 4 vs. Natick, 5 – Final – Jase Lyons had another big day at the dish for Franklin but the Panthers suffered their second straight setback after allowing four unearned runs to Natick. Lyons went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Ryan Gerety (run), Ben Jarosz (RBI), and Rex Cinelli also had a hit apiece for Franklin. Alfred Mucciarone was not part of the decision after scattering five hits and four walks, allowing four runs (just one earned) while striking out 10 in 6 innings.
Softball
King Philip, 5 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 6 – Final (8 inn.) – King Philip took the lead in extras on a solo home run from Sarah Cullen but the host Trojans rallied in the bottom half to walk off with win. KP built an early lead as Maddie Paschke drove in two in the top of the first and Ali Gill doubled in a run in the top of the second to make it 3-0. After B-R cut the deficit to one, Libby Walsh scampered home after a fielder’s choice to make it 4-2. B-R tied the game in the sixth and could have taken the lead but Charlotte Raymond saved multiple runs with a terrific sliding catch in left. The Warriors left nine runners on base in the loss.
Canton @ Cardinal Spellman, 10:00AM
Boys Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 8 @ Catholic Memorial, 10 – Final
Baseball
Canton, 0 @ Foxboro, 8 – Final – Sophomore Ryan O’Leary went the distance, striking out 10 and scattering six hits, to pick up his first career win and keep the Warriors even with Mansfield in the win column atop the Davenport division. The game was scoreless to the bottom of the third when Foxboro exploded for seven runs. The Warriors tacked on one more in the sixth. Ryan Leclair sparked the offense with two hits, two runs scored, two RBI, and two stolen bases. Ben Angelini also drove in a pair of runs and scored once. Sean O’Leary had a double and scored and Mike Marcucella added a hit. For Canton, Matt Hart was 2-for-2, while Owen Lane, Matt Chafin, and Hayden Rose added hits.
Franklin, 4 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final (10 Inn.) – Ben Jarosz had a leadoff single in the top of the 10th inning and eventually came around to score as the Panthers fended off an upset bid from the host Bombardiers. Pinch runner Evan Cournoyer advanced to second after an infield error and went to third on a sacrifice from Ethan DePaolo. Cournoyer beat the throw home on a grounder from Rex Cinelli for the go-ahead run. Attleboro put the tying run on twice in the bottom half, but the first was picked off and the second was stranded at first. Jake Shaughnessy (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K), Dillon Cashin (2.2 IP, W, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K), and Alfred Mucciarone (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB) all pitched well in relief for the Panthers. Sean O’Hara (5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K) and Danny Johnson (5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) both pitched well for Attleboro. Luke Sidwell had two hits and Tyler Bellan had two RBI for Franklin while Ryan Landry went 3-for-5 and Cooper Johnson went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run for the Bombardiers.
King Philip, 3 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Sophomore Cameron Hasenfus tossed a gem for King Philip, hurling a one-hitter complete game to lift the Warriors over North Attleboro. Hasenfus allowed a leadoff walk and a one-out single both in the seventh inning while striking out five in the win. KP held a 1-0 lead through the first six innings after an RBI single from Brendan Sencaj in the third inning, but pushed across two key insurance runs in the seventh. Tommy Martorano (single) scored on a squeeze bunt from Hasenfus, and Rudy Gately (single) scored on a sac fly from Max Robison. Dillon Harding was also strong on the mound, allowing three runs on eight hits and no walks, striking out two in a complete game for the Rocketeers.
Mansfield, 16 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final – Stoughton staked a 4-1 lead through five innings but Mansfield’s offense exploded for 15 runs in the final two innings to earn a big win. Jeriel Cuello drove in Sean Farley with a single and then scored on a passed ball, and pinch runner Joey McEachern (in for Hunter Malkin, who doubled) came home to score as well to hand Stoughton a 3-1 lead. The Black Knights extended the lead to 4-1 on an RBI from Dom Belle in the fifth inning. The Hornets offense was buzzing in the final two innings, scoring six in the sixth inning and nine more in the seventh. Drew Urban went 2-for-2 with a double, four RBI, and two runs scored, Anthony Saraiva also had two hits, including a double, an RBI, and two runs scored, Jake Maydak went 2-for-5 with four RBI and a run, and Sam Martin was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Malkin pitched well for Stoughton, allowing six runs (none earned) on five hits and two walks, striking out seven in 5.1 innings.
