Attleboro Shutout in Semifinal By Top Seeded Lakers

Attleboro's Nate Tellier struck out nine and allowed just two hits in the Bombardiers' loss. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
Attleboro’s Nate Tellier struck out nine and allowed just two hits in the Bombardiers’ loss. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
BRAINTREE, Mass. – Heading into the D1 South Semifinal, the Attleboro Blue Bombardiers knew that would have to play nearly flawless if they wanted to upset top-seeded Silver Lake and Gatorade Player of the Year, pitching Anthony Videtto.

Unfortunately, Attleboro had things go wrong at inopportune times and the Bombardiers suffered a 3-0 loss to Videtto and the Lakers in the D1 South Semifinal.

Silver Lake scored single runs in the first, third and fifth innings while Attleboro was unable to get a base runner past second base.

“We couldn’t generate a couple hits in a row and then we had some base running mistakes that we don’t normally make and couple errors,” Attleboro head coach Matt Bosh said. “You can’t do that against that against good teams. Unfortunately, the three kids that scored for them, all got on by walks. So with the errors, the base running mistakes, against a good team like that, that’s going to burn you.”

Nate Tellier was strong on the mound in a six-inning complete game effort, tossing a two-hitter with nine strikeouts. But Silver Lake was patient, drawing six walks – three of which led to runs.

Attleboro’s Tyler Stowe roped a one-out single in the top of the first inning but Videtto came back, getting a strike out looking and Lakers’ catcher Greg Wozniak fired to second for the double play.

A lead off walk from Will Gallagher to open the bottom of the first quickly turned into a scoring opportunity for Silver Lake when he stole second. Dan Collins ripped an 0-2 pitch into right field, bringing Gallagher in for a 1-0 lead.

The Bombardiers were unable to capitalize on a lead off walk in the top of the second, grounding in a 5-4-3 double play. And then Videtto worked around a two-out single in the third.

Videtto drew a lead off walk in the bottom of the third and quickly got into scoring position by stealing second. The senior then took off for third and the throw from home skipped into third. Videtto sprinted in for the Lakers’ second run as the throw from left sailed high.

Attleboro had a base runner in every single inning, including Will Carter reaching second on a one out error in the fourth. But Videtto locked in with a strikeout and a routine grounder to short to get out of the inning. Stowe collected his second hit of the game to lead off the sixth but a line out to center turned into a double play with the throw to first for the out.

Silver Lake added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Back to back walks to Gallagher and Videtto preceded an infield hit from Collins to load the bases with no outs. After Tellier induced a pop up in foul play to first, Lakers head coach Kenny Tocci elected for a squeeze play. Jack Ruprecht placed a perfectly hit bunt for a ground out RBI, right between Tellier and third baseman Robbie Araujo, allowing Gallagher to scamper in.

“I don’t know if he felt 100%,” Bosh said of Tellier. Tellier had pitched back to back extra inning games, the most recent a week ago. Videtto had yet to pitch in the postseason. “He didn’t have his normal velocity and control. I think he was really trying to get a lot of turn in his body to make up for the velocity. He changed his mechanics a little but that kid battles. He wasn’t 100% but he went out and threw a two-hitter against the top seed, so hats off, hats off to all the kids.”

“You’ve gotta get the runs when you can, [Tellier’s] an excellent pitcher,” Tocci said. “We knew that coming in. He had something like 65 strikeouts in 35 innings [in the regular season]. We knew we would have to do some unconventional things to get runs across, we stole third when he wasn’t looking and the squeeze. You have to push runners across when you can.”

Tellier struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth, all looking, and gave the Bombardiers the momentum heading into the top of the seventh, and they nearly capitalized.

Araujo’s grounder got through at second base for a one out hit. Pinch hitter Nolan Kane took four straight balls to put two on and bring the tying run to the plate. Videtto got a strikeout for the second out, bringing Attleboro second baseman Cam Hochwarter to the plate. Hochwarter connected on a 1-2 pitch, launching the hardest hit ball of the day to left center field but Silver Lake’s Aidan O’Neil made the running catch just mere feet from the fence for the final out.

“We battled all year,” beamed Bosh. “We were 7-9 and we finished off 13-10, so there’s absolutely nothing to hang your head about.”

Attleboro finishes the season 13-10 overall, winning seven of their last nine games.

Ryan Lanigan can be contacted at RyanLanigan@hockomocksports.com and followed on Twitter at @R_Lanigan.

Kane, Attleboro Walk-off Into D1 South Semifinal

ByJarettLeonard_2016FollowJarettLeonard_2016
 
 
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Despite struggling to generate offense for the majority of the game, Attleboro delivered in two key moments to capture a 2-1 win in walk-off fashion over Brookline in the D1 South quarterfinal on Monday.

After surrendering the game’s first run to the Warriors in the top of the fourth, the Bombardiers answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning. With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, senior Nolan Kane was called upon as a pinch hitter and drove a ball to deep center field that sailed over the defense and allowed the winning run to score from third.

“We’ve been an opportunistic offense all year,” Attleboro coach Matt Bosh said. “The kids keep battling. We have 11 seniors who are playing their hearts out and don’t want to play their last game. We just keep fighting and we keep playing.”

Attleboro sophomore designated hitter Dakota Kirby led off the seventh inning with a double to right center field. Third baseman Robbie Araujo then grounded back to the pitcher, moving Kirby to third on the fielder’s choice. Kane then pinch hit, and after fouling off a number of pitches, delivered the game-winning hit.

“He tears the cover off the ball in practice, so I gave him a shot,” Bosh said. “Nobody else was having any success today. Top of the lineup, bottom of the lineup, nobody else was doing anything. He has hit the ball well in practice all year, give him a shot, he’s a senior. There’s nothing to lose, like I said, nobody else is doing anything.”

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Jon Dunn reached on an error for Attleboro’s first base runner of the game off of Brookline freshman pitcher Josh Richardson. With Tyler Stowe at the plate, Dunn faked as if he was going to steal, forcing the second baseman to cover the bag and allowing Stowe’s grounder to the right side to sneak through for a single. Nate Tellier then lined a single up the middle, scoring Dunn from second and tying the game.

Attleboro junior pitcher Tyler McGovern went the distance for the win, allowing just one run on eight hits with seven strikeouts. Three singles in the fourth inning accounted for the only Brookline run, with Mitchell Schroeder driving in Reo Shimbori. A second runner attempted to score on the play, but Attleboro catcher Will Carter applied a tag at the plate to keep it a one run deficit.

“They’re a tough team,” Bosh said. “They played well defensively and they had scrappy little hitters up there. They had a ton of chances and Tyler buckled down when he had to and got the outs.”

Richardson retired the first nine batters he faced in the game and missed the zone with only three pitches in doing so. After Attleboro’s run in the fourth, he again set down nine of the next ten Bombardiers before the walk-off hit in the seventh inning. While only striking out two, Richardson allowed just five hits and one earned run, and his command of the strike zone early in the game led to his success.

“He’s good,” Bosh said. “That sidearm delivery, he was pounding that outside corner first pitch all day and we just couldn’t solve him.”

After two one-run wins to begin the D1 South Sectional tournament, Attleboro baseball will now face #1 Silver Lake in the semifinal round on a date and time to be announced as of publishing. Attleboro’s schedule will be updated as soon as a date, time and location are announced.

Tellier Lifts Attleboro To Upset Win Over Norwood

Nate Tellier
Attleboro senior Nate Tellier slides in safely for the game’s only run in the top of the ninth inning. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
NORWOOD, Mass. – Norwood senior left handed pitcher and Bay State Conference Herget Division MVP Sean Mellen was at the top of his game on Thursday afternoon as the fifth seeded Mustangs hosted #12 Attleboro.

But Attleboro senior righty Nate Tellier was better.

Tellier out-dueled the Northeastern-commit, tossing a complete game shutout and scored the game’s only run in the top of the ninth inning as the Bombardiers scored a 1-0 upset win over Norwood in nine innings.

The Bombardiers threatened with a pair of hits in the top of the first inning, but it wasn’t until the top of the ninth when they finally got another hit. Tellier hit a one out dribbler up the third base line, forcing a high throw and allowing the senior to advance to second. He then stole third, his fourth stolen base of the game. After Will Carter was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, sophomore Dakota Kirby made contact with the third pitch he saw.

