Baseball
Mansfield, 4 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Mansfield won its third straight one-run game, using a pair of runs in the sixth inning to edge out Canton on the road. The Hornets built a 2-0 lead by scoring once in the second (Dylan Saraceno RBI) and once in the third (Matt DeShiro RBI double) but Canton stormed back with three runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Owen Lane’s RBI single got the Bulldogs on the board, Shane Kelleher tied the game with an RBI double, and Matt Hart’s RBI ground out put the hosts ahead 3-2. It stayed that way until the sixth when Jake Maydak smacked an RBI triple to score DeShiro to make it 3-3, and Maydak came home the next at-bat on an RBI ground out from Brian Butler. Maydak got the win on the mound, scattering six hits and two talks for three runs, striking out six in six innings, and DeShiro slammed the door with a scoreless seventh inning. Kyle Redquest pitched well for the Bulldogs, striking out eight with four runs allowed on eight hits and one walk in seven innings.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Foxboro, 8 – Final – Locked in a two-run game through four innings, Foxboro exploded for five runs in the fifth to pull away from visiting Oliver Ames. The Warriors scored once in the first and twice more in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Senior Ryan LeClair had a big day at the dish going 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI, and three runs, and came through with a big hit to ignite Foxboro’s big fifth inning. LeClair drove in Aidan Stow (HBP) and Tyler Prescott (single) to make it 5-1. Ben Angelini, Ryan O’Leary, and Mike Marcucella followed with two-out RBIs to extend Foxboro’s lead. Sophomore Nolan Gordon had an impressive showing on the mound, allowing just one run (unearned) on three hits and a walk. He also recorded seven strikeouts in five innings while O’Leary tossed two scoreless innings in relief.
Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 10 – Final (6 inn.) – Locked in a one-run game through 4.5 innings, Franklin’s offense roared to life with a six-run fifth inning followed by three more in the sixth to earn a big win over Milford. The Panthers scored in the first when Eisig Chin reached on an error and Ryan Gerety (walk) scored but the Hawks escaped a bases-loaded situation with no outs to limit the damage. The game stayed 1-0 for the next three innings and Alfred Mucciarone escaped a bases loaded jam for the Hawks, inducing a ground ball to second baseman Luke Sidwell, who started a 4-6-2 double play to end the threat and the inning. Chin ignited the offense again in the fifth with a lead off double, Henry Digiorgio followed with a single and the Panthers’ offense rolled from there. Ethan DePaolo had a big day for Franklin, going 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. Ben Jarosz also had a double, an RBI, and two runs for Franklin. Mucciarone got the win, allowed just one hit and one walk, striking out nine in six scoreless innings.
Taunton, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – Behind some early offense and strong pitching, King Philip picked up its biggest win of the year by knocking off visiting Taunton, 4-1. The Warriors plated three runs in the second inning to take an early lead that they never surrendered. Tommy Martorano singled in Rudy Gately (leadoff walk), Leo Dowling squeezed in Aiden Astorino (single) from third, and Brendan Sencaj had a two-out RBI to extend the lead to 3-0. That was enough run support for Gately, who only allowed four hits and two walks, and just one run in the sixth inning while striking out four in a complete game. Gately helped his own cause with an RBI single in the fifth; Taunton got on the board on a sacrifice fly from Ryan MacDougall, scoring Brayden Cali (leadoff walk).
Sharon @ Stoughton – Postponed to TBD.
Softball
Attleboro, 0 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – Kelly Colleran tossed a no-hitter, walking two batters, and facing just two over the minimum o lift North to a win over its rival. Colleran also had a pair of hits, scored a run, and drove in one. Maddie Bailey drove in a pair for the Rocketeers. Emily Tucker had a pair of hits, while Molly Willey and Emma Hanwell each had one. Willey contributed to the no-hitter with three assists from third base.
Franklin @ Milford – Postponed to Wednesday, 5/24 at 3:45.
Sharon, 4 @ Stoughton, 5 – Final – Stoughton rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to avoid an upset bid from visiting Sharon. The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first before Stoughton got right back in it with two runs in the bottom half. Sharon tacked on an insurance run in the third and it stayed that way until the Black Knights were able to push across three runs to take the lead for good. In the bottom of the sixth, Camryn Whitman had a one-out single and Kerry Driscoll reached on a fielder’s choice; both came into score after a single and error off the bat of Caitlin Driscoll. Angelina Barry’s squeeze bunt brought Driscoll home for the go-ahead run. Manasa Josyula tossed a complete game for Sharon, striking out five and helped the cause offensively with an RBI. Sam Dunham, Ayanna Vega, and Danika McNamara each had an RBI for the Eagles.
Boys Lacrosse
King Philip, 9 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 4 – Final – King Philip notched a good non-league win over Bridgewater-Raynham behind a strong defensive effort and a good performance in net from James Boldy. Boldy made 12 saves in the win, helping KP stake a 6-3 win at halftime; the Warriors went on to outscore the hosts 3-1 the rest of the way. Donovan DeVellis had a seven-point performance to pace KP, netting four goals along with three assists while Hayden Schmitz added four points with a pair of goals and assists. Noah Minkwitz chipped in with two goals and one helper, Mason Thompson scored once, and Tommy Kilroy notched three assists in the win.
Oliver Ames, 13 @ Boston Latin, 8 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up its second win in as many days, taking a non-league decision over Boston Latin. A day after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime, OA’s Ben Reardon stayed hot on the offensive end with five goals. Ryan Jaco and Shaun Teehan each had a hat trick in the win, Alex McAndrew chipped in with a pair of goals, and Noah Isleib collected 12 saves for the Tigers.
Girls Lacrosse
Milford, 14 @ Oliver Ames, 12 – Final – Milford opened the scoring to the game and never trailed the rest of the way, keeping the lead over the Tigers until the end. A balanced scoring attack helped the visiting Scarlet Hawks stake a 9-7 lead at halftime; Emily Croteau led the way with five goals and TJ Downing added a hat trick in the win. Alexa Landry and Ava Lebel both chipped in with a pair of goals, and Erin Michelson, Yasmin Martinez, and Jordan Douglas each scored once. Caitlyn Bangert made six saves in the win.
Boys Tennis
North Attleboro, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – In an epic rivalry battle, North Attleboro got all three wins from matches that went three sets to secure a close win over Attleboro. Senior Brody Carter prevailed from a terrific first singles duel with a 7-6 (5_, 4-6, 6-3 win, Quinn DiFiore overcame a one-set deficit at third singles for a 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4) marathon win, and the team of Brody Gaulin and Carson Dameron rallied back to take a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win at first doubles. Attleboro’s Tyler Rocchio earned a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles, and the Bombardiers’ second doubles team of Noem Cook and Clay Tyler dropped just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 verdict.
Canton, 1 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield took a pair of wins from both singles and doubles action to secure a win over visiting Canton. Junior Nikhil Nain took a 6-2, 6-4 win at second singles and junior Iniyan Karruppusami added a 6-3, 6-0 third singles victory. The Hornets’ first doubles pairing of Jake Weiner and Josh Weiner won in straight sets (6-2, 6-3), and the all-freshmen second doubles team of Justin Curtis and Kingston Carey snagged a 7-5, 6-2 win for the Hornets. Canton junior Max Kupferman had another impressive showing, taking home a 6-3, 6-1 win at first singles.
King Philip, 2 @ Taunton, 3 – Final – A doubles sweep plus a win at third singles lifted Taunton to a win at home over visiting King Philip. Heitor Sens continued his impressive campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 win at third singles, the team of Collin Lofgren and Derek Desseault added a 6-2, 6-4 first doubles victory, and the team of Rowan Kimmer and Kenny Dias prevailed from second doubles with a 6-2, 6-4 win. KP’s Luke Bailer won 6-4, 6-3 at first singles and Arjun Kollu emerged from second singles with a 6-3, 6-0 win.
Foxboro @ Oliver Ames – – Postponed to TBD.
Milford @ Franklin – Postponed to TBD.
Sharon @ Stoughton – Postponed to Friday, 5/5 at 3:45.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – By taking a pair of wins in single action and one more from doubles, North Attleboro edged out rival Attleboro with a 3-2 decision. Lauren Hunt continued her impressive season for the Rocketeers, rolling to a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles while Megan Atwood dropped just a pair of games in a 6-1, 6-1 second singles victory. North Attleboro added a third win from Liz Silva and Audrey Noreck, who clinched a 6-1, 6-2 first doubles win. Attleboro’s Aaron Sodhani earned a 6-2, 6-4 win at third singles while the sophomore team of Katie Lortos and Julia Leonardo added a 6-3, 6-3 win for the Bombardiers.
Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – King Philip senior Caroline Freese capped off a three-hour battle with a comeback win in three sets, helping the Warriors complete a sweep over Taunton. Freese rallied from a one-set deficit to win two in a row, taking the win at third singles 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Ahunna James added another impressive result with a 6-0, 6-0 first singles verdict, junior Shea Mellman prevailed from a good battle at second singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win, the team of seniors Carlie Burns and Priya Riar added a 6-3, 6-4 first doubles win, and senior Lauren Casper and sophomore Jaelyn Dang overcame a one-set deficit for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision at second doubles.
Mansfield @ Canton – Postponed to TBD.
Oliver Ames @ Foxboro – Postponed to TBD.
Franklin @ Milford – Postponed to TBD.
Stoughton @ Sharon – Postponed to Friday, 5/5 at 3:45.
