Franklin’s Joe Lizotte (3-for-4) connects for a hit in the fifth inning against North Andover. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. – After getting three straight outs to leave the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning, Franklin came to bat in the bottom half with the momentum on its side.
Trailing 5-3 to eighth-seeded North Andover, the top-seeded Panthers found themselves with a chance to potentially tie or win the game in their last at-bats. Dan Markowski led off with a double and Joe Lizotte singled. After a strikeout and a fielder’s choice put runners at the corners, Franklin had senior captain Alex Haba, the Hockomock League’s batting champion and MVP, at the plate.
On a 1-1 count, Haba swung and missed for strike two and senior Scott Elliott, who reached on the fielder’s choice, sprinted and slid into second safely for a stolen base to put the tying run on second base. But before the Elliott could dust off the dirt, the home plate ump signaled for interference at the plate and called the third out, leaving the Panthers at a loss in an opening round matchup of the MIAA Super 8 tournament.
“There’s never one pitch, one swing, one call, one play that defines a game,” said Franklin coach Zach Brown. “The Super 8 is nine innings, 27 outs, and there’s a million opportunities in that game for us to execute better and change the outcome. Yes, I would have liked to have seen that sequence play out with runners at second and third and the league MVP at the plate. I definitely would have liked to have see that play out but that’s not the reality of the situation.
“We’re going to continue to just keep grinding and I certainly feel like we have the ability to dig back in, play good baseball, get back on winning track, and make a run at it.”
While the questionable final call got the majority of the attention, Franklin’s miscues defensively hurt equally as much. The Panthers made two errors in the fifth inning and the Scarlet Knights scored three runs to take a lead that it never relinquished. The visitors tacked on an earned run in the sixth inning and took advantage of walks, steals, and a wild pitch in the seventh to score again.
Both starters had to work around trouble in the first. Franklin junior Brennan Rivera (6IP, 5R 2ER, 5H 3BB, 6K) worked around a two-out walk after striking out the first two batters of the game. North Andover’s Sebastian Keane (7.1IP, 3ER, 8H, 2BB, 1HBP), who was drafted earlier in the day by the Boston Red Sox, allowed hits to Elliott and Haba but got back-to-back outs to prevent any harm.
“Brennan has done a great job for us all year and we’re really proud of his effort today,” Brown said. “He certainly set a great tone and gave us a chance. When he’s on the hill, we’re a confident baseball team. I thought he did a great job getting us to that point in the game. If we make a play here or there for him, maybe the score is a little bit different but we need to move forward and can’t look back. We can learn from it and move forward.”
While Rivera settled into a groove — retiring 11 straight between the first and fifth innings — the Panthers’ offense got to Keane again in the third inning. Joe Lizotte singled from the nine-hole, Jack Nally walked, and Elliott reached on a bunt single up the third base line. Haba drove in the opening run but grounded into a double play and Keane got a strikeout to strand a runner at third.
“We tried to do a lot of things, like shortening the distance with everything and using Major League equivalencies to try and simulate the type of velocity,” Brown said of preparing for Keane. The Panthers had eight hits against him. “Sebastian is a special talent and he’s a great competitor. I’m really proud of our guys, that fought hard and scraped and clawed, and certainly didn’t make it easy on him.”
North Andover got its first hit of the day with one out in the fifth off the bat of Brett Dunham, a single into left. Rivera got a strikeout for the second out but an infield throwing error allowed Justin Connolly to reach and extend the inning. A walk loaded the bases and John McElroy roped a single into left field. The ball eluded the Panther fielder, allowing all three runs to come in and McElroy took third. Rivera stranded the runner there with a fly ball to right.
“We extended a couple of innings where they scored some runs but we never get upset about physical mistakes because our guys are playing hard and aggressive,” Brown said. “I’ll never be upset about a physical mistake, that’s part of the game, those will happen. As long as the mentality is aggressive and guys are playing the game the right way, I have no problems with it. A couple of balls found us in some weird spots but we’ve been pretty sound all year. But there were some times we shot ourselves in the foot.”
Keane reached with a one-out single in the top of the sixth and moved to third on a single from Trevor Crosby. Franklin got the second out with a shallow fly ball caught by Nally in center but Erik Whitehead delivered a two-out grounder up the middle to bring another run to make it 4-1.
A leadoff walk in the top of the seventh forced Brown to go to the bullpen. Tom Finn earned a walk against the bullpen and both runners advanced with stolen bases. A wild pitch allowed John McElroy to scamper home to push the lead to 5-1.
Franklin junior Will Pacheco (2IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB) entered the game in relief with runners on the corners and kept the Panthers’ chances to come back alive with a strong outing. Pacheco induced a fly ball to third, senior catcher Jake Macchi gunned a runner down at second trying to steal, and a grounder to Haba at short ended the threat.