Milford, 2 @ Taunton, 9 – Final – Milford put host Taunton on upset alert when it took the lead in the top of the fourth but the Tigers scored eight unanswered runs in the next three innings to get the win. Back-to-back two-out RBIs from Sean McGee and Joe Butler gave Milford a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Taunton bounced back with two runs in the bottom half on a two-run single from Caden Lindskog and never looked back from there. Sean Murphy had an RBI triple, AJ Lewis followed with an RBI single, and Lindskog singled in another run as Taunton extended its lead to 6-2. Brayden Cali and Ryan MacDougall each tacked on an RBI in the sixth while Jared Spencer scored on a wild pitch. Jack Cali was strong in his return to the mound, allowing one run on three hits, one walk, and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings while Brady Morin (2.1 IP) earned the win in relief, striking out two with one run allowed on four hits and no walks. Charles Rabel and David DaSilva combined for a shutout inning in relief.
Sharon, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 17 – Final (5 Inn.) – Oliver Ames pushed across seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in its second straight big win. Jack Perron had a team-high three hits along with a pair of RBI and three runs scored while Ryan Lemay (RBI, run), Patrick Finnerty (RBI, run), Drew Hall (RBI, run), and Andrew Zagami (RBI, three runs) each had two hits for the Tigers. Finnerty earned the win on the mound, scattering four hits in four innings, walking a pair with two strikeouts and two earned runs allowed. Ian Kelly tossed a scoreless inning in relief with three strikeouts and two walks. Palash Raina had a pair of hits (single, triple), an RBI, and a run for Sharon.
Softball
Attleboro, 13 @ Franklin, 8 – Final
Foxboro, 14 @ Canton, 2 – Final
North Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 12 – Final (5 Inn.) –
Stoughton, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Mansfield scored a pair in the fourth and one more in the fifth while Dani Jameson was strong in the circle to score a win over Stoughton. Consecutive singles from Molly Kucharski, Jill Koppy, Avery Lake (RBI) and Jameson (RBI) resulted in a 2-0 lead for the Hornets, who added another run in the fifth after a fielder’s choice from Liv Madeira. Jameson allowed four hits and struck out seven in the win.
Taunton, 9 @ Milford, 2 – Final – Milford kept pace with the visiting Tigers through five innings, trailing just 4-2, but Taunton plated five runs in the final two innings to pull away for the win. Bella Bourque had another outstanding day at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a double and two triples, driving in three runs and scoring once. Kaysie DeMoura also had three hits, two RBI, and a run for the Tigers. Hayley Krockta launched a two-run homer in the seventh to help Taunton put the game away. Cae Pellegrini had a solo home run for Milford in the third to cut the deficit to 2-1 while Camille Bonina had a two-out single in the fifth to make it 4-2.
Oliver Ames, 10 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Oliver Ames clubbed out six doubles and scored nine runs in the first three innings to take a win over Sharon. Katie Melendy (two RBI) and Crystyliah Covel (RBI, three runs) each had two doubles while Devon Morris (3-for-5, three RBI, two runs) and Paige Taylor (RBI, run) each had one. Sophomore Emily Martin went 2-for-4 with two runs for the Tigers. Ally Foulsham had five strikeouts and Manasa Josyula struck out six for the Eagles. Natalie David, Kendra Kodira, and Manasa each had an RBI for Sharon.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro @ Taunton, 3:45
Oliver Ames, 6 vs. Boston Latin, 8 – Final – Ben Reardon scored four goals while Ryan Jaco and Alex McAndrew each found the back of the net once for the Tigers. Noah Isleib was strong in the cage, making 14 saves for OA.
Sharon, 7 @ Holliston, 6 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Taunton, 5 @ Attleboro, 17 – Final – Eight different Bombardiers found the back of the net in a well-balanced attack and a win over visiting Taunton. Junior Molly Moore (three assists) and freshman Amelia Collins (one assist) led the charge with four goals apiece, senior Jordan Mooney, junior Addison Papagolos, and freshman Makenah Stokes each added a pair of goals, and sophomore Ryann Mooney, sophomore Isabella Cavallini, and freshman Abigail Titmas each chipped in with one. Cali Melo had four goals and one assist for Taunton while Raquel Azevedo added one goal. Mel Jesus made 19 saves in net for the Tigers.
Foxboro, 13 vs. Holliston, 7 – Final – Foxboro notched another impressive non-league win, this time rolling past visiting Holliston. Paige Curran picked up right where she left off from yesterday, potting four goals and three assists to lead the offensive charge while Val Beigel netted a hat trick. Cate Noone (two assists) and Mary Collins (two goals, one assist) both added a pair of goals, and Mya Waryas (three assists) and Grace Riley each chipped in with one goal apiece. Audrey Campbell turned away eight shots in net for the Warriors.