Baseball
Foxboro, 6 @ Attleboro, 7 – Final – Attleboro capped a big comeback with a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun visiting Foxboro. After the teams traded runs in the first inning, the Warriors pushed across five runs in a big third inning to take command of the game. The Bombardiers responded with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to pull level, setting the stage for junior Brody McKenna’s single up the middle to bring the game-winning run home in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Andrew Gorman battled through a tough at bat to lead off with a walk, and pinch runner Jacob Bettencourt moved to second on a single from senior Cooper Johnson. McKenna sent the 1-1 pitch up the middle and Bettencourt raced around third and to home to win the game. Attleboro senior Owen Lombardo was the star of the game with a stellar relief appearance, taking over to start the third inning. He scattered four hits — a pair of singles in the third, a one-out double the fourth, and a two-out triple in the sixth — and didn’t walk a single batter, striking out two in five scoreless innings. Peter DelPozzo, Aiden Hochwarter, and Matt Harvie each added a hit and an RBI for the Bombariders. Foxboro’s Sean O’Leary had two hits and both Louis Carangelo and Mat Sullivan drove in a pair of runs.
Canton @ Franklin – Postponed
Sharon, 2 @ King Philip, 6 – Final – The Warriors did most of their damage offensively in the early innings and juniors Max Robison and TJ Ahern combined for a strong outing on the bump as King Philip took down visiting Sharon. The Eagles scored first after three consecutive singles from Palash Raina, Jake Loomis, and Liam Conway — the latter scoring the former. But the lead didn’t last long as KP scored three times in the bottom of the first and twice more in the bottom of the second to take control of the game. Brendan Sencaj had an RBI single to score Robison to get KP on the board, Matt Kelley (walk) scored on a wild pitch, and Rudy Gately brought a run home on a ground out. Walks to Tommy Martorano and Kelley set up Sencaj to reach on an error and bring both runs home to make it 5-1. Robison earned the win on the mound, allowing one run on three hits and two walks, striking out six in just three innings. Ahern came on and tossed four innings in relief, surrendering just one unearned run with no hits against, two walks, and two strikeouts. Conway pitched well in relief for the Eagles, giving up just one hit and four walks, allowing three runs (none earned) and three strikeouts in five innings.
Mansfield @ Milford – Postponed
Oliver Ames, 6 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up one of its best wins of the season, going on the road and returning home with a 6-4 verdict over North Attleboro; it marked the Tigers’ fourth win in the past five games. OA plated three runs in the third and never trailed from that point on, tacking on two insurance runs an inning later and one more in the sixth before escaping a seventh inning comeback bid from the Rocketeers. Harrison Fitzpatrick got things going for OA in the top of the third, smacking a two-out double to left. After Jack Morley walked, Patrick Finnerty had an RBI single to right and an error allowed Morley to score as well to make it 2-0. Sophomore Lucas Riley followed with a single to bring Finnerty home and extend the lead to 3-0. Matt Lawson and Fitzpatrick came through with RBIs in the fourth to make it 5-0 before North Attleboro answered with three runs in the bottom half. Nate Kelly reached on a two-out error, Gio Martello singled, and Chris Hanewich loaded the bases with a single. Ryan Bannon drew a walk to get one run home and an error allowed Ayden Delaney to reach and two more runs to come home to make it 5-3. Morley brought another run home with a bases loaded walk to give OA a key insurance run. Kelly had a one-out RBI single to score Derek Maceda to start North’s rally in the seventh, and Martello (error) and Hanewich (single) reached to load the bases. OA was able to get a pair of grounders to close it out and deny the comeback attempt. Riley earned the win for OA, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks, striking out four in four innings; Jake Willard was strong in relief as he gave up just one run on five hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts in three innings.
Stoughton, 0 @ Taunton, 9 – Final – Taunton sophomore Johnny Escobalez, junior Brady Morin, and senior Brady Boucher combined for a shutout while allowing just two total hits and one walk in a win over visiting Stoughton. Escobalez earned the win, giving up just one hit (a two-out single in the fifth) and one walk (to lead off the third) while striking out eight in five innings to get the win. Morin and Boucher (three strikeouts) each tossed a scoreless inning in relief. The Tigers had a big second inning by scoring four runs, adding five runs over the fourth, fifth, and sixth to pull away for good. Brayden Cali had a pair of hits, an RBI, and a run scored from the leadoff spot while Xavier Spencer, Braden Sullivan, Dawson Bryce, Ryan Keenan, and Andrew Cali (two RBI) each drove in a run for Taunton.
Softball
Attleboro, 8 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final
Franklin, 19 @ Canton, 1 – Final (5 Inn.) – Franklin scored 12 times in the second inning to run away with a big win, ending a four-game losing streak and getting back to .500 in league play. Caroline Bruno had a big game for the Panthers, going 5-for-5 and scoring three runs. She also pitched three innings before Sophia Sacramone took over for the final two. Katy Liberman and Dana Stott had four hits apiece, Reece Allen, Avery Chalk, Hailey Fales, Carly Pellegri-Johnson, Ava Florest, and Sarah Boozang all had three hits. Josie Drucker, Marley Allen, and Kiera Kotwicki each had two hits in the win.
King Philip, 17 @ Sharon, 0 – Final (5 Inn.) – King Philip sophomore Liv Petrillo and freshman Ali Gill each had a home run and a double, combining for eight RBI to lead the Warriors on the road. Gill finished with three hits, three runs, and five RBI while Petrillo had two hits, three RBI, and three runs scored. Libby Walsh added three hits and two runs, Ava Kelley drove in three runs, Jo Bennett, Charlotte Griffin, and Liv Ali each had two RBI, and Sydney Burch recorded a pair of hits and scored a pair of runs. Bennett earned the win for KP, allowing two htis and three walks, striking out three in 3.2 innings. Manasa Josyula pitched four innings for Sharon, recording five strikeouts.
Milford, 7 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Maeve Driscoll went the distance, allowing four hits and one earned run and striking out 14 Hornets to earn Milford’s fourth win of the season. The Hawks jumped out to a 5-0 lead with single runs in the first, second, and fourth, and a pair in the third. Mansfield scored in the fourth and sixth innings to cut the lead to three, but the Hawks added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to seal the victory. Cae Pellegrini stayed hot at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI. Camille Bonina also had two hits and scored once. Ava Baglione, Jianna Fernandes, Katelyn Kearnan, and Sarah Wengal each drove in a run for the Hawks. Callie Lake gave Mansfield a spark at the top of the order, scoring a pair of runs and hitting a solo homer. Avery Lake, Molly Crowley, and Molly Kucharski each had a hit for the Hornets.
Taunton, 10 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Taunton’s Molly Carnes, Bella Bourque, and Ava Venturelli each collected three hits and six different Tigers recorded an RBI in a win on the road at Stoughton. Both Carnes and Bourque went 3-for-4 at the dish with a pair of RBI while Venturelli drove in one run in the win. Hayley Krockta (one RBI), and Brooke Aldrich (three RBI) each added two hits in the win. Cate Larson pitched four innings with seven strikeouts and Sam Lincoln tossed three innings with seven strikeouts.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 7 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 8 – Final
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Attleboro’s second doubles team of Noem Cook and Clay Tyler prevailed in a tiebreaker in the second set to clinch a straight set win and the match, 3-2, for the Bombardiers. Cook and Tyler rolled in the first set but fought off a stiff challenge in the second to get the 6-0, 7-6 (5) win. Luke Hinton and Brady Rosen added a 6-3, 6-3 win at first doubles for the Bombardiers and Tyler Rocchio emerged with a good win at second doubles, 7-5, 6-0. Foxboro’s Raj Jetty won 7-6 (5), 6-2 at first singles and Ryan Fossella dropped just two games on his way to a 6-2, 6-0 third singles victory for the Warriors.
Franklin, 1 @ Canton, 4 – Final – After dropping the first two matches of the season, Canton has won five straight matches including Wednesday’s 4-1 verdict over visiting Franklin. The Bulldogs swept singles action with Max Kupferman dropping just two total games in a 6-2, 6-0 win, Bharat Ramanathan taking a 6-1, 6-2 decision at second singles, and Justin Ngan earning a 6-3, 6-1 win at third singles. The doubles team of senior Drew Garrett and freshman Matt Wright took a 6-2, 6-3 win at second doubles. Franklin’s Eric Tomaino and Aaron Ramaswamy emerged from first doubles with a 6-3, 6-4 decision.
King Philip, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Senior Hyojae Park and sophomore Joel Zwicker emerged from a great battle at first doubles with a straight set win, completing a 5-0 match sweep for the host Eagles. Park and Zwicker finished with a 6-4, 7-5 win, and Sharon’s second doubles team of senior Mihir Basil and sophomore Samarth Bedre took a 6-2, 6-4 verdict. Sophomore Jacob Slavsky only lost one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singes, Matthew Lally earned an impressive 6-1, 6-0 second singles win, and sophomore Sava Kassev prevailed 6-2, 6-1 at third singles.