Tellier took off from third, sprinting down the line as Mellen came off the mound and looked to field the ball. Tellier slid around the catcher, slapping his left hand down onto the plate well before a tag attempt to give the Bombardiers a 1-0 lead.

“He’s been with me for four years, I trust him,” Attleboro head coach Matt Bosh said of Tellier’s decision to race home. “I trust him with the steals, I just tell him to make a read and make a play. I trust him to do what he wants to do on the bases.”

“If it was hard contact, I wasn’t going to go, but I just read it and I hoped for the best,” Tellier said.

The senior came back out to pitch the bottom of the ninth, noting that there was no chance he was going to come out of the game at that point. Tellier recorded two straight outs — a ground out back to the mound and his 11th strikeout of the game — before allowing just the third Norwood hit of the game. The game ended with Tellier inducing a grounder to third, where Robbie Araujo for the final out.

Araujo recorded his fifth assist with the final out, with Tellier noting “I trust him with my life” to get the out.

“Mellen is one of the top pitchers in the state of Massachusetts, and he’s known as one of top pitchers,” Bosh said. “Nate Tellier isn’t known, but now, this should put him on the map. That’s two of the best pitchers in the state. It’s a shame these two teams have to play in the first round.”

Jon Dunn led of the game for Attleboro with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Tyler Stowe. Tellier singled to put runners on the corners. Dunn got caught in a run down between third and home on an infield hit and Tellier moved to third. Mellen got out of the inning with his first of 13 strikeouts.

Tellier kept Norwood hitless for the first five innings, only allowing three base runners (two walks, hit by pitch). Norwood’s first hit came with two outs in the sixth when Michael James found space through the right side. A stolen base, wild pitch and a walk put runners on the corner but once again, Tellier induced a weak grounder and Araujo charged, making a perfect throw to first to get the out.

Norwood threatened again in the bottom of the seventh behind a lead off single and a sacrifice bunt. But Tellier wasn’t bothered, getting a ground out to Araujo at third and then getting his ninth strikeout of the game to escape the inning.

“The last two days I was a little scared, going up against a Northeastern commit, that’s all I was thinking about,” Tellier admitted. “But then when I got here, I just told myself that my pitching isn’t affected by his pitching. I just treated it like a normal game and it turned out well.”

‘It turned out well’ is a vast understatement by the modest Tellier, who has allowed just three earned runs through 44 innings this season. Tellier pitched a no-hitter against North Attleboro in an eight innings on Monday. He now has 27 strikeouts in his last two starts and 24 straight scoreless innings.

“Plus he reached four times, four stolen bases, scored the winning run,” Bosh added. “The kid is just a baseball player.”

It was a little bit of revenge for the Bombardiers, who were upset two years ago as the two seed by the Mustangs,in the D1 South Semifinals in a 14 inning thriller. Tellier played in that game and Stowe pitched 11 shutout innings in the game. Other seniors were involved, watching from the dugout at Adams Field in Quincy. It was certainly on the minds of the players and coaches today.

“We talked about it and talked about seizing the opportunities when you have them,” Bosh said. “This felt good against these guys because they got us two years ago. They’re a great team. he’s a great coach. It’s just a shame we had to meet in round one.”

“We knew they won in extra innings last time, as the away team,” Tellier said. “We were the away team this time so it was our turn.”

Attleboro baseball, as a 12 seed, will now host its next game after #13 Brookline upset #4 Taunton in extra innings. The Bombardiers will host the Warriors on Monday at 4:00.

Ryan Lanigan can be contacted at RyanLanigan@hockomocksports.com and followed on Twitter at @R_Lanigan.

Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/25/16

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Attleboro, 6 vs. Bishop Feehan, 5 – Final (8 inn.) – Attleboro rallied from a five run deficit, scoring four runs in the fifth inning and tying the game with a run in the sixth inning. Tyler Stowe brought in the game-winning run, his third RBI of the day, drawing a walk in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded. Will Carter, Brent Cook, John Burns and Cam Hochwarter each had two hits apiece for Big Blue. James Weir came on in relief for Attleboro, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings without giving up a hit.

North Attleboro, 4 @ Foxboro, 0 – FinalClick here for a recap of the game.

King Philip, 4 @ North Quincy, 1 – Final

Mansfield, 6 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 4 – Final – The Hornets concluded the season by winning their fourth game in the last five, upsetting a tournament bound Trojans squad. Sophomore Tyler Dalton earned the win in six innings of work, striking out one. Jack Neureuter came on to get the save, pitching the seventh inning. Zach Peterson with 2-4 with a pair of RBI singles, Jake Tryder was 2-4 with an RBI single, Colin Gibbons had a pair of hits and an RBI and Max Boen went 1-3 with a squeeze bunt RBI.

Taunton, 10 @ New Bedford, 2 – Final – Sophomore Jacob Crawford broke open a scoreless game with a two-out, two-run double in the top of the fourth. Crawford, along with Kevin Griffin, Luke Figueira, Christian Simoes and Joe Manchester each had two hits. Max Bowden pitched four shutout innings for the Tigers, scattering three hits while striking out three.

Softball
Attleboro @ Bishop Feehan, 3:30

Stoughton @ King Philip, 3:30

Taunton, 3 vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 2 – Final – Taunton experienced a taste of the tournament with a close win over a talented Dighton-Rehoboth team. Aimee Kistner knocked in Jaime Brown in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Tigers the walk off win. Brown’s lead off walk preceded a single from Jordan Wade. Kistner singled up the middle to bring Brown home for the winning run. Wade went 2-3, scoring the Tigers’ first two runs while Meghan Navarro was 2-3, recording Taunton’s first two RBI. Kya Enos went 2-3 while Brown reached base three times via a walk. Kistner earned her 14th win of the of the season, tossing a complete game, scattering five hits and striking out five.

Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 4 @ Canton, 14 – Final – Canton freshman Mike Shaw paced the Bulldogs’ offense with four goals and two assists for a team-best six points. Senior Nick Gustafson netted his first career goal while CJ Martin, a converted midfielder, made two saves in the cage in the fourth quarter.

Foxboro, 4 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Foxboro did all of its scoring in the first half, building a 4-0 lead just before the midway point of the second quarter and held off King Philip the rest of the way. Anthony Truini set of both of KP’s goals in the second quarter while Sam Agricola had a goal and an assist and Harry Fallon found the back of the net twice. Conor Khung had a strong game defensively, Steven Eaton recorded seven ground balls and Paul Macrina made 12 saves in net for KP.

Franklin, 7 vs. Dover-Sherborn, 8 – Final

Oliver Ames, 2 @ Mansfield, 15 – Final

Taunton, 4 @ Bristol Plymouth, 8 – Final – Andrew Wellington netted a hat trick for Taunton while Tommy Joyce scored once. Kyle Hebert added a pair of assists for the Tigers.

Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 15 @ Attleboro, 9 – Final – Mary Nee and Mary Kent scored scored four goals apiece, leading the Bulldogs to a win. With the victory, Canton punched their ticket to the postseason.

King Philip, 13 @ Foxboro, 15 – Final – Click here for a recap of the game.

Milford, 3 @ Franklin, 21 – Final – Sophomore Kate Morse found the back of the cage twice and had four draw controls for the Panthers. Abby Egan added two goals and two assists and Shannon D’Arcangelo registered a hat trick in the win.

Mansfield, 18 @ Oliver Ames, 10 – Final

Sharon, 7 @ North Attleboro, 17 – Final – Erin Holley totaled nine points and Hannah Caster recorded five assists for North Attleboro. Brooke Ebert recorded 15 saves in the cage for the Rocketeers.

Taunton, 12 @ Bristol Plymouth, 2 – Final – Taunton finished its inaugural season with a win on the road at BP. Abbey Kingman and Annie Tate each scored a hat trick to pace Taunton’s offense while Layne Kingman scored once and had four assists. Tatum Speicher, Lindsay Sneyd, Bre Conlon, Hannah Moniz and Alexis Bissonnette each found the back of the net once.