Oliver Ames, 14 @ Ursuline Academy, 17 – Final
Stoughton @ Hull – Postponed to TBD.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – The Bombardiers landed a sweep in singles action and added one more in doubles to take down host Franklin. Kyle Neuendorf prevailed from a tough battle at first singles with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 win, Tyler Rocchio took a win in straight sets at second singles (6-3, 6-3), and Shashank Shridhar emerged from third singles with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win. Attleboro’s first doubles team of Luke Hinton and Brody Rosen took a 6-3, 6-0 win. Franklin’s second doubles team of Andrew Amante and Aaron Ramaswamy picked up a 6-2, 7-6 (5) victory.
Foxboro, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Foxboro’s first doubles team of Evan Paluzzi and Ryan Fossella emerged from a hard-fought match with a three-set victory to clinch the win for the Warriors. After splitting the first two sets, Paluzzi and Fossella clamped down a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win. Foxboro also got wins at second doubles and third singles (Luca Meyer, 6-1, 6-1). Canton’s Max Kupferman earned a 6-1, 6-3 win while Bharata Ramanathan came out on top in a well-played second singles match (7-5, 6-3).
North Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip’s second doubles team of Leo Manning and Logan Riley rallied from a one-set deficit to take a win, clinching a 3-2 victory for the Warriors. Manning and Riley overcame a loss in the first set for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win, Arjun Kollu added a 6-1, 6-0 victory at second singles, and freshman Luke Bailer landed a 6-4, 6-3 third singles win. North’s Brody Carter picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win at first singles while the team of Brody Gaulin and Carson Dameron prevailed from first doubles with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 victory.
Stoughton, 1 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield bounced back from a tough loss to Sharon by earning the season sweep of Stoughton. The Hornets swept the three singles matches, loing only two games in the process. Iniyan Karruppusami won his match at first singles 6-0, 6-0 and Nikhil Nain and Jesse Colchamiro each won 6-0, 6-1. The doubles team of Justin Lim and Liam Lasbury-Casey won their match 6-1, 6-2. Stoughton got its lone point in doubles, as the team of Hadid Khond and Anthony Maylock won 6-3, 6-4.
Taunton, 2 @ Milford, 3 – Final – Behind two singles wins and one more at doubles, Milford notched a 3-2 win over Taunton a match played in pro sets. Senior Tyler Andreotti (10-5) and sophomore Corey Rattray (10-4) had wins at first and third singles, respectively, for the Hawks while the team of sophomores Todd Ostertog and Luke Fabry (10-6) added a second doubles win. Taunton’s Martin Frankinet landed a 10-3 second singles win while Derek Desseault and Collin Lofgren rolled to a 10-0 win at first doubles.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon took all five matches in straight sets to fend off visiting Oliver Ames. Jacob Slavsky lost just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 first singles win, Matthew Lally added a 6-1, 6-3 second singles win, and Alex Budovalcev completed the singles sweep with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at third singles. Sava Kassev and Joey Zwicker were victorious at first doubles (6-1, 6-1) while the Eagles’ second doubles team of Henry Chen and Andrew Xin landed a 6-3, 6-4 win.
Girls Tennis
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – The Panthers picked up wins at second singles, third singles, and first doubles to edge host Attleboro. Junior Chloe Essam had a strong showing at second singles (6-0, 6-2) while junior Brooke Taylor only dropped one game at third singles (6-1, 6-0). Sophomores Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen continued their impressive campaign at first doubles with a comeback win, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Attleboro junior Maddie Fuscaldo recorded a 6-4, 6-2 win at first singles and the second doubles tandem of Julia Leonardo and Bree Paulette notched a 6-4, 7-6 (9) victory.
Canton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Foxboro found wins at first and second singles as well as both doubles matches to take down visiting Canton. Hailey Kornbluth (6-3, 6-0) and Makayla Peck (6-1, 6-1) won at singles for the Warriors, Analisa Tia and Audrey Paulino (6-2, 6-0) notched a first doubles win, and Emily Stow and Katelynn Dineen (6-1, 6-4) prevailed at second doubles for Foxboro. Canton’s Katherine Powers rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 10-8 win at third singles.
King Philip, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – A singles sweep, highlighted by a comeback at second singles, lifted North Attleboro to a 3-2 win over visiting King Philip. Sophomore Megan Atwood bounced back from dropping the first set to secure a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win at second doubles in a three-hour long match to clinch the win. Junior Lauren Hunt (6-4, 6-1) and senior Grace Noreck (6-0, 6-1) won at first and third singles, respectively, for North. KP won both doubles matches with Priya Riar and Carlie Burns taking a 6-4, 6-3 decision at first doubles, and Lauren Casper and Jaelyn Dang securing a second doubles win.