Milford, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield took all five matches in straight sets to fend off a challenge from visiting Milford. Sophomore Neema Khosravani rolled in the first set and never looked back in a 6-0, 6-3 first singles win, junior Nikhil Nain only dropped one game in a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles, and senior Jesse Colchamiro also only lost one game on his way to a 6-1, 6-0 verdict at third singles. The team of sophomore Josh Weiner and freshman Justin Curtis picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win at first doubles, and the Hornets’ second doubles pairing of junior Jacob Weiner and freshman Kingston Carey rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 verdict.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames secured a win over visiting North Attleboro by taking two singles matches and one doubles to get the 3-2 win. Alex Efremidis emerged from a tough challenge at second doubles with a 7-6 (5), 6-1 verdict while Patrick Dolan battled to a 7-5, 6-2 victory at third singles for the Tigers. The team of sophomore Nick Wagner and freshman Brendan Teehan grabbed a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles to help secure the match for the hosts. North Attleboro senior Brody Carter earned a hard-fought 7-5, 6-2 win at first singles and the team of senior Brody Gaulin and junior Carson Dameron dropped just two games in a 6-0, 6-2 win.
Taunton, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Taunton went on the road and returned back home with a sweep of Stoughton. Mike Kimmer took a win at first singles, Martin Frankimet won at second singles, and Heitor Sens secured a 6-4, 6-0 win at third singles for the Tigers. The team of Collin Lofgren and Derek Desseault battled to a 6-2, 6-0 victory at first doubles, while Taunton’s second doubles pairing of Rowan Kimmer and Kenny Dias prevailed with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 win.
Girls Tennis
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final
Canton, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin’s doubles teams continue their strong play, earning a sweep, and the Panthers got one more win in singles action to upend visiting Canton. Sophomores Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen continued their impressive campaign with a 6-0, 6-3 win at first doubles and the senior pairing of Shriya Rajesh and Lexy Masters secured a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 win at second doubles. Junior Brooke Taylor only dropped two games on her way to a 6-0, 6-2 third singles victory. Canton’s Camila Cutter emerged with a 6-1, 6-3 win at first singles while Olivia Durham came out on top at second singles (6-3, 7-6 (2)) after a great battle at second singles.
Sharon, 5 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Sharon passed a good midseason test by winning four of the five matches in straight sets, taking a 5-0 sweep over King Philip. Judy Song prevailed from a tight first singles match featuring two of the top players in the league with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Ahunna James. Navya Shukla added an impressive 6-1, 6-0 second singles win and Ale Aguilar completed the singles sweep right a 6-3, 4-6, 10-6 win in a hard fought match at third singles. Sharon’s Abby Vilk and Jenny Sand added a 6-2, 6-3 first doubles win, and the pairing of senior Sophia Oh and sophomore Olivia Landstein returned home with a 6-1, 6-2 win from second doubles.
Mansfield, 2 @ Milford, 3 – Final – Milford won three singles matches to earn its first league win of the season. Serena Borges (6-4, 6-0), Kaylee Whitney (6-4, 6-1), and Mallory Brickley (6-4, 6-2) sealed the victory for the Hawks. Mansfield won both doubles matches, with Jill Hanley and Savannah Carey taking their match 6-2, 6-0 at first doubles and Rachel Goldman and Caroline Guravage winning in three sets at second doubles.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – A battle between two of the best in the league lived up to its billing as North Attleboro junior Lauren Hunt and OA sophomore Hannah Farber had a three-hour marathon of a match at first singles with the former eventually prevailing in a super tiebreaker. Hunt continued her impressive season with a 6-7 (1), 6-2, 10-3 comeback win to cap North’s 4-1 win over the Tigers. Sophomore Megan Atwood added a 6-3, 6-1 win at second singles and senior Grace Noreck only dropped one game in each get for a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of sophomores Liz Silva and Audrey Noreck emerged from a great match at first doubles with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 win. OA’s Marina Mierzwinski and Ella Mierzwinski prevailed 6-4, 7-5 in a close contest at second doubles.
Stoughton, 2 @ Taunton, 3 – Final– Taunton got wins at both doubles matches and one singles contest — all played by juniors — to edge out visiting Stoughton. Junior Morgan Smith had the lone singles win for the Tigers, taking a 6-3, 6-4 verdict at third singles, and Taunton also got wins from the first doubles team of Janelle Garcia and Courtney Martin (6-1, 6-1) as well as the second doubles team of Caroline Pietnik and Sam Parrett (6-2, 6-2). Stoughton’s Ally Lady only lost a pair of games in a 6-2, 6-0 first singles win, and senior Nadia Prokopiuk emerged from a back-and-forth battle at second singles with a 7-6 (3), 5-7, 10-7 win.
Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 1 vs. New Bedford, 3 – Final – Taunton opened with a win in the first set but New Bedford grabbed three straight tight sets to end up with the win, 3-1 (20-25, 28-26, 27-25, 27-25). Matt Freitas led the way offensive with a big 16-kill performance, adding nine digs and three aces while Erick Foster was strong at the net defensively with six blocks. Bradley Hylander anchored the defense with 11 digs, and both Ty Ekstrom and Daniel Freitas had 15 assists apiece.
Baseball
Foxboro, 3 vs. Milton, 4 – Final – Foxboro pulled even with two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the defending D2 state champions used a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with the win. The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first but the Warriors cut the deficit in half with a two-out single from sophomore Mike Marcucella to score Louis Carangelo from second. Milton answered back in the bottom of the fourth to restore its two-run lead but Foxboro tied the game in the top of the fifth. Ryan LeClair drove in Tyler Prescott (walk) with a one-out triple, and then LeClair scored after an error to make it 3-3. Sophomore Nolan Gordon had a solid outing, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks, striking out three in 5.1 innings of work.
King Philip, 9 @ Bishop Feehan, 0 – Final – King Philip’s offense belted out 13 hits and Rudy Gately dazzled on the mound as the Warriors put together one of their best games of the season with a 9-0 win over Bishop Feehan. Gately tossed a one-hitter (a first inning double) and just two walks, striking out six in a complete game shutout. KP’s offense pushed across a pair of runs in the second, single runs in the third and fifth, and put the game away with a five-run sixth inning. Max Robison (three RBI, run), Matt Kelley (two runs), Aiden Astorino (two RBI, run), Johnny Prater (RBI, run), and Tommy Martorano (run) each had a pair of hits for KP.
Milford, 5 vs. Westboro, 4 – Final
North Attleboro, 1 vs. Hopkinton, 3 – Final – Jordan Paradis (run), Gio Martello, Ayden Delaney, and Chris Hanewich each had a hit for the Rocketeers. Dillon Harding pitched well on the mound, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk, striking out six in a complete game.
Stoughton, 7 @ Brockton, 6 – Final – Stoughton held off a late charge from the hosts to secure its first win of the season. The Black Knights scored three runs in both the first and third innings and the eventual game-winning run came in the fifth inning. Joe Rush had two hits, two RBI, and two runs scored to lead the charge offensively for Stoughton. Jeriel Cuello also had two hits and two RBI while Ben Shirey drove in a pair and scored once. Hunter Malkin earned the win, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and six walks, striking out six in six innings of work.
Softball
King Philip, 6 vs. Bishop Feehan, 4 – Final – A pair of early home runs and a three-run third inning helped King Philip start a busy week with a win over Bishop Feehan. The Shamrocks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but freshman Ali Gill and senior Libby Walsh hit back-to-back home runs to get the Warriors on the board. Tied at 2-2, the Warriors pushed three more runs across the plate to take the lead for good. Charlotte Raymond drew a bases-loaded walk, Maddie Paschke drove in a run with a single, and Liv Petrillo (single) came home on a sacrifice fly from Taylor Regan to make it 5-2. Walsh added a sac fly to score Sarah Cullen in the sixth inning. Feehan rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, and brought the go-ahead run to the plate but KP freshman McCoy Walsh (7IP, 7H, 6BB, 11K) finished it out with a strikeout.
North Attleboro, 16 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final (5 Inn.) – Kelly Colleran had a huge game at the plate and in the circle to earn North a big win. Colleran went the distance, striking out 14 batters, and set a school record at the plate with four homers and nine RBI. Arianna McDavitt had three hits and scored three runs. Molly Willey was 2-for-2 with two walks and Emma Hanwell had a pair of hits and a pair of RBI. Freshman Lucy Palmer got her first start behind the plate and had a hit and a couple of sacrifices. Grace Simmons and Maddie Bailey each scored twice for North.
Franklin, 4 vs. Walpole, 14 – Final
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Whitman-Hanson, 2 – Final – Katie Melendy had another strong performance in the circle against Whitman-Hanson but the Panthers scored a single run in each the third and fifth innings to earn a season split. Melendy limited the Panthers to two run on four hits and a pair of walks, striking out 10. Maddie Homer, Devon Morris (double), Crystaliah Covel, and Emily Martin each had a hit for OA.
Boys Lacrosse
Foxboro, 7 vs. Marshfield, 9 – Final – Foxboro came up just short in its opening round matchup at the Chowda Cup, falling 9-7 to Marshfield. Conor Noone paced the Warriors’ offense with six goals while Tony Sulham scored once. Head coach Matt Noone praised the efforts of Ryan Cotter and Cam Deleskey in the midfield, and Adam Addeche turned away seven shots in net. Foxboro will play Hanover on Thursday at 10:00AM at Norwell High.
Franklin, 16 vs. Medfield, 2 – Final – Franklin jumped out to a four goal lead at the end of the first quarter, extended the advantage to seven by halftime, and never looked back in a runaway victory over Medfield. Luke Davis and Tyler Sachetti each had four goals and two assists to lead Franklin’s potent offensive attack while Jayden Consigli added three goals and one assist, and Eddie O’Brien scored twice and had one helper. Matt Corvi (six saves) and Mike Galvin (four saves) both played well in net while Jacob Alexander (one goal) won 14-of-17 faceoffs.