Boys Tennis
Canton, 5 @ Quincy, 0 – Final

North Attleboro, 5 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – The Rocketeers won three matches comfortably but needed three sets to win the final two matches. Mitchell Dyer won 6-2, 6-3 at first singles and Barsomo Nuay won 6-0, 6-1 at third singles. The team of Jake Fontes and Daniel Zhang won 7-6, 6-2 at second singles. Zack Pfeffer won 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (12-10) at second singles and the team of Jeff Yao and Nick Lockavitch won 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-5) at first doubles for North Attleboro.

King Philip, 5 @ Walpole, 0 – Final

Mansfield vs. Hingham, 4:00

Milford, 1 @ Hopedale, 4 – Final

Oliver Ames, 2 @ Brockton, 3 – Final

Sharon, 4 vs. Bishop Feehan, 1 – Final – The Eagles won at second and third singles and swept doubles play to get their 18th win of the season. Sophomore Fred Bondar won 6-2, 6-2 at second singles and Han Cui won 6-0, 6-1 at third singles. The team of Adam Dobbin and Alex Romantz won 6-1, 6-1 at first doubles and Tilak Mehta and Danujan Thirumavalavan won 6-3, 6-2 at second doubles.

Taunton, 5 @ New Bedford, 0 – Final – Taunton finished their season with a sweep on the road against the Whalers. Brett Beaulieu won 6-2 6-0 at first singles, Charlie Fiske won 6-1 6-3 at second singles and Mike Briggs won 6-1 6-1 at third singles. Tom Morrissey and Connor Briggs won 6-0, 6-0 at first doubles and Kyle Medas and Zack Taylor won 6-0, 6-2 at second doubles.

Girls Tennis
Canton, 5 vs. Milton, 0 – Final

Foxboro, 3 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final

King Philip vs. Walpole, 3:45

Milford, 1 vs. Hopedale, 4 – Final

Oliver Ames, 4 vs. Brockton, 1 – Final – The Tigers got wins at second and third singles and swept doubles for the win. Jackie Sulkala won 6-1, 6-3 at second singles and Sarah Leger won 6-1, 6-1 at third singles. Lark Warner and Valeria Tueme won 6-2, 6-4 at first doubles and Claudia Ferrara and Rachel Stryke won 6-0, 6-0 at second doubles for OA.

Taunton, 5 @ New Bedford, 0 – Final

Hornets Stay Alive with Walk-Off Against Attleboro

Mansfield baseball
Players rush the plate after Max Boen scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Lance Reynolds, HockomockSports.com Contributor

BROCKTON, Mass. – Just win one game at a time.

That’s what the mindset of the Mansfield baseball team has been this past week while holding a slim chance of earning a ticket to the tournament. So far, the mindset has paid dividends as the Hornets have knocked off two straight wins including Wednesday night’s 2-1 walk-off victory against Attleboro at Campanelli Stadium.

“The last week we’ve came in knowing that we have to win out. We’re 5-10, and we’ve had to win our last five games,” Mansfield coach Joe Breen said. “We’re sitting here two down, three to go. We’ve got a very tough opponent in Lynn Classical tomorrow. The theme of the rest of the season has been: ‘Just go 1-0 every day,’ and we showed up today just trying to go 1-0.”

With the score tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, it certainly appeared as if the Bombardiers and Hornets were heading to extra innings. However, it took just two batters for the outcome to result in Mansfield’s favor.

Junior shortstop Max Boen drew a leadoff walk and decided to risk the Hornets’ fate with a stolen base. The risk was well-worth the reward as Boen beat out the force attempt at second. Two pitches later, junior centerfielder Zach Peterson dropped down a bunt in front of the mound with Boen in motion.

On Tyler McGovern’s throw to first, Boen decided again to risk things and dash towards home. Bombardier first baseman Nate Tellier threw it to catcher Dakota Kirby, but Boen got in on time for the game-winning run and was swarmed by his Mansfield teammates.

“Well, Max needs to relearn the signs,” Breen chuckled. “But either way, he was in – I think he got under the tag. We planned on bunting him over for the other guys in the lineup to knock him in. As soon as he got on second, Zach Peterson and I had a quick little conversation about laying one down more so for a hit, and less so for a sacrifice to put a little more pressure on those guys. Luckily, it all worked out.”

In addition to delivering the walk-off bunt, Peterson scored the game’s opening run in the bottom of the first for the Hornets. Peterson reached base on a leadoff single to left field, wound up on second on a sacrifice bunt off Aidan Cahill’s bat, and eventually came around to score on a fielder’s choice.

Hits were hard to come by in a pitchers’ duel that offered two of the best pitchers in the Hockomock in the form of Attleboro’s Tyler McGovern and Mansfield’s Tyler Dalton. Both starters tossed complete games for their respective teams.

After giving up the run in the first, McGovern found his rhythm and allowed the Hornets to reach third base just once until the final inning. The right-hander retired the side in the second and sixth innings on his way to allowing four hits while striking out two.

“He pitched outstanding,” Attleboro coach Matt Bosh said of McGovern. “He did everything – he got ahead of hitters, he got out of jams. He had all of his pitches going for strikes, he had an outstanding game.”

Stymied by Dalton and not successfully placing a runner on base through the first three innings, Attleboro started the fourth inning with three consecutive singles. Jon Dunn and Tyler Stowe stroked singles to left field to put two runners on base, and then converted a double-steal putting runners on second and third with no outs. Dunn came across and tied the score at one on a Tellier single to right.

Dalton, who has been labeled as the Hornets’ “ace” this season, retired the side in the first, second, third, and seventh innings. The sophomore struck out five while issuing no walks on six hits.

“He just keeps showing up. We’re a different team with him on the mound right now,” Breen said of Dalton. “We’re just trying to live one day at a time and stay alive so we can give ourselves a chance to get in the tournament to put him on the mound and ride his coattails. He’s been phenomenal his last four outings. He’s been putting us on his back, that’s for sure.”

Dalton was backed up by a strong Mansfield defense which killed several Attleboro threats. In the second inning, Kirby drilled a liner into the right field corner, but was gunned down at second by Jake Tryder. With an opportunity to take the lead in the fourth, as there were runners on second and third, Matt Callahan was robbed by a leaping Tyrone Pascual. In the fifth, the Hornets turned a double play started by Boen at short to erase a leadoff single.

“I feel like on senior nights, these guys get a little bit added motivation,” Breen said. “Our seniors certainly showed up today; Tyrone with that great catch – that’s a run right there that he saves, Tryder – that’s a huge play early on in the game to keep the guy off second base. Again, seniors stepping up late in the season on this run right here.”

Mansfield (6-9 in league-play, 7-10 overall) looks to carry over their one-day-at-a-time momentum when they travel to take on Lynn Classical on Thursday night. Attleboro (7-7 in league-play, 7-9 overall) looks to get back into the win column on Friday when they travel to Dartmouth.

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/16/16

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
King Philip, 0 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Senior Nate Tellier was masterful on the mound for the Bombardiers in a complete game shutout. Tellier struck out 13 batters while allowing just one hit to keep the Kelley-Rex leading King Philip Warriors at bay. At the plate Tellier had a pair of hits. Freshman Dakota Kirby was a perfect 3-3 for Attleboro, having an RBI single in the fifth inning that made it 2-0. Senior Tyler Stowe have Attleboro the lead two at bats prior, singling in Brent Cook.

Milford, 14 @ Canton, 6 – Final

Foxboro, 0 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Stoughton junior Ryan Sullivan had one of his best outings of the year on the mound for the Black Knights, striking out 10 in a complete game shutout. Sullivan scattered five hits with just one walk and didn’t allow a run. The Black Knights’ offense cashed in in the bottom of the third. After Doug Seaman singles and stole second, Jack Connelly knocked in his team-leading 16th run of the season with a two-out single. Seaman went 2-3 and Connelly reached base twice with a stolen base.

Taunton, 2 @ Franklin, 6 – Final – Franklin turned a two run lead in the fourth inning to a comfortable cushion in a league win over Taunton. Nick Santucci connected for a two-out RBI triple in the inning, finishing the game 3-4 with a run. Jake Lyons added two RBI while Joe Corsi was 2-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Josh Macchi added two hits, including a double, and scored a run for the Panthers. Sophomore Jason Ulrickson was solid on the mound in a complete game effort, scattering five hits while walking one to get the win. Ulrickson struck out four with just one walk. Taunton’s Kevin Griffin went 2-3 with an RBI while Luke Figueira (2-3) and Joe Manchester (1-3) each scored a run for the Tigers.

North Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – North Attleboro’s Andy Katch had no-hit Mansfield through five innings but the Hornets were finally able to break through in the sixth inning. Aidan Cahill got the team’s first hit with a one out single and Mike Arnold was hit by a pitch to reach. A sacrifice fly from Tyrone Pascual advanced the runners and Jake Tryder connected for a two-RBI double to score the only runs of the game. Jake Neureuter got the win for Mansfield, allowing just three hits in a complete game shutout. Neureuter struck out three and issued three walks in the win.

Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final (8 inn.) – Oliver Ames walked off with a win for the second straight game and seniors Josh Minuskin and Ryan Adams were right in the middle of it. After Minuskin’s home run tied the game on Friday against Mansfield, he led of the bottom of the eighth inning with a single. Two wild pitches later, Minuskin was at third and Adams, who scored the winning run on Friday, knocked in the winning run. Senior Zach Sato pitched a two-hit shutout complete game for Oliver Ames, striking out four. Sharon sophomore starter Max Tarlin pitched seven scoreless innings for the Eagles.

Softball
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final

Canton, 1 @ Milford, 12 – Final – Milford’s Ali Atherton carried a no hitter through the sixth inning before the Bulldogs’ offense broke through. Atherton finished with eight strikeouts in a complete game to get the win. Offensively, freshman Emily Hartman had his first career home run for the Scarlet Hawks, blasting a two run shot. Jess Tomaso was 2/2 with a pair of walks and two RBI while Kaitlyn DeCapua was 2-4 with an RBI.

Stoughton, 5 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Stoughton scored all five runs in the fifth inning and held off a Foxboro four-run rally in the seventh. Bri Fernandez, Karly Estremera, and Gina Carafa each had two hits for the Black Knights. Shannon Flaherty threw a complete game with six strikeouts to pick up the win.

Taunton, 6 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – The Tigers’ offense cashed in in the fifth and sixth innings to get the win over the Panthers. Taunton scored four runs in the fifth and then tacked on two more in the sixth inning while Franklin scored twice in the seventh. Aimee Kistner got her 11th win of the season, striking out five while scattering four hits in a complete game effort. Kistner also paced the offense, going 4-4 with a pair of RBI while Jordan Wade was 3-3 with a triple, a walk and an RBI. Jaime Brown went 1-2 for the Tigers with a sac bunt, a walk and an RBI and Kya Enos added a double and an RBI. Allie Shea went 1-2 for Franklin with a pair of walks and knocked in both of the Panthers’ runs.

Mansfield, 2 @ North Attleboro, 6 – Final The Rocketeers turned to small ball to get its offense going, plating all six runs in the fifth inning. With one out in the inning, North Attleboro had eight straight batters reach and it resulted in six runs. Big Red had a pair of infield hits and a pair of bunt singles to get the offense going. Kaylea Sherman and Megan Barlow each went 2-3 at the plate for North while Gina Miceli was a perfect 3-3. Amelia Murphy struck out nine in a complete game effort for the Rocketeers. Mansfield responded with its two runs in top of the sixth off of four hits. Marissa Staffier went 1-2, Megan Letendre was 2-3, Mady Bendanillo went 1-3 with an RBI and Maddie Letendre was 1-2 with an RBI. Maddie Letendre struck out 10 batters while allowing seven hits for Mansfield.

Oliver Ames, 14 @ Sharon, 10 – Final – The Oliver Ames Tigers belted out 17 hits on the day, using its offense to best Sharon. Victoria Ziner was 3-5 with two RBI, including a home run, and two runs scored, Katie Pursley went 4-4 with four RBI, including a pair of home runs and a triple and scoring two runs for OA. Jamie Gottwald was 3-5 with a triple an RBI and three runs scored, Rachel Han scored three runs and Dalene Gomes (2-5) and Emma Papargiris (1-4, two RBI) each had a triple and scored for OA while Caroline Mahoney (2-5) also had an RBI and a run scored for the Tigers.

Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 1 @ North Attleboro, 7 – Final

Canton, 11 vs. Abington, 8 – Final – Canton built a 3-0 lead and that was all the separation that the Bulldogs needed to beat Abington. Shaun Kirby was the driving force behind the offense, registering a hat trick and adding a trio of assists in teh win. Thomas Monagle and Kevin Albert returned to net a goal each while Dan Nadeau stretched his goal scoring streak to two games. Canton got a boost from sophomore Charlie O’Connor, who dominated at the faceoff X for the Bulldogs.

Foxboro, 3 vs. Wayland, 8 – Final

King Philip, 6 @ Franklin, 13 – Final

Milford, 0 vs. Nipmuc, 19 – Final

Taunton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 13 – Final – Oliver Ames kept its playoff hopes alive, moving within two wins of a postseason berth with the shutout win. Senior attack Matt Gilson had three goals and three assists, senior Middie Max Bamford had two goals and one assist, senior middie Aidan Connly added a pair of goals and one assist, senior middie Connor Howe had a goal and an assist and senior middie Mike Sullivan scored once. OA Senior goalie Jake Aronson had the shutout in the cage.

Sharon, 14 vs. Westwood, 22 – Final

Girls Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 19 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – It was a day of milestones for North Attleboro in a non-league win over rival Attleboro. Hana Caster found the back of the net for the 200th time in her career while teammate Erin Holley notched her 100th career goal in the win.

Canton, 13 @ Milton, 8 – Final – Canton head coach Chrissy O’Connor praised the defense of Lauren Peplau and Tessa Cudmore, saying they played excellent in the Bulldogs’ win. Lindsey Nolte paced the offense, potting four goals for Canton.

Foxboro, 19 @ Sharon, 11 – Final

King Philip @ Hopkinton, 3:45

Mansfield @ Bishop Feehan, 3:30

Milford @ Nipmuc – Postponed to 5/26 to 3:45 at Milford

Boys Tennis
King Philip, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – The Warriors of King Philip took care of business in singles play and got another win at doubles to beat Attleboro. Cole Ginter won 6-0, 6-2 at first singles, Garrett Schneider won 6-1, 6-1 at second doubles and Blake Ginter took a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at third singles. Justin Rohan and Marco DiStefano won 6-1, 6-0 at second doubles for KP. Attleboro’s Zain Yusuf and Shaun Gordon battled for a 7-5, 6-4 win at first singles.

Milford @ Canton, 4:00

Foxboro, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final

Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – It was a clean sweep for Franklin, who won all five matches in straight sets. Rahul Herur won 6-2, 6-1 at first singles, Eli Brooks ton 6-2, 6-0 at second singles and Dan Barrow won 6-3, 6-2 at third singles. Cam Piana and James Johnston took home a 6-1, 6-1 win at first doubles and Tyler DiPalma and Derek Wu won 6-0, 6-1 at second doubles.

North Attleboro, 4 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Junior Zack Pfeffer handled his match at second singles and classmate Barsomo Nuay battled for a three set win at third singles to lead Big Red. Pfeffer won 6-2, 6-2 while Nuay got a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win. Doubles teams of Jeff Yao and Nick Lockavitch (6-2, 6-3) and Jake Fontes and Daniel Zhang (6-3, 6-3) each won at first and second doubles respectively. Mansfield junior Benny Lin earned a 6-4, 6-2 at first singles for the Hornets’ lone win.

Sharon, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – After a weekend at the MIAA individual tournament, Sharon had an adjusted lineup but still clinched a win. Andre Olivei won 6-1, 6-3 at second singles and Andrew Tarnoff won 6-2, 6-0 at third singles. Alex Romantz and Adam Dobbin swept 6-0, 6-0 at first doubles and Tilak Mehta and Danujan Thirumavalavan also swept 6-0, 6-0 at second doubles. Oliver Ames senior Thomas O’Leary won 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-7) at first singles.

Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – Becca Ricci won 6-1, 6-1 at first singles for KP, Emily MacDonald won 6-3, 6-1 and Meghan Sepich took home a 6-0, 6-0 decision at third singles. The team of Kelly Masse and Carly Adams won 6-2, 6-0 at first doubles and Molly Citarell and Andrea Li won 6-3, 6-0 at second doubles.

Canton, 3 @ Milford, 2 – Final – The Bulldogs of Canton got a pair of wins in singles play and clinched the victory with a win at doubles. Carly Scanlan won 6-4, 6-2 at first singles and Skyler Jabbour won 6-3, 6-1 at second doubles for the Bulldogs while the team of Tiffany Ha and Sarah MacQuarrie won 6-0, 6-2 at first doubles. Milford’s Kate Rosenblatt won 6-2, 7-6 at third singles and the team of Jess McIntire and Kayla Thongpul won 7-5, 6-4 at second doubles.

Stoughton, 0 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final

Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Franklin went on the road and extracted a bit of revenge by avenging an early season loss to the Tigers. The Panthers used a sweep in singles play to edge of the Tigers. Junior Hannah Sweeney won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles while senior Anna Humphreys won 6-0, 6-1 at second singles and junior Anja Deric swept 6-0, 6-0 at third singles. Taunton’s Ashleigh Eason and Emily Moor won 7-6 (7-2), 3-0 (forfeit) at first doubles and Caroline Hebert and Jillian Pagliuca won 6-2, 6-0 at second doubles.

Mansfield, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – Final

Oliver Ames, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon singles players cruised through in straight sets to help the Eagles earn the win. Lulu Yuan won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles, Nupur Shulka won 6-2, 6-0 at second singles and Emily Wen won 6-0, 6-0 at third singles. Pooja Puttigampala and Michal Kondratiev won 6-0, 6-1 at first doubles for Sharon. Oliver Ames’ Claudia Ferrara and Rachel Stryke won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 at second doubles.

Boys and Girls Outdoor Track
Hockomock League Championships (@ Taunton High), 2:30

Boys Volleyball
Taunton @ Barnstable 5:30

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 04/19/16

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Attleboro, 9 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Senior Tyler Stowe struck out six in six innings of work, allowing just two hits to earn the win. Will Carter went 2-2 with two RBI and a pair of stolen bases while Pat Collins also added a pair of hits and scored two runs. Head coach Matt Bosh noted the strong defense from Nate Tellier at shortstop.

Canton, 5 vs. Fairhaven, 3 – Final – Griffin Jerrier went the distance on the mound, striking out one and issuing just one walk to get the win. At the plate, Jerrier was 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Kevin Powers was 2-3 with a run scored and Joe Peccia was 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Jim Jenkins came through with a big hit in the third inning, knocking in a run for the Bulldogs.

Foxboro, 14 @ Dedham, 16 – Final – Jesse Galanti and Darren Kelly each had three hits for the Warriors and A.J. Cavossa added a pair of doubles and drove in three runs.

Milford, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Jared Menzer tossed a complete game, scattering six hits and striking out four to earn the win for the Hornets. Jake Tryder went 2-2 with an RBI double and a run scored and Tyrone Pascual was 1-3 with an RBI triple and a run scored for Mansfield.

North Attleboro, 10 @ Central Catholic, 8 – Final – North Attleboro scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to break open a tie game and get the win. Brian Poillucci led off with a triple and scored on a single from Ridge Olsen. Brian Kleczkowski reached on a fielder’s choice and pinch runner Zach Levitsky advanced to second on a walk to Brett Cloutier. Pinch hitter Nick Pedro brought Levitsky home with a single and Bryan Harris plated Clouter with a double. Andy Katch tossed a complete game without issuing any walks, striking out five to earn the win. Sophomore Zach DeMattio paced the offense with three hits and four RBI while Poillucci also had a double in the game.

Taunton, 5 vs. Durfee, 4 – Final – Charles Hearrold III did it all for the Tigers on Tuesday morning. Hearrold III picked five innings, scattering five hits while allowing just one run. At the plate, he had a pair of hits and a pair of RBI. In the bottom of the seventh, he came home to score the winning run on a wild pitch.

Softball
Sharon, 2 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final

Canton vs. Boston Latin, 10:00AM

Canton vs. Boston Latin, 12:00

Foxboro, 4 @ Dedham, 1 – Final – Kelly Fisher went 3-3 with a pair of RBI for the Warriors and Emma Rohan threw a complete game, allowing only three hits and no earned runs.

King Philip, 5 vs. Cumberland, 7 – Final (9 inn.)

Stoughton, 16 @ Milton, 3 – Final – Stoughton had 19 hits in the first game of the doubleheader, including a 3-3 day from senior Sam Tullis, who had a homerun, three RBI, and scored four runs. Nicole Bodette added three hits and six other Black Knights had a pair of hits apiece. Gina Carafa picked up her first win, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out five over four innings.

Stoughton, 6 @ Milton, 3 – Final – Freshman Karly Estremara began the game with a lead-off homer. She finished 3-3 on the day and a single shy of the cycle, while scoring three times, and recorded her fourth straight multi-hit game. Sam Tullis had three hits in both games of the doubleheader and Shannon Flaherty threw a compete game, allowing two earned runs and striking out six Milton hitters.

Boys Lacrosse
Franklin, 14 vs. Masconomet, 3 – Final – After leading by just a goal at the halftime break, the Panthers pounced in the second half. Franklin held a 4-3 lead at half before winning the second half 10-0. Senior Austin Kent had six goals and two assists and sophomore Eric Civetti scored five goals with one assist. Connor O’Rourke made seven saves in net while freshman Jacob Alexander had another huge game at the face off X.

King Philip, 8 vs. Hopkinton, 7 – Final – King Philip trailed for the majority of the game but took the lead with 1:09 left in the game behind a goal from Anthony Truini on an assist from freshman Collin DeVellis. Hopkinton leveled the game with 42 seconds to play but John DeLuca scored the game winner for the Warriors with 20 seconds to go off an assist from Harry Fallon. “I’m really proud of the way our team responded after losing tough game against Feehan to come back here and play a strong game against a strong opponent,” head coach Jacob Kravitz said. Sam Agricola had three goals and an assist for KP while Tim Watson scored once and had two assists, Fallon had a goal and an assist, Truini and DeLuca each scored once and Conor Khung came up from the defense to score a goal.

Mansfield, 7 @ Hanover, 8 – Final (OT)

North Attleboro, 10 @ Taunton, 0 – Final

Oliver Ames, 3 @ Pembroke, 12 – Final

Sharon, 9 vs. Medway, 15 – Final – Matt Cancian and Mark Bloom each scored hat tricks for the Eagles in the first half. Medway scored the opening seven goals of the second half to break open a 7-7 tie at halftime. Brett Listner, Craig Titus and Jack Lesser also scored for Sharon and Dan Spelfogel made six saves.

Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 6 @ Norwood, 10 – Final

Sharon @ Milford, 10:30AM

Taunton, 2 @ North Attleboro, 17 – Final -Erin Holley led the way for the Rocketeers with six points, including two goals and four assists. Hana Caster and Mackenzie Rosenberg each scored hat tricks for North. Abby Kingman scored both goals for the Tigers and goalie Lorna Li made 16 saves in the loss.

Oliver Ames, 12 vs. Pembroke, 14 – Final

Boys Tennis
Mansfield @ Holliston, 11:00AM – Postponed to TBD.

Milford, 0 vs. Hopedale, 5 – Final

Girls Tennis
Milford vs. Hopedale, 1:00

Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 3 @ Norwood, 0 – Final – After dominating the first game, Taunton won a close second game and completed the sweep over Norwood in the third game. The Tigers won 25-12, 26-24, 25-18. Lance Law had 10 kills, three blocks and two aces and David Perry added eight kills and a pair of blocks. Lens Esquil contributed a strong all around game with 15 service points, five kills, four digs, three aces and three blocks for Taunton.

Taunton Prevails In Extras After Great Pitcher’s Duel

Taunton baseball
Taunton’s Max Bowden (9) celebrates with Brendon Mazerolle after walking off with the win in the eighth inning. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
TAUNTON, Mass. – The pitcher’s duel between Attleboro’s Nate Tellier and Taunton’s Luke Figueira certainly lived up the hype.