Mansfield, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Mansfield earned its second win of the season and spit the series with Stoughton. Caroline Guravage got an important point for the Hornets at third singles, winning 6-2, 6-1. Mansfield sealed the win by sweeping doubles. Jillian Hanley and Savannah Carey won 6-1, 6-3 and Rachel Goldman and Anushka Srivastava won 6-4, 6-0. Stoughton won at first and second singles. Ally Lada took her match 6-1, 6-1 and Nadia Prokopiuk won 6-3, 6-3.
Milford, 0 @ Taunton, 5 – Final – Taunton earned a clean sweep, taking all five matches in pro sets due to time constraints. Brooke Bell (8-5), Ava Alves (8-3), and Morgan Smith (8-3) all won in singles action, while the team of Janelle Garcia and Courtney Martin (8-3), and the duo of Caroline Pietnik and Sam Parrett (9-8 (8-6)) swept doubles play.
Sharon, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Behind a pair of wins from both singles and doubles action, Sharon returned from Easton with a 4-1 win over Oliver Ames. Navya Shukla (6-1, 6-1) and Ale Aguilar (6-1, 6-0) had impressive wins at second and third singles, respectively for the Eagles. The team of Jenny Sand and Olivia Landstein earned a straight set win (6-1, 6-2) at first doubles, while the team of Grace Zhang and Zeina Cheima prevailed in a super tiebreaker (4-6, 6-2, 10-8) at second doubles. OA’s Hannah Farber played well in a 7-5, 6-3 win at first singles.
Baseball
Sharon, 1 @ Attleboro, 11 – Final – Attleboro earned its second win in as many days, plating four runs in each the third and fourth innings to pull away from Sharon. Senior Sean O’Hara was masterful on the mound, delivering four strong innings with just one run allowed on five hits and no walks while striking out three. Jackson Huntington added two strikeouts in a scoreless inning of relief. Offensively, freshman Ryan Landry had a big outing as he smacked an inside-the-park home for his first career hit; he finished the day going 3-for-3 with five RBI and a run scored. Cooper Johnson also had a big day with two hits, including a triple, and two RBI and three runs scored, and Aiden Hochwarter, Danny Johnson, and Jacob Bettencourt each added one RBI. Harry Librot (RBI), Drew Yaffe, Cole Arundale, and Seth Bonner each had a hit for the Eagles.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Taunton, 15 – Final (5 inn.) – Taunton exploded out of the gate with six first-inning runs and never looked back to beat Oliver Ames, who was the home team on the Taunton High turf. Dawson Bryce started the scoring with a two-run single, Dwayne Burgo brought in another run with a bae hit, and Sean Murphy cleared the bases with a three-run triple to hand Taunton a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Taunton added another run in the second, five more in the third, and three in the fifth. Burgo finished 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, Murphy (three RBI, one run) and Brayden Cali (two runs) each had two hits, and senior Ryan MacDougall added a double and three RBI. Peter Moor allowed only two hits and one walk, striking out four in four scoreless innings and Brady Morin tossed a scoreless inning in relief.
King Philip @ Canton –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Foxboro –Postponed to 5/5 at 4:45.
Franklin @ Mansfield –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 4:30.
Softball
Sharon, 3 @ Attleboro, 16 – Final (5 inn.) – For Sharon, Ally Foulsham had two RBI and Natalie David stole home, and Manasa Josyula had five strikeouts.
Canton @ King Philip –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/17 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ North Attleboro –Postponed to Thursday, 5/25 at 4:00.
Mansfield @ Franklin –Postponed to TBD.
Stoughton @ Milford –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ Taunton –Postponed to Tuesday, 5/9 at 7:00.
Boys Tennis
Sharon @ Attleboro –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Canton @ King Philip –Postponed to 5/5 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ North Attleboro –Postponed to TBD.
Mansfield @ Franklin –Postponed to Monday, 5/15 at 3:45.
Stoughton @ Milford –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ Taunton –Postponed to Thursday, 5/11 at 3:45.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro @ Sharon –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
King Philip @ Canton –Postponed to 5/5 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Foxboro –Postponed to TBD.
Franklin @ Mansfield –Postponed to Monday, 5/15 at 3:45.
Milford @ Stoughton –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 4:00.
Taunton @ Oliver Ames –Postponed to Tuesday, 5/9 at 3:45.