King Philip, 4 @ Catholic Memorial, 6 – Final – King Philip came up just short on the road at Catholic Memorial but not without a tremendous effort in net from senior James Boldy. Boldy recorded 18 saves in the game, including some point blank stops from in close, to keep the Warriors in the game. Donovan DeVellis scored twice and assisted on KP’s other two goals, scored by Henry LeClair and Cullen McCarthy. Alex Viscusi went 9-for-12 on faceoffs for the Warriors.
Mansfield, 8 vs. Falmouth, 13 – Final
Oliver Ames, 12 vs. Ashland, 3 – Final – OA’s Ben Reardon had a big day offensively with 10 points to lead the Tigers to a big win over visiting Ashland. Reardon scored seven goals and had three assists to lead OA, which established a 7-1 edge by halftime. Alex McAndrew added one goal and three assists, Ryan Jaco scored twice, and Shaun Teehan and Evan Jaco each recorded a goal and an assist in the win.
Girls Lacrosse
Foxboro, 7 @ Walpole, 11 – Final – Foxboro suffered its first setback of the season, dropping a competitive contest with state powerhouse Walpole. Val Beigel had three goals to pace the offense while Paige Curran (two assists), Mya Warya (two assists), Cate Noone (one assist), and Mary Collins each scored once. Audrey Campbell played well in net with 10 saves.
Franklin, 15 vs. Bishop Feehan, 2 – Final – Franklin built a six-goal lead in a blink of an eye and never looked back in a rout of Bishop Feehan. Katie Peterson shined on attack for the hosts, potting a team-high six goals along with a pair of assists and seven draw controls. Jamie Tanner (two assists) and Emily Carney (assist) each had a pair of goals, Norah MacCallum had another strong defensive game with a pair of caused turnovers, and Ella Mahoney made four saves in the win.
King Philip, 15 @ Medfield, 17 – Final – A wild back-and-forth game ended with King Philip falling by two in a 17-15 loss to perennial state powerhouse Medfield. Nikki McDonald led KP with six goals while Alyssa Legere had a strong outing with four goals and one assist.
Mansfield, 11 vs. Mt. Hope (R.I.), 10 – Final – A balanced offensive attack led Mansfield to a one-goal win over visiting Mt. Hope on Tuesday. Ava Adams, Rose Maher, and Lola Varricchione (five draw controls, one assist) each scored three goals to lead the charge offensively for the Hornets. Stella Moore added one goal, Ella Souza had one assist, Carys Colby recorded seven draw controls, and Lana DiSangro came up with nine saves in the win.
Baseball
Milford, 9 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Milford raced out to a four-run lead over the first three innings and then put the game away with a big five-run sixth inning to pick up a win on the road at Canton. Damien Carter (RBI double, two runs) and Mason Baldic (run) each had a pair of hits to lead the Hawks’ offense, which scored twice in the first and then once each in the second (Sean McGee RBI walk) and once more in the third. Canton cut the deficit down to one on an RBI single from Matt Lesser and a two-run single from Kyle Redquest, but the Hawks rallied for five runs in the sixth. Evan Corenlius had an RBI single, Carter scored on a passed ball, and McGee had a two-run single. Carter got the win on the mound, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks, striking out nine in five innings. Ian Carter came in and tossed two scoreless innings with just three walks issued, striking out five.
King Philip, 8 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Coming off a shutout loss earlier in the week, King Philip’s offense had a bounce back performance with an 8-2 win over Foxboro. After two scoreless innings from both teams, King Philip scored in each of the final five innings, and never trailed in the game. Rudy Gately was one of three Warriors with a pair if hits, driving in four runs on the day. Matt Kelley (two runs, RBI) and freshman Leo Dowling also had two hits. Tommy Martorano drove in a pair of runs while Tommy McLeish had a solo home run in the fourth to make it 3-0, KP sophomore Cameron Hasenfus had a strong outing on the mound, allowing two runs (one earned) one three hits and a pair of walks, striking out seven in a complete game effort. Ben Angelini had an RBI triple and Ryan O’Leary brought in a run for Foxboro on a sac fly.
Sharon, 0 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Buoyed by a big second inning offensively and another stellar pitching performance, Franklin secured an 8-0 win over Sharon. Matt Miller allowed just one hit in three shutout innings, striking out a pair for the win. Zach Ramaswamy (1IP), Jake Shaughnessy (2IP, 5K), and Dillon Cashin (1IP, 1K) didn’t allow a hit in relief for the Panthers. Ryan Gerety scored in the first inning and then smacked a two-run double to highlight Franklin’s six-run second inning. Jase Lyons, Eisig Chin, Mike Davide, Ryan Carlucci, and Luke Sidwell also had an RBI in the win.
Taunton, 14 @ Mansfield, 7 – Final – Mansfield put Taunton on upset alert by scoring four runs in the fifth inning to take a one-run lead but the Tigers struck back for eight runs in the top of the sixth to secure the win on the road. Dawson Bryce, Dwayne Burgo, and Andrew Cali each had an RBI early on as the Tigers jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first two innings, but a three-run double from Connor Curtis in the bottom of the fourth brought the Hornets right back in it. Shawn Cali got one back from Taunton in the top of the fifth but the Hornets went to work in the bottom half. Sam Martin and Jake Maydak each hit an RBI double and two runs came in to score after a single from Kyle Marnikovic, putting Mansfield ahead 7-6. Burgo ignited Taunton’s comeback with a leadoff double and scored on a single from Brayden Cali. Ryan MacDougall (RBI single), Bryce (error), Shawn Cali (RBI single), Sean Murphy (walk), Burgo (two-run single), and Brayden Cali all brought runs in for the Tigers. Peter Moor earned the win in relief, allowing just one hit and one walk in 1.1 innings of work while Bryce closed things out with a scoreless inning.
North Attleboro, 10 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final – North Attleboro pushed across four runs in the top of the first and never trailed in a 10-4 win on the road at Stoughton. Nate Kelly stayed hot with an RBI single to plate Jordan Paradis (leadoff single), Gio Martello laced a one-out, two-run single to center, and Reed Collins had a two-out RBI single to hand the Rocketeers an early 4-0 lead. North added two runs in the third (Martello RBI single, Collins RBI groundout), the eighth (Collins two-run single), and the seventh (Derek Maceda two-out, two-run single). Ayden Delaney earned the win for North Attleboro, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks, striking our a pair in three innings. Maceda tossed four innings in relief, surrendering just one unearned run on three hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. Stoughton’s Jeriel Cuello went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored. Liam Dunn pitched well in relief for the Black Knights with just two hits and a walk resulting in two unearned runs in 2.2 innings.
Softball
Canton, 2 @ Milford, 14 – Final (6 Inn.) – Milford had a dozen hits as a team and scored nine runs in the opening two innings to earn its second win in the last three games. Freshman Katelyn Kearnan sparked the Hawks from the eight-hole, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI. Cae Pellegrini, Maeve Williams, and Jianna Fernandes (two doubles) each had a pair of hits for Milford and combined to drive in five. Olivia and Ava Baglione (two runs) and Maeve Driscoll each had hits as well. Driscoll earned the win in the circle, going the distance allowing six hits and one earned run and striking out seven. Chloe Guernschuny was 2-for-3 for Canton. Anna Lehan drove in one and Laura Valkanas had a double.
Sharon, 0 @ Franklin, 12 – Final (5 Inn.) – Franklin broke the game open in the fourth inning to earn the five-inning win. For Sharon, Manasa Josyula struck out two over three innings, while Ally Foulsham struck out two in the fourth.
Mansfield, 2 @ Taunton, 14 – Final (5 Inn.) – Taunton used a pair of big innings to score a big win against visiting Mansfield on Friday afternoon. The Tigers scored once in the second but did the majority of their damage in the third inning (six runs) and the seventh inning (seven runs). Kaysie DeMoura (two RBI, two runs) and Sam Lincoln (double, RBI) each had two hits while Bella Bourque drove in three runs to lead the Tigers’ offense. DeMoura, Hayley Krockta, and Taylah DeCosta each drove in a pair of runs in the win. Lincoln was the winner in the circle, allowing two unearned runs on one hit and one walk, striking out six. Mansfield had a good start as they took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Molly Kucharski singled and scored on a sac bunt and error by Reilley Slaney, who then came home to score later in the inning on a bunt from Allie Koppy.
Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 8 – Final – Kelly Colleran threw just 80 pitches and faced only one more than the minimum, striking out 16 to earn the shutout. She also had a pair of homers and drove in half of North’s runs. Maryellen Charette had a big game behind the plate, calling a great game and throwing out a base stealer early in the game. Arianna McDavitt had a three-run double in the fourth inning and Molly Willey and Emma Hanwell each had two hits for the Rocketeers. Emily Tucker scored a pair of runs and Grace Simmons scored once.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 10 vs. Hanover, 6 – Final – The teams went into halftime tied 4-4, but Canton outscored Hanover 6-2 in the second half to pull out the non-league win. Ethan Keleher led the Bulldogs with four goals. Jeffrey Chaput added three tallies and Michael Thomas had a pair of goals. Pat Drury had a big game in goal, making 15 saves in the win.