Two of the top pitchers in the Hockomock League went back in forth, Figueira landing a punch the top half only for Tellier to answer with a counter punch on the mound in the bottom half.

While both pitchers were engaged in a heavyweight battle, both offenses struggled to get just about anything going, combing for three hits total.

In the end, it was a walk, Taunton’s lone hit and an error in the bottom of the 8th inning that allowed the Tigers to walk off with a 1-0 over the Bombardiers.

“It’s a win and it’s a league win against an outstanding opponent and a well coached team so we’ll take it,” Taunton head coach Jeff Sylvia said. “And it was against one of the better pitchers in the league. So after the first week we have two wins and just one loss so that’s a good week. Now going forward we have two big games coming up after the City Championship [against Coyle].”

Taunton went seven innings without a hit but finally got one in the bottom of the eighth inning. Junior William Emerson battled to draw a lead off walk and advanced to second on Matt Machado’s sacrifice bunt back to pitcher Matt Callahan. Senior Brendon Mazerolle reached on a hard hit infield single to put runners on first and second. Callahan responded with a strikeout for the second out.

Senior Max Bowden then hit a hard hit grounder up the left field line was squirted through at third base and rolled slowly into left field. With two outs, Emerson was running on contact and came around to score the winning run.

“Whoever is going to play better defense is going to win [these types of games],” Attleboro head coach Matt Bosh admitted. “We made some mistakes, a couple popups, we booted a couple of ground balls. Eventually those will hurt you and they did.”

Attleboro had one of its best chances in the opening inning when a one out walk preceded a single and a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Figueira was able to get his third strikeout of the first inning to escape the jam though.

Taunton’s lead off batter reached in both the first inning (Machado via a walk) and sophomore Joe Manchester (via an error) but both times, Tellier came up with a pair of strike outs to walk away unscathed both times.

Figueria (four pitches) and Tellier (13 pitches) each breezed through the third inning. Bowden reached on an error to lead off the fourth and moved to second on a sac bunt from Manchester and to third on a wild pitch. But Tellier once again closed the inning with a strike out to escape.

Attleboro’s Tyler Stowe reached on a one out error in the fifth and moved to third after a stolen base and a ground out to short. Figueira closed the curtain on his performance by inducing another 6-3 groundout.

Tellier got into a little trouble in the bottom of the sixth after a hit batter and an error put runners on second and third with two outs but the senior got Manchester looking with his 98th and final pitch to get out of the jam.

In relief, both Taunton’s Bowden and Attleboro’s Callahan was very strong. Bowden had 1-2-3 innings in both the 6th and 7th but ran into a little trouble in the 8th inning. After getting a strikeout to start the top half, an infield error allowed Cam Hochwarter to reach. Nate Tellier then reached on another infield error to put runners on first and second.

Patrick Collins’ blooped Attleboro’s second hit of the game (and first since the first inning) into right centerfield. After a bobble from Machado, Figueira – who shifted to right field after coming off the mound – rocketed a throw to home to gun out Hochwarter at the plate. Bowden then induced a grounder to Mazerole at short get out of the inning.

“If the have runners in scoring position and we have either of those two guys pitching, I want the ball hit to [Mazerolle],” Sylvia said. “He’s as solid as you get. In the 12 years that I’ve been here, he’s one of the premier defensive players that we’ve had come through the program. It was nice to have a lot of 6-3s today. Luke, he’s another guy. With the game on the line, he was in the right place at the right time and he made a perfect throw.”

Tellier pitched six innings of no hit baseball, struck out 10 with just one walk issued. Figueira tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and struck out six. Neither pitcher was involved in the decision.

“Can’t ask for anything more pitching wise,” Bosh said. “We could battle more than we did at the plate. I don’t know how many called third strikes we had today but we need to battle better than we did today against good pitching. Everyone has a good pitcher so we need to learn to battle better against a good pitcher.”

“We had two really good pitching performances,” Sylvia said. :Fortunately we had our two veterans, our two top notch pitchers going today so that was beneficial. After a shaky first inning I thought Luke did a great job settling in, being very efficient and started to get ahead of hitters which is key for him. Sometimes he tries to be too perfect and too fine with his pitches but after the first inning he just attacked the strike zone and let the defense handle it. It all came down to pitching and we made the plays when we needed to so that’s the key.”

Taunton baseball improves to 2-1 overall and in league play. The Tigers will be back in action when they travel to Coyle & Cassidy on Monday in the all important City Championship. Attleboro (1-3) will look to bounce back when they travel to Sharon on Tuesday at 11:00AM.

Ryan Lanigan can be contacted at RyanLanigan@hockomocksports.com and followed on Twitter at @R_Lanigan.

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 04/11/16

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 6 – Final – Senior Tyler Stowe was a spark for the Bombarbiers in the leadoff spot with a pair of hits, a pair of stolen bases and a pair of runs scored. Nate Tellier hit a two run double in the sixth inning to turn a two run lead into a 5-1 lead. Tellier also scored two runs and then pitched the final two innings, striking out five of the six batters he faced. Brent Cook went 2-2 with a pair of RBI for Attleboro. Junior Tyler McGovern made his varsity debut, striking out seven in five innings of work for the win, scattering four hits.

Canton, 1 @ King Philip, 8 – Final – King Philip’s Jake Cavanagh tossed a complete game, scattering four hits while striking out 10 batters. Jack DiCenso and Jon Rolfe each had multiple hits for the Warriors. Ryan Coulter knocked in a pair of runs for KP while Cavanagh, Stephan MacMeans and Leo Munafo each plated one run for the Warriors. 

Foxboro, 0  @ Taunton, 8 – Final – Senior Luke Figueira got it done on the mound and at the plate as the Tigers opened the season with a win. On the mound, Figueira struck out eight batters and allowed just two hits and no walks in five innings of work. At the plate, the senior had a pair of hits and knocked in two runs. Matt Machado and Max Bowden each added a pair of hits and RBI as well. William Emerson had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI and Brendon Mazerolle knocked in one run and had two hits.

Franklin, 14 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Sophomore Jason Ulrickson came on in the fourth inning in relief and pitched four innings without allowing an earned run to get the win for the Panthers. Ulrickson struck out four and scattered three hits. Sophomore Matt Foley pitched the scoreless innings to start the game for Franklin. Offensively, senior Joe Corsi scored four runs, going 2/4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Jake Lyons went 2/4 with two RBI and a run scored, Tyler Gomes had a double and two runs scored, Josh Macchi went 3/4 with a double and three RBI, Jake Noviello was 2/4 with an RBI and Mike Skaza went 3/4 with an RBI and two runs scored. 

Stoughton, 14 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final

Oliver Ames, 5 @ North Attleboro, 6 – Final – In a game of lead changes, North senior Zach Rofino (2-4, two runs) reached on an infield single to start the bottom of the seventh, advanced to third on a double from senior Brian Poillucci (3-4, RBI, R) and then scored on a base hit up the middle from Brian Kleczkowski (2-3, RBI) as the Rocketeers walked off with the 6-5 win. Ridge Olsen, who was intentionally walked to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh, was 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored while sophomore Zach DeMattio went 2-3 with his second home run in as many games and knocked in three runs. The Rocketeers pitchers didn’t issue a walk all game. Andy Katch went six innings, striking out three while Matt Papineau pitched the top of the seventh to get the win. Oliver Ames tied the game in the top of the sixth when Kevin Geary hit a triple and a single freshman Chris Pearsons. OA senior Chris Romero had three hits in the game and classmate Josh Minuskin had a pair of hits.

Softball
Attleboro, 0 @ Milford, 12 – Final (5 inn.) – Ali Atherton tossed a one hitter, striking out nine batters in five innings of work while issuing just one walk. At the plate, Jess Tomaso went 3/4 in her debut for the Scarlet Hawks with a pair of doubles and three RBI. Emily Piergustavo went 3/4 with a double and two RBI and Sydney Pounds was 3/3 with three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.

King Philip, 18 @ Canton, 0 – Final (5 inn.) – Elise Pereira, Kali Magane and Jenn Hutnyan combined for one hit ball in the circle for the Warriors. Magane went 2/2 with a triple while Pereira connected for a home run. Freshman Meghan Gorman debuted by going 2/2 with a home run and four RBI while Sydney Phillips also connected for a home run. Senior Christa Wagner scored three runs for KP.