Boys Outdoor Track
King Philip @ Attleboro, 3:45
Sharon, 89 @ Canton, 43 – Final – Dan Krasylnykov, Mo Arugollu, and Ruairi Ritson all contributed key points for Canton in a loss to Sharon. Krasylnykov was a double-winner, taking first in both the 400M (52.9) and the 200M (23.7), Arugollo won the 400M hurdles (65.3) and was third in the triple jump, and Ritson added points by winning the shot put (37’4″), finishing second in the discus, and taking third in the 400M hurdles. Sam Vail added a win in the 110M hurdles (18.9) and Mark McDonough had a winning throw of 114’11” in the javelin. Christian Hanlon had a strong showing with second place finishes in both the 100M (11.6) and the long jump (18’4″), and Kareem Porter recorded his varsity points with a third place finish in the shot put.
Mansfield, 63 @ Oliver Ames, 73 – Final
Taunton @ North Attleboro, 4:30
Foxboro @ Stoughton –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Franklin @ Milford –Postponed to Tuesday, 5/16 at 4:15.
Girls Outdoor Track
King Philip @ Attleboro, 3:45
Sharon, 54 @ Canton, 82 – Final – Canton dominated the throwing events to score a win over visiting Sharon. The Bulldogs swept the shot put (Emma Massih, Jess Brathwaite, Jocanda Cabral), the javelin (Luran Slotnick, Cabral, Rose Giglio), and the discus (massih, Slotnick, Bridget Feeney) in the win. Katie Oliver was a double-winner for the Bulldogs, taking first in both the long jump (16’10.5″) and the triple jump (33’6″).
Mansfield, 82 @ Oliver Ames, 53 – Final
Taunton @ North Attleboro, 4:30
Foxboro @ Stoughton –Postponed to Wednesday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Franklin @ Milford –Postponed to Tuesday, 5/16 at 4:15.
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
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.”
2021 Record: 5-11 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Steve Dunlea
With a good mix of new faces and experienced veterans, Attleboro is aiming to be in the mix of a loaded Kelley-Rex division. For the Bombardiers, it will lean heavily on a deep pitching staff.
It starts with seniors Billy Saltmarsh, who is committed to UMass Dartmouth, and Cian Kelleher, who is committed to Stonehill. They’ll be joined in the rotation by junior lefty Danny Johnson while senior Jamie Bloch and junior Sean O’Hara lend strength to the relief corps. Sophomore Matt Harvie, sophomore Johnny Pagano, and freshman Tyler Dunlea will also be in the mix to see innings on the mound.
Senior captain Owen Taber (UMass Dartmouth) will be an anchor of the Bombardier defense at second base while juniors Peter DelPozzo and Cooper Johnson, along with Pagano, look to fill in at shortstop as senior captain Evan Houle works his way back from an injury from basketball season. Johnson, DelPozzo, and Dunlea are in the mix for the starting job at third while Bloch (committed to UMaine Farmington) and Christian Dame provide depth at first base.
In the outfield, senior Nate George will cover a lot of ground from his spot in centerfield, and the Bombardiers will rotate between Parket Sacket, Hayden Hagerty, Ben Hochwarter, Danny Johnson, Brody McKenna, and Harvie for the other two outfielder spots. Junior Aidan Hochwarter provides a steady presence both at the dish and behind the plate at catcher.
“The strength of this team is its chemistry,” said Attleboro head coach Steve Dunlea. “We have a great group of returning players who have really worked hard to build a team bond through the pandemic. I give a lot of credit to the captains from last year and this year. Despite the challenges they faced with COVID, they were able to rebuild the chemistry of the Attleboro baseball program that was lost when the 2020 season was canceled.”
2021 Record: 8-7 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round Coach: Ben Shuffain
Canton got off to a great start to the 2021 campaign, winning six of their first seven games but ended up with a first-round exit in the playoffs. With a strong core of returning players plus a couple of promising young players, the Bulldogs are aiming to get back to the postseason again this season.
The Bulldogs certainly have some holes to fill with the loss of a talented senior class and the departure of ace Andrew Middleton. Fourth-year head coach Ben Shuffain will lean on captains Andy Butler and Matt Chafin to lead the charge this season, along with three-year players Nico Bonanno, Matt Quan, and Zach Peters. Chafin was one of the best offensive players in the league last year, finishing second with a 0.442 average.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Shuffain has a lot of options for pitching, with at least a dozen choices to fill out the rotation and relief corps. Jay Kelleher, Hayden Rose, and Owen Lane will all be in the mix for innings on the mound. Matty Lesser, James Young, Jack Digirolomo, and freshman Kyle Redquest will work the infield while the catching duties will fall to Sean Sullivan and Matt Hart.
“We are a very experienced team with a lot of guys with a lot of innings pitched from last season and wins under their belt,” Shuffain said. “With a few of last year’s backups moving into starting roles and the addition of a few younger guys and the experienced upperclassmen this team should have a good season as they will continue to work hard on the field and in the weight room.”