Franklin, 13 @ Acton-Boxboro, 11 – Final – On the road, against one of the top teams in the state, Franklin rallied in the fourth quarter to pull out an impressive win. Trailing 10-8 after three, the Panthers outscored A-B 5-1, including a run in the final two minutes, to secure the win. Luke Davis scored five goals and dished out an assist to lead Franklin’s attack. Jayden Consigli had a hat trick of goals and a hat trick of assists and Tyler Sacchetti had three scores and a helper. Drew Hansen scored twice for the Panthers. Justin Alexander dominated face offs, winning 22-of-25 and Michael Galvin made six saves.
King Philip, 7 vs. Hopkinton, 6 – Final (OT) – James Boldy had another strong performance in net and Henry LeClair was dominant at the face-off ‘X’ to lead the Warriors to an overtime win over Hopkinton. Boldy made 12 saves in the win while LeClair, who had one goal, won 11 of 13 faceoffs. Donovan DeVellis and Mason Thompson each scored a pair of goals and had two assists to lead KP’s offense while Justin Kosh (two assists) and Cullen McCarthy (assist) each scored once.
Milford @ Seekonk, 4:15
North Attleboro, 11 vs. Bishop Feehan, 14 – Final
Sharon, 17 @ Cardinal Spellman, 5 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 13 @ Braintree, 14 – Final – Emily McCabe had six goals and four assists, but Braintree was able to edge Canton in a tough, non-league battle. Ella Yeaton, Nora Giannacopoulos, and Shannon McGrann each scored twice for the Bulldogs.
Franklin, 10 vs. Westwood, 14 – Final – In a battle of two of the top teams in the state, Franklin and Westwood were tied 6-6 at halftime, but the visiting Wolverines went on a late run to pull out a back-and-forth game. Lindsay Atkinson sparked Franklin’s attack with four goals and Katie Peterson added a hat trick. Jamie Tanner secured five draw controls and Julia Flynn put in a strong overall performance on both ends of the field.
Sharon, 3 vs. Ursuline Academy, 17 – Final
Stoughton, 3 vs. Dedham, 8 – Final – Morgan Groppi, Amanda Reid, and Hazel McBurney each scored once for the Black Knights. Groppi also had a pair of draw controls and Jordan Coleman made 11 saves for Stoughton.
Boys Tennis
Canton, 3 @ Milford, 2 – Final – After falling behind by three games in the second set, Canton’s second doubles team of Drew Garrett and Jon Sithivong rallied to win three straight games and then the tiebreaker to clinch the game and secure a 3-2 win for Canton. Garrett and Sithivong finished with a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) win while Max Kupferman and Bharat Ramanathan won in straight sets at first and second singles, respectively.
Foxboro, 5 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Foxboro bounced back after a couple of tough losses by earning a sweep of KP. Haji Glover (6-0, 6-1) and Raj Jetty (6-2, 6-2) won their singles matches in straight sets to put the visitors in charge. Greg Simone and Viz Chavalan also won in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) at first doubles. The other two matches both went to three sets. Foxboro’s second doubles team of Ryan Fossella and Evan Paluzzi edged Leo Manning and Brent Schneider 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. At third singles, Luca Meyer pulled out a three-set win over Arjun Kollu.
Sharon, 5 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – Sharon swept Franklin to stay level with Mansfield atop the Davenport division standings. The Eagles were especially impressive in doubles, as the teams of Sava Kassev and Rithvik Neti and Kevin Li and Joel Zwicker dropped only one game combined. Jacob Slavsky (6-2, 6-1), Matthew Lally (6-2, 6-4), and Alex Budovalcev (6-1, 7-6 (4)) also won in straight sets.
Stoughton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North won its second straight match to stay on top in the Kelley-Rex. The Rocketeers got straight set wins at all three singles matches. Brody Carter (6-3, 6-2), Darren Liang (6-0, 6-1), and Caleb Cheney (6-1, 6-4) each picked up points for the hosts. Stoughton got a point at first doubles. Anthony Maylock and Aadil Vihad won 7-6, 6-4 to avoid the sweep. North got its fourth point at second doubles. Arnav Raghuvanshi and Aaryan Anjna won 6-1, 7-5.
Girls Tennis
Franklin, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon swept singles and got a point at second doubles to earn the crossover win against Franklin. Judy Song won 6-2, 6-1 at first singles, Navya Shukla won 6-1, 6-2 at second singles, and Ale Aguilar won 6-2, 6-3 at third singles to earn the Eagles the points that they needed. Olivia Landstein and Jenny Sand secured a fourth point with a 6-1, 6-4 win. The first doubles team of Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen made sure the Panthers avoided the sweep by winning 6-3, 7-6.
North Attleboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – North won both of its doubles matches to extend its win streak to five games to start the season. Audrey Noreck and Liz Silva won 6-4, 6-2 at first doubles and Jayla Stone and Grace Manning added a 6-1, 6-2 win at second doubles. Grace Noreck also won in straight sets at second singles to improve North’s record to 5-0. Ally Lada won two tiebreakers, both 7-5, to earn the 7-6, 7-6 win at first singles and Stoughton also got a point at third singles with Dhruvi Patel winning 6-3, 6-2.
Boys Volleyball
Milford, 3 vs. Cambridge, 1 – Final
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.”
King Philip senior Will Laplante, who scored a career-high 32 points, splits a pair of Hingham players for a layup in the second half. (Ryan Lanigan@HockomockSports.com
WRENTHAM, Mass. — The King Philip boys basketball team had to anxiously wait four days to find out if their 10-12 campaign was good enough to earn a spot in the state tournament.
The Warriors ended up earning the 31st seed in the Division 1 state tournament, and senior Will Laplante was not going to let that opportunity go to waste.
Laplante had an incredible second half, pouring in 28 of his career-high 32 points including the go-ahead three-pointer with two minutes to go — only the Warriors’ second lead of the entire game — and King Philip emerged with a 73-67 win over #34 Hingham.
The win was KP’s first postseason victory since 2012, a decision over Whitman-Hanson powered by Jake Layman.
“For us to see our name in that bracket, we felt like we were given an opportunity, and we had to do something with it,” Laplante said. “We had a couple of tough losses in the last two weeks, and we were close to not making it in so getting this chance, we knew we had to take advantage of it.
“I really wanted to slow it down, just needed to calm down and let the game come to me. After getting the two fouls in the first, I was trying to help my teammates more and try and get some offensive rebounds. And the second half, it was just go time. If it was going to happen, it had to happen then. We talked in the locker room about this was it, this was our season, and we came together and got it done. It was nice to see that one go in. I really thank coach because he drew up a play for me at the start of the second half and that really brought me back into it. I hit that one three, and I felt it right there.”
The senior guard was limited to just four points in the opening half, hitting just one shot from the field, and missed a good stretch after picking up his second foul in the first quarter. Despite a rough shooting performance in the first half, head coach Dave DeStefano went right back to Laplante early in the third quarter and the rest was history.
“Over the last week, Will has realized he doesn’t want this season to end and he’s going to do whatever it takes to keep going, and he proved that tonight,” DeStefano said. “He had some really good looks in the first half but once those first couple of shots fell in the second half, he really got it going. He looked more comfortable and the game started to slow down for him.
“[In the first half] he was taking good shots, he was playing with composure so I’m going to let him go because he’s a basketball player. He knows there will be ups and downs, and it’s a game of runs, and Will did a great job tonight responding. He finished really strong for us.”
He hit four shots in a row inside the first four minutes of the second half, including three straight threes and a strong take to the rim that handed KP its first lead of the game at 43-42.
The lead only lasted a minute as Hingham’s 1,000-point scorer Liam McBride (21 points, five rebounds) hit a tough runner to put the Harbormen back in front. He combined with Chase Mello (23 points) to spark a 9-0 run for the visitors and KP’s small lead was quickly back to a deficit.
Hingham led for the first six minutes of the final quarter, coming up with an answer each time KP made a move. Laplante drained an early triple but Hingham’s Charlie Matthews converted a putback and McBride finished down low as the lead stretched back to seven, 59-52, with less than five minutes to go.
Senior Tommy Martorano (20 points) got out in transition for a layup, Laplante converted a traditional three-point play and then had a steal and assist to classmate Grant Kinney (four rebounds, five assists, and a strong defensive performance) to finally get level again at 59-59, but Mello was fouled seconds later and his free throws with 3:20 put Hingham back ahead.
Martorano once again got out in transition, this time using a nice spin move to finish with his favored left hand before two more free throws from Mello kept the advantage with Hingham.
Laplante promptly responded with another triple to put KP ahead 64-63 with two minutes to go and the Warriors did not trail the rest of the way.
Junior Tommy McLeish hauled in one of his seven boards off a miss and Laplante, who went 11-for-15 at the line, hit two free throws to extend the lead to 66-63.
Sophomore Tommy Kilroy (11 points, eight rebounds, three assists) came up with a key block on a baseline jumper with under a minute to go, and McLeish was able to battle for a key defensive board off of a Hingham free throw miss. Martorano, Laplante, and Kilroy combined to go 7-for-8 from the line in the final moments to secure the win.
After going down 59-52, KP did not allow Hingham another field goal the rest of the way as the Harbormen got their final eight points over the final five minutes all from the free throw line.
“It was all about getting stops, especially in the tournament,” DeStefano said. “You need to get stops and it started on the defensive end for us. I’m not saying we played great defensively but in the fourth quarter, when we needed to dig in they did a good job of getting stops.”
“With our backs against the wall, our defense really got us back into it,” Laplante said. “We had a couple of score-stop-scores and just getting those stops in the fourth quarter really helped us.”