Taunton, 15 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final (5 inn.) – Courtney Fisher struck out 11 batters in five innings of work, scattering three hits without a walk to get the win for the Tigers. Taunton’s offense stayed hot behind four RBI from Aimee Kistner (2-4, double), three RBI from Jordan Wade (3-4, double) and a pair of RBI from Liana Duarte (2-4, double). Kya Enos and Meghan Navarro each added a pair of doubles and an RBI and Jaime Brown went 2-2 with an RBI.

Franklin, 12 @ Sharon, 0 – Final (6 inn.) – Caroline D’Aprile struck out six and allowed two hits to get the win for the Panthers. Maddie Connelly had a pair of hits, a pair of runs and a pair of stolen bases and Alli Shea added three runs scored and two hits. Clara Decarvalho knocked in four runs on three hits while Julia Arms had a three run home run and Rachel Cousineau connected for a solo home run. 

Mansfield, 3 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final – Stoughton’s Shannon Flaherty allowed just one earned run in six innings of work to get the win. Flaherty struck out nine and issued just one walk in the win. Mansfield erased a 2-0 deficit in the top of the sixth inning but the Black Knights scored twice more in the bottom half to regain the lead. Jocelyn Reardon had a pair of hits, including a two RBI single in the sixth while Mady Bendanillo, Megan Letendre, Kara Bendanillo and Amanda Giambanco all had a hit in the game for the Hornets. .

North Attleboro, 6 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Amelia Murphy allowed just three hits in her Big Red debut, fanning four batters to get the win. Rylie Guthrie, Sam Courtemanche and Liz Morehouse each had an RBI single while Kaylea Sherman had four putouts in center field and also a double play. Oliver Ames’ Victoria Ziner was 1/2 with a run scored, Katie Pursley had an RBI and Lexi Campbell also had a hit. Campbell pitched a complete game, striking out five with just two earned runs allowed.

Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro @ Dartmouth, 4:00

Canton, 5 vs. Scituate, 1 – Final – The Bulldogs were able to accomplish a feat not many are able to: shut down Scituate’s offense. Canton only allowed one goal, coming with six minutes left in the game. Defensemen Jake Ragusa, Dan Nadeau, Gabe Galeotos and Jonathan Sutton combined to limit the Sailor while Chris Albert made 16 saves in net. Ben O’Neill netted a hat trick with one assist while junior Ryan Lodge had a goal and two assists and freshman Mike Shaw scored once.

Taunton, 0 @ Foxboro, 21 – Final – Andrew Whalen led Foxboro with seven points, scoring three goals and added four assists and Louis Piccolo added four goals and two assists. Brendan Tully had three goals and two assists and Colin Spinney chipped in with a pair of goals and a pair of assists for the Warriors. 

King Philip, 10 @ Medway, 9 – Final – Senior Sam Agricola scored King Philip’s first five goals of the game to keep the Warriors close and then scored the game winning goal in the third quarter. Agricola finished with six goals, one assist and five ground balls, helping KP take advantage of the extra man opportunities. KP scored on six of their seven EMO while limiting Medway on their special teams chances. Junior Paul Macrina made 23 saves in the game including seven in the fourth quarter. Head coach Jacob Kravitz called it a great character win and credited Steve Eaton’s switch to LSM in the second as a big turning point in the possession game. Tim Watson and Anthony Truini each scored twice for KP. 

Mansfield, 5 @ St. John’s, 14 – Final
Milford, 1 vs. Plymouth North, 14 – Final
Oliver Ames, 3 @ North Attleboro, 9 – Final
Sharon, 8 @ Bishop Feehan, 16 – Final

Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 3 vs. Dartmouth, 9 – Final

Foxboro, 20 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Caroline McGreary scored four goals and Sophia DiCenso and Lauren Flahive each netted a hat trick to lead Foxboro. Megan Curran and Lily Feeney each chipped in with two goals for the Warriors. Taunton’s Delaney Powell scored both of the Tigers’ goals. 

King Philip, 14 vs. Medway, 9 – Final – Katie Crowther was nearly unstoppable, netting a team high nine goals to lead the Warriors. Jen Lacroix added three goals while Abbey Buchanan and Allie Meehan each found the back of the net once. 

Sharon, 6 @ Oliver Ames, 11 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Hannah Friend made an impact all over the field to lead the Tigers. Friend scored four goals and had one assists while nabbing two draw controls and five groundballs. She also had three intercepted passes for the Tigers. Erin Fitzgerald was another reason for OA’s strong possession game with 10 draw controls. Ariana Waldorf had 12 saves in net while Sofia Masciarelli, Chloe Kikelly and Emalyn Duvall each scored twice. Carly Cidado had a goal and an assist, Abby Duvall had two assists and Kendall Clifford notched an assist for OA.

Boys Tennis
Milford, 2 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro scored wins at first and second singles and sealed the win with a marathon win at second doubles. Timothy Vermilyea won 6-2, 6-2 at first singles and Tyler Letendre picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win at second singles. Khaled Hantash and Ahijah Joseph won the first 7-5 at second doubles but after losing 3-6 in the second, rallied to win 6-4 in the final set. Milford’s Brendan O’Shaunghnessy won 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) at third singles and Tabish Syed and Stephen Donnelly won 6-3, 6-4 at first doubles.

Canton, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – KP sophomore Cole Ginter won 6-4, 6-1 at first singles and freshman Blake Ginter won 6-4, 6-3 at third singles to lead the Warriors. Sam Collela and Ryan Gemelli won 6-1, 6-2 at first doubles and Jake Webster and Justin Rohan won 6-3, 6-2 at second doubles for the Warriors. Canton’s Jake Wolicki won 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 at second singles. 

Foxboro, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Taunton’s lone win came when Charlie Fiske and Connor Briggs battled back for a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 win at first doubles. 

Sharon, 5 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – Sharon won all five matches in set straights to start the season with a win. Griffin Fein won 6-2, 6-3 at first singles, Fred Bondar won 6-3, 6-3 at second singles and Han Cui won 6-2, 6-1 at third singles. Adam Dobbin and Alex Romantz picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles and Tilak Mehta and Dahujan Thiru won 6-1, 6-4 at second doubles. 

Stoughton, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield junior Benny Lin won 6-0, 6-1 at first singles, freshman Luke Nickerson won 6-0, 6-2 at second singles and junior Gus Daganhardt picked up a 6-3, 6-1 at third singles. Sophomores Danny Radev and Sam Cavicchi won 6-0, 6-2 at first doubles and sophomore Ben Salder and junior Stephen Zenack won 6-2, 6-0 at second doubles. 

Oliver Ames, 1 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North Attleboro got wins from a pair of juniors in singles play and three seniors and one junior in doubles for a 4-1 win. Junior Barsomo Nuay won 6-4, 6-4 at second singles and junior Zack Pfeffer won 6-0, 6-0 at third singles. Seniors Jeff Yao and Nick Lockavitch won 7-5, 6-1 at first doubles and senior Jake Fontes and junior Daniel Zhang won 6-0, 6-1 at second doubles. Oliver Ames’ Thomas O’Leary notched a 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4) win at first singles. 

Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ Milford, 4 – Final

King Philip, 4 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Becca Ricci and Meghan Sepich won at first and third singles respectively to lead the Warriors. Ricci picked up a 6-3, 7-6 win and Sepich won 6-0, 6-0. KP’s elly Masse and Megan Davenport won 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 at first singles and Connie Palumbo and Carly Adams won 6-3, 6-0 at second doubles. Canton’s Skyler Jabbour won 6-3, 7-6 at second singles. 

Taunton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final

Franklin, 2 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – Freshman Nupur Shulka debuted with a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles to help lead the Eagles to a season opening win. Sharon sophomore Emily Wen won 6-1, 6-2 at third singles and junior Michelle Coo and sophomore Rithica Neti won 6-2, 6-0 at second doubles. Franklin’s Hannah Sweeney won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles and junior Anja Deric and sophomore Katelyn Davenport won 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-6) at first doubles. 