2021 Record: 5-10 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 3 South Preliminary Round Coach: Derek Suess
Foxboro has some of the top returning talents in the league but will look for some of its younger players to provide the depth needed to compete for a division title this season.
Junior captain Sean O’Leary is one of the top arms in the league and has a lot of varsity experience under his belt already. He will be the ace of the staff that will also feature junior Mathieu Sullivan, who made his varsity debut last season, and freshman Nolan Gordon, who has impressed during the preseason. Pitching depth will come from seniors Andrew Peterson, Tom Marcucella, Liam Mulkern, and junior Alex Stern.
Senior captain Tom Marcucella is one of the most experienced players in the league and his versatility gives head coach Derek Suess a lot of options in the infield. Marcucella can play at any of the four infield spots but will spend the majority of his time at first base. Junior Ryan LeClair is back in the mix at shortstop after a breakout season a year ago, sophomore Tyler Prescott is back for his second year with the squad, and freshman Ryan O’Leary offers a solid bat and glove. Senior Kyle Smith and junior Josh Connolly provide solid depth in the infield.
Senior captain and three-sport star Jack Watts will patrol center field for the Warriors and will be flanked by juniors Kenny Mello and Louis Carangelo, all three looking to make an impact with their bats this season. When not pitching, Gordon will also be in the mix for some innings in the outfield and sophomore Shane Henri gives Suess another solid option. Mulkern is the starting catcher with freshmen Ben Angelini and Mike Marcucella in the mix as well.
“We have great leadership from our captains and upperclassmen which has set the tone for the rest of our guys,” Suess said. “The underclassmen have bought in and can contribute right away. We must embrace the daunting challenge of playing in the Hock, and compete with confidence to give ourselves the best chance to reach our goals.”
2021 Record: 16-2 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Final Coach: Zach Brown
Franklin graduated some of the best players in the league after last season, but the Panthers still have a loaded lineup and a deep and talented pitching staff that could result in a very deep playoff run.
Not many teams could lose one of the best hitters in the league (Nate Cooke, 0.429) and one of the best catchers in the league (Jake Fitzgibbons, 0.353) and still boast one of the best lineups in the league but that’s how deep the Panthers are. Jack Marino, Ben Jarosz, and Chris Goode were all among the league leaders offensively a season ago, and Franklin also has sophomore Henry Digiorgio and junior Eisig Chin back after picking up a year of varsity experience. Junior Ryan Gerety, a Northeastern commit, is one of the best fielders in the region and is very dangerous at the plate.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
And after surrendering a league-low 40 runs last season, Franklin returns its entire rotation. Jacob Jette had a great junior season and will be one of the best pitchers in the Hock while junior Alfred Mucciarone will look to build upon a solid sophomore campaign. Relievers James Kuczmiec and Ethan Voellmicke dominated last season, coming in time after time and shutting opponents down.
2021 Record: 8-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Jeff Plympton, Jr.
It was a good start for head coach Jeff Plympton as the Warriors won eight games last season and went to the playoffs, bowing out to eventual state champions Xaverian.
King Philip has the majority of its lineup back and will be looking to make some noise in a very competitive Kelley-Rex division. After averaging almost five runs a game last year, the Warriors have some key bats back in the lineup this year. Senior Shawn Legere is a returning league all star that starts at shortstop and is coming off a season in which he hit 0.386 and scored a league-best 16 runs. Rudy Gately had a breakout sophomore season and will be a key bat in the lineup again this year.
Gately will also be a go-to option on the mound for Plympton after going 4-0 last season, striking out 33 in 34.1 innings of work with an impressive 1.03 ERA. Tommy Martorano also gained a lot of experience last year as a sophomore and will give the Warriors a solid 1-2 punch for its starting rotation.
“We have a lot of arms to roll out if we need them which is great,” Plympton said. “Shawn Legere provides great leadership to the team and demands hard work at practice and games. Our fielding should be strong this year but I’m looking forward to watching our offense. Last year we struggled at the plate but this year looks promising. Last season we notched our first playoff win in over a decade and we look to keep those strides moving forward this year.”
2021 Record: 8-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Chris Hall
With a talented and experienced pitching staff and a list of players eager to make a name for themselves at the dish, Mansfield enters the season with the goal of challenging for the Kelley-Rex division title.
The Hornets were young last spring, and a lot of players earned their first varsity starts on the mound and at-bats. Mansfield has the majority of its team back and will be looking to turn that valuable experience into a successful 2022 campaign. They certainly aren’t shying away from testing that talent with defending state champions Xaverian, Maryland powerhouse Archbishop Spalding, and other top teams on its schedule along with a loaded Hock schedule.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Seniors Anthony Sacchetti, Aaron Blinn, Jimmy Gilleran, and Colby Geddis highlight a deep and talented pitching staff for the Hornets. All of those arms got their feet wet during last year’s season and now give head coach Chris Hall a lot of flexibility with his rotation. There won’t be a drop off as the games go on with four solid options.