The Warriors struggled to get going from the three-point line out of the gates, going just 1-for-10 from distance over the first eight minutes, but only trailed 17-12. Kilroy dropped in two threes in the second quarter, Martorano added five points, and sophomores Jack Assini (six points) and Brandon Nicastro combined for six in the quarter to keep the Warriors close, 34-30, at halftime.
King Philip boys basketball (11-12) advances to the Division 1 Round of the 32 and will travel to play #2 Lawrence (20-2) on Thursday at 6:30.
Boys Basketball
Foxboro, 91 vs. Medfield, 57 – Final – Foxboro’s 22-point first quarter was a sign of things to come as the Warriors’ offense had its best performance of the season in a 91-57 victory over Medfield in the championship game of the Warrior Classic. Senior Sam Golub and sophomore Ryan Kelley buoyed the big start from the hosts as Golub drained a trio of threes for 11 of his 24 points while Kelley hit a pair of triples for nine of his career-high 17 points to set the tone early. Foxboro was even better in the second as Alex Penders erupted for 12 of his game-high 28 points, Golub added 10 more points, and Ian Foley came off the bench to sink a pair of threes for a total of 32 points in the second, and a commanding 54-24 lead at halftime. Foxboro will close out the season on Thursday against Melrose in an endowment game.
King Philip, 64 vs. Falmouth, 51 – Final – King Philip senior Will Laplante shined in his final regular season high school game as his 25-point performance anchored a 64-51 win over Falmouth in the consolation game of the Crosby-Couto Tournament at Somerset-Berkley. The Warriors had a modest three-point lead after eight minutes thanks to three from Tommy Martorano, Brandon Nicsatro, and Laplante but extended its advantage to double-digits (29-19) by halftime with a strong second. Laplante had 10 points in the second lone while Martorano (14 points) added five more. Laplante tacked on two threes in the third quarter and one more in the fourth, and senior Grant Kinney (11 points) splashed in three more three-pointers in the fourth to keep KP ahead.
Stoughton, 79 vs. Milton, 53 – Final – Stoughton used six first-half three pointers to build a 15-point halftime lead and never looked back, knocking off Milton in the championship game of the Moscardelli Tournament at Quincy High. Jayden Costa-Haywood, Jarred Daughtry, and Anthony Alessi connected from downtown in the first and sophomore Matt Greenspoon splashed in three three-pointers in the second quarter alone as the Knights staked a 37-22 lead at halftime. Costa-Haywood continued on in the second half, recording 16 of his game-high 27 points after the break. Greenspoon added two more triples in the fourth to finish with 15 points while Alessi and Daughtry both chipped in with eight points.
Girls Basketball
Foxboro, 61 vs. Brookline, 53 – Final – Foxboro closed out the regular season with an impressive win against a team ranked in the top five in Div. 1 in the final of the Warrior Classic. The Warriors had a big lead at halftime, but Brookline stormed back and eventually tied the game at 47-47 in the fourth quarter. Foxboro went on a 14-4 run to regain a double digit lead and close out the win. Camryn Collins, despite battling foul trouble in the second half, finished with a team-high 23 points and was named the tournament MVP. Kailey Sullivan added 17 points and was named to the all-tournament team, and Addie Ruter scored 10 points. Isabelle Chamberlin provided 10 rebounds, including a couple clutch ones in the final minutes, and Erin Foley played strong defense against Brookline’s talented perimeter players.
Boys Hockey
Canton, 2 @ Boston Latin, 0 – Final
Girls Hockey
King Philip, 2 @ Milton, 2 – Final – Katarina Precobb and Kelly Holmes both found the back of the net and Mallory Johnston made a pair of saves to lift KP in the shootout after the game stayed tied through regulation and overtime. KP trailed 2-1 late in the third period but Nicole McDonald got a tip on a shot from the point, wrong-footing the goalie and tying the game with just 34 seconds to go. In the OT period, KP had several chances to win it, with McDonald, Precobb, and Holmes all denied by the Milton goalie on good scoring opportunities. Precobb started the shootout by going top shelf and Holmes beat the goalie five-hole. On the other end, Johnston stayed with the shooters, twice keeping her pads down to make the saves and send KP to the final of the Milton February Break Tournament, on Thursday afternoon against Bishop Stang at the Ulin Rink.
Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 44 @ Durfee, 58 – Final – Attleboro only trailed by four at halftime but the Bombardiers couldn’t quite get the offense in gear as the Hilltoppers pulled away in the second half. Jaiden Outland led the visitors with eight points while sophomore Dante Monestime and freshman Connor Houle each had seven points.
Canton, 47 vs. Wakefield, 48 – Final – Canton tightened up defensively to build a lead going into the fourth quarter but the Bulldogs’ offense went cold and a late three from Wakefield proved to be the difference. Canton trailed after one quarter, rallied to to it by halftime, and then held the visitors to just six points in the third to stake a 38-29 lead going into the fourth. Junior Lucas Massih sank four three-pointers for the Bulldogs, including three in the third to finish with a team-high 12 points. Jeremiah Predin and Kareem Porter each had 11 points for the shorthanded Bulldogs.
Foxboro, 56 vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 33 – Final – Foxboro exploded for 40 points in the first half and used suffocating defense to deny Dighton-Rehoboth in the first round of the Warrior Classic. Senior Alex Penders scored eight of his 12 points in the opening quarter and both Ryan LeClair and Sam Golub had five points as the Warriors staked an 18-3 lead after eight minutes. Ryan Kelley hit two threes and had eight of his team-high 13 points in the second while Ryan Cotter drained three triples and had 11 of his points in the second to give Foxboro a 40-10 lead at halftime.
King Philip, 64 vs. Hanover, 72 – Final – King Philip had a great start with 26 points in the first quarter but Hanover rallied to take the lead going into the fourth and finished off the win. Five different Warriors contributed to the strong start as Will Laplante had 11 of his 20 points in the fame, Tommy McLeish hit two three-poitners, and Grant Kinney, Tommy Martorano, and Tommy Kilroy all had field goals as KP staked a 26-20 lead. Martorano, McLeish, and Laplante all had a three in the second as the lead settled at 42-37 at halftime. Hanover used a strong third quarter to take the lead and then scored 21 points in the fourth to finish it off. Kinney and McLeish each added 10 points while Martorano had nine points.
Mansfield, 71 vs. Hingham, 55 – Final – Hingham battled back to make it a game at halftime but Mansfield dominated the third quarter and never looked back in a big win over the visiting Harbormen. Mansfield opened the second quarter on 9-2 run to build a double-digit lead but Hingham closed the half out strong to get within 33-24. An 11-3 surge to start the second half restored Mansfield’s big lead and the Hornets rattled off a 10-3 run right after. The Hornets had seven players score in the pivotal third quarter as Caden Colby (12 points, five rebounds, four assists) drilled a pair of threes, Chris Hill (nine points, nine rebounds, two steals) added five points, JT Veiking (15 points) had four points, Davon Sanders and Eddie McCoy (12 points, five rebound, three assists) each had a three, and Brandon Jackman and Trevor Foley (10 points, seven rebounds, two steals) each had two points.
Milford vs. Hampden Charter West – Milford wins via forfeit.
North Attleboro, 49 @ Weymouth, 58 – Final – North Attleboro got off to another strong start with a 22-point first quarter and had a double-digit lead on playoff-bound Weymouth but the host Wildcats clawed their way back into the game and won the fourth quarter to win the game. Senior Givany Carney hit a trio of threes and led the Rocketeers with a team-high 17 points while sophomore Jonnie Obuchowski hit four three-pointers on his way to a career-high 16 points.
Sharon, 84 vs. Walpole, 62 – Final – Sharon junior Jacob McLoughlin caught fire early as he sank four three-pointers in the opening quarter and Matt Baur (19 points) and Tyler Goodman (10 points) each added one more as the Eagles staked a 21-15 lead after the first. The first was a sign of things to come as the Eagles continued to find success on the offensive end, claiming a 39-29 lead at halftime. McLoughlin got it going in the third with 10 more on his way to a career-high 29 points. Dante James and Goodman each had a pair if buckets while Nate Katznelson scored five of his 13 points to keep Sharon ahead, 64-45, going into the fourth.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 62 vs. Durfee, 31 – Final – Attleboro lost the first meeting with the Hilltoppers by 20, but put together a complete performance at home on Monday and doubled up Durfee. The visitors led 10-9 after one and Attleboro went into the locker room up just 23-18, but the Bombardiers outscored the visitors 39-13 in the second half to earn the big win over another D1 playoff contender. Kayla Goldrick and Vanessa Ellis each scored 17 points to lead the hosts. Goldrick scored nine in the first half and then eight during the big third quarter run. Ellis scored six in the second and seven more in the third to put Attleboro well in front. Liy Routhier added 14 points, including 13 in the second half. Avery James chipped in with seven points.
Canton, 18 @ Westwood, 49 – Final
Foxboro, 56 vs. Tewksbury, 36 – Final – Foxboro put in a strong defensive performance and pulled away late to advance to the final of the Warrior Classic. Addie Ruter led the way for the Warriors with 18 points, while Camryn Collins and Kailey Sullivan finished with 15 points apiece. Foxboro will face Brookline in the regular season finale on Tuesday afternoon.