Mansfield, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Seniors Paulina Martin and Kathleen Giffels won in straight sets in singles play as Mansfield rolled to a sweep. Martin won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles and Giffels won 6-0, 6-0 at second singles. Sophomore Sarah Doyle won 6-0, 6-1 at third singles for the Hornets. Cathryn Heavey and Chloe Peters won 6-3, 6-3 at first doubles and Tessa Garufi and Elizabeth Elsner won 6-0, 7-5 at second doubles. 

North Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – North Attleboro’s Julia Mark picked up a 6-3, 6-1 at first singles, Jordan Willis won 6-2, 6-2 at second singles and Allie Grinavic didn’t lose a set in a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. Jhanavi Kapadia and Emily Chiasson won 6-0, 6-3 at first doubles and Gabby Duva and Katie Demontigny won 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) at second doubles for the Rocketeers.

Boys Volleyball
Milford, 1 vs. Millis, 3 – Final – Milford won the third game but couldn’t overcome the 2-0 hole. Senior Mike Haver led Milford with 11 kills and added three blocks. Senior Ryan White had 16 assists, eight kills, four digs, two blocks and an ace while Juan Ruelas had 13 assists, seven kills and three digs and blocks. 

Baseball: Kelley-Rex Division Preview 2016

Attleboro's Nate Tellier will be one 11 seniors playing for the Bombardiers this season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Attleboro’s Nate Tellier will be one 11 seniors playing for the Bombardiers this season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

ATTLEBORO

2015 Record: 8-12
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Matt Bosh

A rough end to the 2015 campaign kept the Bombardiers out of the postseason last year but with 11 seniors and a good amount returning experienced players, Attleboro is looking to get back to the playoffs this year.

“We have a lot of returning varsity players from last year, and we have three two-year captains, four [captains] overall,” head coach Matt Bosh said. “The positive thing is that even though we have a lot from last year’s team back, there is still a lot of competition for playing time, which will hopefully bring out the best in all of our kids.”

Both Nate Tellier and Tyler Stowe are returning three year starters and captains this season, alongside seniors Will Carter and Jon Dunn. Tellier is one of the best shortstops in the league and led the Bombardiers in hitting last season with a .357 average and 14 runs scored. Tellier will also be a force on the mound after recording a 1.44 ERA in 34 innings last season. Stowe will man first base when he isn’t pitching.

Matt Callahan, Cam Hochwarter, Brandon Galvao and Robbie Araujo will all see time in the infield along with Tellier and Stowe and juniors Dylan Maskell and Dylan Prout should also fit in the infield. Will Carter returns behind the plate while Dunn patrols centerfield. Pat Collins, Brent Cook and John Burns are all likely candidates to see time in left and right.

Along with Tellier and Stowe on the mound, Dunn, Galvao, Callahan, Prout, Maskell, Nolan Kane, Tyler McGovern and James Weir should see time.

FRANKLIN

2015 Record: 16-8
2015 Finish: Reached D1 South Semifinals
Coach: Zach Brown

The Panthers reached the D1 South Semifinals last year but there will be some voids left from graduation that Franklin needs to fill in order to get back there.

“We have a lot of positions up for grabs,” head coach Zach Brown said. “But I’m really excited about the opportunity we have this season. We have a lot of new talented players that are competing hard for playing time and open positions and roles. We will be relying on some younger guys, sophomores and juniors, to help fill some critical positions. Competition during practice and scrimmages has been intense. I think we have a unique blend of veterans and a new influx of talent. I’m very optimistic about what this team can become by the end of the season.”

The talent that Franklin does have back is a good group with Alex Bissanti returning at second base, Mike Skaza back to pitch and patrol the outfield, Nick Santucci at shortstop, Tyler Gomes will move to catcher full time and Jake Lyons will handle centerfield duties. Joe Corsi will handle a variety of roles and Josh Macchi will take over first base.

Franklin graduated 10 seniors from last year’s squad that included the entire pitching rotation and closer. Brown noted sophomores Jake Noviello and Matt Foley will see time on the mound this season.

KING PHILIP

2015 Record: 5-15
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Pat Weir

King Philip has seven seniors and seven juniors on its roster this year and a good chunk of that experience comes on the mound.

“I can say in my short three years at KP this current group is the most cohesive group I’ve been around,” head coach Pat Weir said. “Solid senior leadership, solid team chemistry and competition is very healthy.”

Jake Lannigan, Jake Cavanagh, Jon Rolfe and Jack DiCenso are all seniors that have experience on the mound. Rolfe notched a 1.80 ERA in 35 innings last year while striking out 26 while Cavanaugh tossed over 41 innings, striking out 35 with a 2.88 ERA. Rolfe is also the top returning hitter after hitting .302 last year.

Leo Munafo returns as the starting catcher and Will Weir is back at shortstop for another year. Stephan MacMeans had a strong year in the outfield last season and will patrol centerfield again this season. All four senior pitchers previously mentioned will all see time in the field as well.

MANSFIELD

2016 Record: 17-6
2016 Finish: Reached D1 South Final
Coach: Joe Breen

Last season was a banner year for first year head coach Joe Breen and the Hornets as Mansfield won its first league title since 2007 and reached the D1 South Finals. But last year is already in the rearview mirror for the 2016 Hornets.

“After a great season last year, we are a whole new team,” head coach Joe Breen said. “We have a talented group of multi-sport athletes that look to transition from the JV ranks to the varsity ranks this spring. We have some great senior leaders at the top and quite a bit of young talent to fill in the holes left by last year’s large graduating class. I’m excited to see what players breakthrough in our pre-season practices and scrimmages.”

Key returnees include senior catcher Mike Arnold, senior first baseman Tyrone Pascual and senior center fielder Charlie DeMassi. Expect each of them to be in the top of the order. DeMassi showed off his defensive prowess in the center last season and will be a key piece this year.

The biggest question mark for the defender Kelley-Rex champions will be pitching. Breen said he will be looking for seniors Jared Menzer, Jack Neureter and Michael Kirejczyk to step up alongside sophomore Tyler Dalton.

North Attleboro

2015 Record: 8-12
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Paul Tobin

Last season ended far from how Big Red had planned when they dropped nine of their last 10 games to miss out on the playoffs. But head coach Paul Tobin brings back his two top pitchers and a solid group of experienced seniors.

“This is a smart, good-character group who are fun to coach,” Tobin said. “The middle of the lineup should hit. If we get production from some of our new players and the expected contributions from our returning veterans we should be in the thick of the race.”

Seniors John O’Donnell and Andy Katch are back on the mound for the Rocketeers. O’Donnell logged over 36 innings on the mound last year with a 2.89 ERA and 23 strikeouts. Ridge Olsen is back and will patrol left field after batting a team-high .433 last year with 13 RBI and Brian Kleczkowski returns to first base after hitting .321 last year with 16 RBI.

Junior catcher Tyler LaFreniere is also back along with second baseman Brian Poillucci and centerfielder Bryan Harris. Tobin noted junior Brett Cloutier, junior John Brennan and sophomore Zach DeMattio will factor in this season.

TAUNTON

2015 Record: 14-8
2015 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinals
Coach: Jeff Sylvia

Taunton has had a lot of success since joining the Hockomock League and head coach Jeff Sylvia is hopeful that will continue this year. With a handful of very good players back, it’s likely that will continue.

“Our goal is to be better on April 30th than March 30th,” Sylvia said. “And then even better on May 30th.”

Taunton brings back Luke Figueira, who was the 2014 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year as a sophomore and then was one of the league’s best all around players last year as a junior. Figueira batted a team-high .500 with 15 RBI and pitched over 35 innings with 51 strikeouts, posting a 1.78 ERA. Jose Mercado will see an expanded role on the mound after striking out 25 in 18 innings last year.

Max Bowden returns behind the plate and will also be back as the closer after four saves and a 1.62 ERA last year. Sylvia also has Brendon Mazzerole back, who was selected to the HockomockSports.com First Team as a third maseman last year. Mazzerole will shift to short this year and will look to build upon his .429 average from last year.

Senior Kevin Griffin also brings back some experience while seniors Charles Hearrold III and Dan Noonan and junior Danny Keogh will try to make an impact this season. Sylvia is also looking for sophomores Joe Manchester and Jacob Crawford to slide into roles early on.