The big challenge for the Hornets a season ago was offense, scoring a division low 57 runs. With a strong offseason under their belts, there are a lot of names eager to step up and improve that number. Sacchetti, Gilleran, Geddis, and classmates Andrew Slaney and Jared Fraone will try to lead the way while juniors Conner Zukowski, Sam Martin, Caden Colby, Aidan Jones, and Rocco Scarpellini are all in the mix. Sophomores Connor Curtis and Jake Maydak both played varsity last year and could be impact players right away. Behind the dish, Aidan Jones and Wyatt Bolduc are battling for the starting spot at catcher after the Hornets lost senior Liam Anastasia to an injury.
“The keys to success this season rely heavily on every player doing their job,” Hall said. “The Hornets bring a well-rounded roster to the table and expect to compete all season long. Pitching and defense continue to be a strength for the Hornets. Offensively, the Hornets look to use a variety of talent to score runs and win baseball games.”
2021 Record: 5-9 2021 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Alex Dion
There were some growing pains for the Hawks a season ago with a young squad, but with just five players graduated from a year ago, the Hawks are hoping to be a contender in a deep Kelley-Rex division.
Head coach Alex Dion plans to get contributions from all four classes this season, starting with a strong group of seniors that cover the field. Tyler Lane and Grant Scudo will see time in the outfield, Justin Luchini mans first base, Alex McColl can play in a number of spots in the infield, Cole Forrest is a versatile weapon, and John Denegris is an option on the mound.
The rotation will be anchored by junior Evan Cornelius, junior Tyler Caldon, and sophomore Anthony LaPierre. Cornelius started every game for the Hawks last season and will play at first when he’s not on the mound. Caldon and LaPierre, both right-handed pitchers, are up from the JV squad and have impressed in the early going.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Offensively, sophomore Keith Lee picked up valuable experience after starting nine games as a freshman last season. He will start behind the dish and be one of the most important bats in the lineup. Sophomores Damien Carter and Sean McGee also started last season and will make up Milford’s middle infield.
“I am excited about the potential that this group has,” Dion said. “With strong senior leadership and varsity players in all four grades we have an opportunity to compete this year and for years to come. This is a great league and I have a lot of respect for the other teams in it. It starts on the mound and if we can get quality pitching out of the arms that we have here we have a chance to compete. We will have to win games in a variety of ways and I believe that we have the athletes to do that.”
2021 Record: 12-5 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal Coach: Mike Hart
After splitting the division title a season ago, the Rocketeers enter the 2022 campaign with a chance at winning back-to-back division titles for the first time in 30 years.
Replacing ace Dennis Colleran won’t be easy but North Attleboro has some solid arms on the mound including senior Danny Curran and senior David Floyd, who missed last season. Curran went 2-0 last year and struck out 22 in 23 innings of work with a 3.65 ERA. Head coach Mike Hart also has pitching options in senior Anthony Wescott, and juniors Jordan Paradis, Derek Maceda, and Ayden Delaney.
One of the big reasons the Rocketeers had such success last season was their offense, which scored a Davenport division 110 runs. Maceda was one of the best bats in the league and will patrol the outfield for the Big Red along with Curran, Paradis, and senior Christian Bates. In the infield, Floyd will be joined by classmates Brody Rosenberg, Gavin Wells, and Nik Kojoian, and senior Tyler Bannon will patrol shortstop. Junior Aidan Conrad had a breakout season starting behind the dish a year ago.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
“We’re going to look to put a lot of pressure on other teams offensively,” Hart said. “We have many capable pitchers who can provide quality innings. We feel our defense will limit mistakes and not give many runs away. If we want to have a successful season we will need contributions from everybody on the roster on a daily basis. We will rely on our senior leadership and experience to guide us through the season. We need guys to excel in their role and focus on the job at hand.”
2021 Record: 9-6 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round Coach: Joe Abarr
After earning a share of the Davenport title last season, the Tigers have the pieces in place to make another run at the division crown this year.
A combination of veterans and new faces eager to make an impression gives head coach Joe Abarr a nice mix to work with. Offensively, the Tigers will look for their senior captains to lead the way. Jake Waxman will play first base and potentially some outfield and is one of the best bats in the Hockomock League while Joe Cicchetti could also see time at first as well as the outfield, and is a strong two-way player. Patrick Finnerty is back in the mix after a strong junior season.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
On the mound, OA has a pair of lefties at the top of the rotation. Nick Clark (3-0, 2.78, 32K) and Jack Richardson (2-2, 2.07, 21K) are both coming off great junior seasons and will give the Tigers a solid 1-2 punch on the mound this year. Richardson will also see time in the outfield and will be a key piece of the lineup offensively.