Mansfield, 57 vs. Westford Academy, 41 – Final – Abby Wager scored 30 points for the second time in the last week and the Hornets held Westford to just 16 points in the second half to book a place in the final of the Roundball Classic. Wager was on fire from the opening tip, burying a pair of threes and scoring 14 points in the first to lead Mansfield to a 21-14 advantage. She added another five points in the second and Hallie Popat drilled a three to make it 35-25 going into the locker room. The visitors would cut one point off the lead in the third, as Mansfield was held to just eight points, including five from Wager and another three from Popat. The Hornets would double up Westford in the fourth (14-7) to seal the win. Wager scored six more to cap off her night and Ella Palanza added all five of her points in the fourth. Bridget Hanley added seven point for the Hornets, who will face Bridgewater-Raynham (which is in the top 10 in the D1 power rankings) on Wednesday.
King Philip, 48 vs. Quincy, 62 – Final – KP closed the gap to just three points heading to the fourth quarter, but Quincy would outscore the Warriors 22-11 in the final frame to secure a win in the Norwell Invitational. Emily Sawyer would lead KP with 16 points, including 10 in the second half. Jackie Bonner and Kaelyn Clancy each knocked down three from beyond the arc. Bonner finished with 12 points overall and Clancy had nine, including six points in KP’s third quarter rally. Maddie Paschke added six in the loss. KP will face Newton North in the consolation round on Wednesday.
Oliver Ames, 58 vs. Malden Catholic, 41 – Final – With a big fourth quarter to break the game open, OA clinched the title at the Spartan Classic. The Tigers led 14-10 after one and extended the lead to seven at the break. The third quarter was even, but then OA exploded for 19 points in the final eight minutes to put the game out of reach against one of the top 10 teams in the D4 power rankings. Katherine Farley scored six points, Kaydance Derba had five, and Maeve Horsman added four in the fourth quarter to help seal the win. Farley would finish with a career-high 13, including nine in the second half. Avery Gamble added a dozen points and Kamryn Derba and Horsman each finished with nine. Maddie Homer scored eight and Kaydance Derba seven in the victory. OA heads into the state tournament having won six of its final eight games.
Boys Hockey
Franklin, 5 @ St. John’s Shrewsbury, 4 – Final (OT) – After going back-and-forth for three periods, Franklin’s Logan Marchand deposited a quick wrist shot on a breakaway bid in overtime to hand the Panthers an impressive 5-4 win over St. John’s Shrewsbury, who was ranked #10 in Division 1 in the latest rankings. Anthony Lampasona scored less than a minute into the second to tie the game 1-1, and then scored again on the power play for a 2-1 lead. After SJS tied it, Ben Paterson redirected a shot from Liam O’Rielly to go back in front. The Pioneers regained the lead just over six minutes into the third but this time it was Carter Balducci that found the equalizer at 7:18 of the third.
King Philip, 5 vs. Mansfield, 4 – Final (OT)
North Attleboro, 1 @ Walpole, 7 – Final
Oliver Ames, 2 vs. Westwood, 4 – Final
Taunton, 1 @ Somerset Berkley, 6 – Final
Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 @ Algonquin, 1 – Final
King Philip, 1 vs. Bishop Feehan, 2 – Final
Canton, 56 @ Foxboro, 58 – Final – Canton’s Caden Mirliani drained a go-ahead three with 30 seconds to go but Foxboro senior Ryan LeClair answered with a triple of his own 10 seconds later as the Warriors secured a season sweep of the Bulldogs with another thrilling win. The Bulldogs came out of a timeout with 35 seconds left down by two (55-53) before quickly finding Mirliani in the corner for three and the lead. Foxboro’s Alex Penders penetrated to draw extra in the lane before kicking it out to LeClair for three. Canton had a pair of looks but came up short as Foxboro took the win. Canton had a dream start as they raced out to a 18-3 lead in the first quarter. Sophomore Ryan Kelley provided a big boost with eight of his nine points in the second and Penders scored six of his 14 as the Warriors battled back to cut the deficit to 30-23 at halftime. The momentum stuck with the hosts as they outscored Canton 16-7 in the third to surge ahead 39-37 going into the fourth. Ryan Cotter scored had 9 of his 11 points in the second half for Foxboro and senior Andrew Finn had a pair of threes in the third to help put the hosts ahead. Canton’s Jamaal McConnell had a game-high 15 points while Zaza Francoeur and Mirliani each had 11 points.
King Philip, 63 @ North Attleboro, 35 – Final – King Philip erupted for 23 points in the second quarter to turn a tie-game into a big win on the road over North Attleboro. The Warriors and Rocketeers each had 10 points in the opening eight minutes before KP caught fire in the second. Senior Will Laplante scored 10 of his game-high 22 points in the second, senior Tommy Martorano added six of his 17 points, and sophomores Tommy Kilroy, Brandon Nicastro, and Jack Assini each added to the scoring as King Philip surged ahead 33-14 at halftime. After an even third quarter, the Warriors held the hosts to four points in the fourth to secure the win.
Mansfield, 72 @ Stoughton, 37 – Final – Mansfield built a double-digit lead in the opening quarter, doubled it by halftime, and never looked back in a bounce back win on the road over Stoughton. A strong start saw the Hornets stake a 19-9 lead after eight minutes, and that 10-point lead turned to 20 as a balanced offensive effort led to a 34-14 halftime lead. Eddie McCoy scored a team-high 18 points, Trevor Foley added 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, and Davon Sanders added 13 points and 6 assists for the Hornets, who finished with 11 three-pointers.
Milford, 56 @ Taunton, 69 – Final – After a close back-and-forth opening quarter, Taunton dominated the second to build a lead that it never surrendered to earn a season sweep of the visiting Scarlet Hawks. Milford Andrew Rivera continued his strong stretch as he came out on fire with 11 of his game-high 24 points in the opening quarter, helping the Hawks stake an 18-16 edge after a quarter. Freshman Jakari Innocent drained a three with six minutes to go, sparking a 20-4 run to close out the half. Troy Santos hit one of his four three-pointers, Chris Volcy had a pair of layups, Tyson Carter added six of his 10 points, and Gerry Cardoso chipped in with two free throws to put Taunton up 36-23 at half. Innocent finished with a career-high 19 points, Santos had 10 points, and both Volcy and Carter chipped in with 10 points apiece. Rivera added seven rebounds to go along with his 24 points while freshman CJ Farrell chipped in with nine points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
Sharon, 79 @ Oliver Ames, 51 – Final – Sharon couldn’t have scripted a better start, opening with a 24-0 run that gave the Eagles all of the separation they needed the rest of the way. Sharon sank four threes in the opening eight minutes and had five players register points to stake a big lead that it never surrendered. Nate Katznelson scored seven of his team-high 19 points in the first, Matt Baur added six of his 17 points, both Ryan Brown and Jack Bates hit a three and had five points in the first, and Tyler Goodman tossed in a triple of his own for the Eagles, who led 41-24 at halftime. Sophomore Cole Craffey led OA with 13 points, senior Chris Elias added 12 points, and freshman Soren Lolonga chipped in with 11 points.
Foxboro, 65 @ Canton, 30 – Final – Foxboro extended its win streak to 12 games and stayed unbeaten in league play heading into the Hock finale on Friday. Addie Ruter continued her impressive sophomore season with a game-high 20 points. Camryn Collins scored 15, Erin Foley had 14, and Kailey Sullivan finished with a dozen points for the Davenport division champs.
North Attleboro, 38 @ King Philip, 37 – Final – North Attleboro was able to hold off KP down the stretch to pull off the road win. North’s 2-3 zone helped limit the Warriors offensively, with Katie Corsetti and Maryellen Charette doing their best to try and slow down the league’s leading scorer Emily Sawyer in the paint. The game was tied at halftime and heading into the fourth quarter. North outscored KP by one over the final eight minutes to earn the win. Sawyer got KP off to a good start with six points in the first, but Ava McKeon’s six-point second quarter helped the Rocketeers even the score at 17 apeice going into the locker room. Sawyer had four points in the third, but Sam Faria scored six for North and it was 27-27 going into the fourth. McKeon added another four points and Faria added three more to help North do enough to get the win. Jackie Bonner drilled a three with 30 seconds left that got the Warriors back within one but they weren’t able overcome the deficit. McKeon and Faria led North with 10 points apiece, while Corsetti aded eight. Sawyer finished with a game-high 15 and Bonner added eight points on a pair of threes.
Stoughton, 33 @ Mansfield, 57 – Final – Abby Wager scored 34 points, powering Mansfield to a third straight win. Wager was dominant from the opening tip, scoring 12 of Mansfield’s 14 in the first quarter and then adding 10 more in the second and another nine in the third. The Hornets led by only one after the first and extended the advantage to 35-21 at halftime. In the third, Wager had nine of the Hornets’ 11 points, but it was Mansfield’s defense that stood out, holding Stoughton to just two points to break the game wide open. Ella Palanza added seven points and Natalya Gill had six in the win. Raina Tat was Stoughton’s top scorer with 11, including seven in the second half, while Katrina Varnum had eight and Kirsten McKay hit a pair of threes for seven points.
Taunton, 40 @ Milford, 45 – Final – Brooke Ferreira celebrated senior night by scoring a career-high 16 points and helping the Hawks rally from an early deficit to pull out the win. Taunton grabbed the lead in the first, as Cali Melo, who hit four three-pointers and finished with a game-high 21, scored seven points in the opening quarter. Milford only managed five points and one made FG in the first, but rallied with a 13-7 second quarter to tie the game at halftime. Ferreira and Emily Croteau each scored four in the quarter. Ferreira got going in the third, scoring seven of Milford’s 13 to help the Hawks open up a six-point lead. Taunton outscored the Hawks by one in the fourth, but couldn’t overcome the deficit on the road. Croteau helped Milford out with 10 points and Erin Michelson added seven. Skylar McCrohan added eight points and Chelsea Bousquet had six for the Tigers.