“We have a good mix of returners and young talented players looking for opportunities to help our team win,” Abarr said. “We are excited for a full ‘normal’ season back in the Hock.”
2021 Record: 3-12 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Preliminary Round Coach: Andrew Poliferno
Sharon enters the season with a roster eager to compete among the Hockomock League’s top teams, but the Eagles will have to do so all on the road this season. With the construction of the new high school currently underway where Sharon’s field was, it will be all road trips for the Eagles this season.
It will start with the 10 seniors on the team, including captains Dan Okstein and Dylan Labbe. Okstein is back after an injury limited his time a year ago and will be a key piece in the lineup offensively. He will be the anchor of the outfield, playing mostly in left but could also see time in center. Labbe has a ton of varsity experience and will be the ace of the pitching staff this year. Also on the mound returns sophomore Luke Meixel, one of the league’s breakout players last year as a freshman. junior Alex Coughlin, Ryan Baker, Zach Loomis, Jack Broughton, and Okstein will also be in the mix for innings on the mound.
Offensively, Nate Yaffe is back after a great year at the dish a year ago and will take over at shortstop. Not only is Yaffe consistent with the bat, but he’s also very dangerous on the base paths. Another speedy option at the dish will be Palash Raina and the Eagles are hoping to get key contributions at the plate from Okstein and varsity newcomer Connor Blaney. Liam Conway takes over behind the dish and Will Hippler, Owen Kevorkian, Eli Greenfield, Josh Tolentino, and Jake Loomis are all in the mix for spots in the lineup as well.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
“As a second-year varsity coach, I couldn’t be prouder to see how ready our players are to play their 2022 season,” said Sharon head coach Andrew Poliferno. “It is evident our players worked hard during the off-season to prepare to compete in the Hockomock. Our players are gritty, determined, and not afraid to put in the hard work that it takes to improve. In addition to their drive to succeed, the team vibe is positive and players go out of their way to encourage one another. I believe we have the makings of a very talented and passionate group of players ready to make noise for their 2022 season.”
2021 Record: 4-10 2021 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Kevin Carty
There will be a lot of new faces in the Stoughton lineup this season, and that goes for the dugout too as Kevin Carty takes over for Mike Armour, who was the longest-tenured coach in the Hockomock League.
Carty is going to lean heavily on his seniors, who make up over half of the Knights’ roster. There is a lot of versatility among the senior class as well with players like Joe McNulty and Jonah Ly, who could see time in the outfield, the infield, on the mound, and in McNulty’s case, even behind the dish. Brad Franey, Anthony Girolamo, Anthony Tilton, James Price, and Owen Wiesnberger are all seniors that are in the mix for infield spots.
Girolamo, Ly, and Price will be joined by sophomore Will Worsley, junior Jeriel Cuello, junior Sean Farley, junior Joe Rush, and sophomore Hunter Malkin as options on the mound for Carty.
“We have a deep group of seniors that will carry us this year,” Carty said. “These seniors are very athletic and can play anywhere on the field. They have the ability to be great leaders for the younger players. We will go as far as they carry us.”
2021 Record: 13-5 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal Coach: Blair Bourque
Replacing a league MVP is never an easy task as the Tigers have to do with Danny MacDougall, but Taunton has a lot of depth and a lot of new faces looking to make a name for themselves as they help Taunton challenge for the Kelley-Rex title.
The strength of the 2022 Tigers will be offense and defense. Taunton has already lost some pitchers to injury so it will be a group effort on the mound this season. Coming off a season in which they scored 119 runs (nearly 7 runs a game), the offense will once again be a key component. Dawson Bryce had a breakout year after hitting 0.341 and driving in 12 runs a season ago, and junior Ryan MacDougall is one of the best power hitters in the league.
Seniors Evan Cali, Colby DeCouta, Colin Botelho, and junior Braden Sullivan are all very experienced at the varsity level and head coach Blair Bourque will lean on their leadership this season.
“Unlike in years past, we don’t have any true pitchers; our pitching staff consists of position players who will need to step up and give us an opportunity to compete,” Bourque said.”Offensively, we’ll look to have productive at-bats, be patient, and take advantage of mistakes. We should have one of the more productive offenses Taunton has had in some time. Although we’ll continue to play fundamental baseball, we hope to be able to capitalize when opportunity presents itself.”