Oliver Ames, 65 @ Sharon, 58 – Final – Despite allowing a combined 51 points from Jasmine Davis and Rachael Hager, OA was able to sweep the season series with the Eagles and move above .500 for the first time this season. Sharon jumped out to the lead in the first, as Hager buried three from beyond the arc and sparked Sharon to a 14-11 edge. OA would come back in the second to grab a two-point edge going into the locker roon. Sara Hilliard scored six in the second and Avery Gamble added four. Davis started to heat up with seven of Sharon’s 11 in the second. Kamryn Derba caught fire for the Tigers in the second half. The freshman had nine points in the third, helping OA take the quarter 17-13 and extend the lead to six. Hager, who had her best game since her return from injury, nailed another pair of threes to keep Sharon in the game. The fourth quarter was a shootout. Derba added another six points and the Tigers went 13-of-15 from the free throw line to score 21 points. Davis was proving unstoppable on the other end, scoring 13 of her game-high 32 in the fourth, as the Eagles scored 20 as a team. Davis knocked down a pair of threes and was 9-of-11 from the line on the night, while also grabbing 24 rebounds. Derba scored 19 to lead OA. Hilliard added 15 points and six steals and Gamble had 12 points and seven boards. Hager scored 19 for the Eagles, grabbed five boards, and dished out three assists.
Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 69 @ King Philip, 66 – Final (OT) – Attleboro junior Neo Franco exploded for a career-high 38 points, including a clutch three-pointer with under a minute to go in overtime to help the Bombardiers return home with a hard-fought win over King Philip. A layup from KP sophomore Tommy McLeish gave the Warriors a 65-63 lead but Franco took an extra pass from freshman Connor Houle and sank a three from the corner to give Attleboro a 66-65 lead with 49.1 seconds to play. Franco and KP’s Tommy Martorano each hit a free throw before Attleboro sophomore Hayden Crowley hit two from the line with 7.5 seconds left. KP got off a look before the buzzer to tie it but it was off the mark. Franco had a quiet first quarter (two points) but got it going with a trio of triples in the second and had 15 points at half. After just one three in the third, he scored 20 points between the second half and overtime to lead Attleboro to the win. Crowley finished with 10 points and Justin Hanrahan hit three three-pointers in the third, helping Attleboro turn a 26-25 halftime deficit into a 42-39 lead going into the fourth. KP senior Will Laplante scored 10 of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter, Martorano finished with 15 points, and senior Grant Kinney had 12.
Stoughton, 51 @ Canton, 63 – Final – Canton juniors Zaza Francoeur and Jeremiah Predin combined for eight of Canton’s 11 made three-pointers and the Bulldogs pulled away in the second half for a win over neighboring Stoughton. Francoeur hit five threes on his way to a career-high 23 points while Predin had three triples and finished with 13 points. Canton staked a 34-28 lead at halftime and doubled up on the Black Knights (14-7) in the third to create a double-digit advantage. Stoughton senior Obi Dike dropped a career-high 24 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Foxboro, 64 @ Sharon, 68 – Final – Sharon senior Dante James had a key three-point play with under a minute to go and finished with a team-high 21 points to help the Eagles land another close win over Foxboro. The visiting Warriors led at each of the first two quarters, 15-12 after one and 32-28 at halftime. Junior Jacob McLoughlin scored half of his 18 points in the third, Matt Baur and James each had four, Tyler Goodman added a three, and Nate Katznelson and Sam Letendre chipped in points from the free throw line to help Sharon pull even, 50-50, going into the fourth. The Eagles were limited to just two field goals in the fourth, including James’ big one on a leak out on an inbounds play, but also went 14-for-15 from the line in the final eight minutes to ice the win. Foxboro senior Alex Penders had a team-high 20 points while Sam Golub chipped in with 12 points for the Warriors.
Franklin, 75 @ Taunton, 50 – Final – Taunton didn’t have an answer for Franklin’s Sean O’Leary as the junior erupted for a career-high 35 points to lead the Panthers to a win on the road. The win clinches the Kelley-Rex division title for Franklin, the first since 2016. O’Leary hit 16 shots from the floor — 14 from two-point range and a pair of threes — and had just one free throw to finish with 35 points. He scored nine in the first, 11 in the second, six in the third, and nine more in the fourth quarter. Franklin increased its lead throughout the game leading 11-8 after one and 32-24 at halftime. An 18-point third quarter extended the lead and Franklin closed strong with 25 points in the fourth. Justin Allen hit four threes and finished with 14 points to go along with 13 rebounds, and Andrew O’Neill added 11 points for the Panthers. Troy Santos led Taunton with 16 points, Chris Perault added 15 points, and Jakari Innocent finished with 11 points.
Mansfield, 74 @ Oliver Ames, 60 – Final – The Hornets built a big lead early but needed a dominant fourth quarter to shake an upset-minded Oliver Ames squad. Mansfield opened the game on a 12-0 run and had a 28-11 advantage after a quarter, but the Tigers clawed back into it and got within five (42-37) at the break. A three-pointer from Davon Sanders late in the third quarter handed the Hornets a 59-50 lead going into the fourth and Mansfield pulled away for the win. Sanders finished with a career-high 24 points along with six rebounds, Eddie McCoy added 12 points and five assists, and Chris Hill chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. OA sophomore Cole Craffey caught fire in the second, hitting four of his seven threes in the period while Jake Willard added two more and Jacob Lok sank one, resulting in a 26-point quarter from OA. Craffey finished with a career-high 28 points while freshman Soren Lolonga added 10 points.
Girls Basketball
King Philip, 48 @ Attleboro, 61 – Final – Attleboro outscored KP 15-7 in the fourth quarter, turning a five-point game into a double digit win and keeping the Bombardiers one back of Franklin in the league standings. The hosts jumped out to a 10-point lead after one. Lily Routhier scored eight of her 11 points in the opening quarter and Kayla Goldrick added five more. Maddie Paschke scored eight points in the first for KP, but the Warriors found themselves down 23-13. The Warriors closed the gap in the second with Kaelyn Clancy knocking down a pair of threes and the Warriors outscoring Attleboro 14-8. The third quarter was nearly even, as Attleboro added one point to its advantage. In the fourth, Attleboro got a spark from Rylie Camacho, who just returned from injury and scored six of her eight points in the final frame. Goldrick led all scorers with 17, while Avery James added 10 and Vanessa Ellis scored eight. Attleboro made six threes as a team. Paschke was KP’s top scorer with 13. Emily Sawyer scored 10, Clancy had a career-high 11, and Jackie Bonner had six points. KP hit seven threes as a team in the loss.
Canton, 23 @ Stoughton, 29 – Final – Raina Tat scored 11 points to help Stoughton pull out a defensive struggle against Canton. Tat added four rebounds and three steals for the Black Knights. Leah McCarty added eight points and four boards and Kirsten McKay had six points for Stoughton. Katrina Varnum chipped in with 10 rebounds and a pair of steals.
Sharon, 43 @ Foxboro, 72 – Final – Kailey Sullivan had another big game for the Warriors, scoring 23 points, and Foxboro remains unbeaten in league play. Camryn Collins added 17 points, Erin Foley scored 14, and Addie Ruter had 10 in another balanced attack for the Davenport division champions.
Taunton, 32 @ Franklin, 57 – Final – Caelyn Leonard scored a career-high 21 points and Franklin turned up its defensive pressure over the final three quarters to earn the big win and stay one game in front of Attleboro in the Kelley-Rex title race. The game was tied at 13 apiece after the first quarter. Leonard got off to a quick start, scoring seven points, while Cali Melo paced the Tigers with five points over the first eight minutes. Franklin broke things open in the second, outscoring Taunton 19-7. In the third, the Panthers were even tougher on defense, holding Taunton to just four points. Leonard came up big again, scoring eight of Franklin’s 16 in the quarter, as they made it a 24-point lead heading to the fourth. Lizzie Newman scored 10 points and Katie Peterson had eight for the Panthers. Melo led Taunton with eight, while Chelsea Bousquet and Tarynn Campbell each scored seven.
Oliver Ames, 45 @ Mansfield, 57 – Final – The Hornets scored 32 points in the second half to turn a one-point halftime lead into a 12-point win, ending a two-game losing streak and keeping Mansfield in second place in the Davenport. Mansfield’s Abby Wager scored 18 points in the second half, on her way to a game-high 29. Wager opened the game with six points to help the Hornets take an 11-9 lead. Sarah Hilliard had five points to help OA stay within two. The Tigers cut the lead in half in the second, as Kaydance Derba buried a pair of threes and Avery Gamble added three more points. Kara Santos had seven in the frame for Mansfield and Wager had five. Wager caught fire in the third, hitting a pair of threes and scoring 10 of Mansfield’s 16 points. Wager added eight more in the fourth, half of Mansfield’s total, and Olivia Salisbury went 3-for-3 at the line to put the game away. Santos scored 16 and Ella Palanza chipped in with six. Kamryn Derba had 13 of her team-high 18 and Gamble had eight of her 11 in the second half to try and keep the Tigers close. Hilliard and Kaydance Derba each finished with seven points.