A perfect top half from Pacheco set Franklin up for success in the bottom half. Nally was hit by a pitch to lead off and Elliott followed with a single. Macchi smacked a one-out single to right to bring both runners in to make it 5-3 and give Franklin some life, knocking Keane from the game. A two-out single from JB Floris put runners at first and second but a fly ball to left was caught for the third out.
Liam Dailey (1IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 2K) took over the mound for the Panthers and a pair of singles sandwiched around a walk loaded the bases with no outs for the Scarlet Hawks. But Dailey buckled down, getting back-to-back strikeouts before a fly ball to right field ended the threat.
Franklin baseball (21-2) drops in the Losers (1-Loss) Bracket of the Super 8 tournament and will play the loser of the BC High/Lowell game (Friday) on Saturday at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton with a time to be announced.
Baseball
Attleboro, 5 @ Taunton, 15 – Final – Taunton had its best offensive outing of the season, plating seven runs in the first inning, five more in the second, and three in the third to beat visiting Attleboro. Jared Roderick (RBI, run), Nic Notaragenlo (RBI, two runs, two walks), and Jack Moynihan (three RBI) each had two hits for the Tigers while Sean Quinlan and Josh Lajoie each drove in a pair of runs. Moynihan earned the win, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and five strikeouts in five innings of work. Danny MacDougall and Justin Rollo each pitched a scoreless inning for Taunton. Attleboro’s Alvaro Espinal went 3-for-4 with a pair of triples.
Sharon, 4 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final (11 Inn.) – Foxboro erased a three-run deficit, scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings but Sharon regained the lead in the top of the 11th and held on the for the win. The Eagles built a 3-0 lead with two runs in the third and one in the fifth before Foxboro got one back in the fifth and tied it in the seventh. Elliot Patotsky scored the game-winning run for Sharon while Justin Nault had two hits. Sophomore JD Rittenberg pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win for Sharon. Foxboro’s Adam Lanctot had two hits and scored two runs.
Franklin, 12 vs. Hopkinton, 6 – Final – After Hopkinton scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to make it a one-run game, Franklin responded with six runs in the bottom half to pull away from the Hillers and earn the win. Scott Elliott had a big day at the plate with four hits, four runs, and two RBI while Jack Nally (two runs, walk), Jake Macchi (run, three RBI), and Jake Fitzgibbons each had two hits for Franklin. Senior Alex Haba added an RBI and a run scored. Ben Guzman earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk, striking out four in 4.2 innings. Will Pacheco earned the save with one run allowed on two hits and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings.
King Philip, 5 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – KP senior David Morganelli had a strong outing on the mound, striking out eight in five innings of work to earn the win in a non-league contest against Stoughton. Jake Silveria struck out four in two innings of relief for KP to get the save. Zack Zarba had two hits and two RBI, Chris Sawyer added two hits and an RBI and Morganelli helped his own cause with two hits and an RBI.
Milford, 5 vs. Hopedale, 4 – Final – Milford senior Danny Corsini knocked in Justin Applebee in the ninth inning to give the Hawks a walk-off win over non-league rival Hopedale. With the win, Milford qualifies for the state tournament.
Oliver Ames, 12 vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames’ offense exploded for 16 hits in its best offensive showing of the year, beating D-R to keep its postseason hopes alive. Junior Jacob Levine had three hits and smashed a three-run home run, CJ Deveau added two hits and hit a home run, and Jared Spillane added three hits as well for the Tigers. Chris Pearsons earned the win, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out four in five innings of work. Tyler Avery worked two scoreless innings in relief.
Softball
Taunton, 11 @ Attleboro, 0 – 5th inning/suspended – The game was stopped in the fifth inning due to weather. The game will be continued on Saturday morning at 10:00AM.
Canton, 1 @ Dedham, 9 – Final
Foxboro, 13 vs. Ursuline Academy, 0 – Final – The Warriors sealed their place in the playoffs with a big win against D2 Ursuline Academy. Emma Rohan went the distance to earn the win, allowing only three hits and striking out five in the shutout. Rylie Martignetti had three hits and drove in five runs to power the offense for Foxboro. Peyton Feldman also had three hits, including a homer, as did Morgan Sylvestre. Chelsea Gibbons went 1-for-2 and drove in three in the win.
King Philip, 0 @ Bishop Feehan, 1 – Final – King Philip senior Faith Turinese pitched a great game for the Warriors with just one allowed but the Warriors weren’t able to do any damage offensively. Meghan Gorman, Reagan Simeone and Grace Kelley each had a hit for the Warriors.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ North Attleboro, 16 – Final (5 Inn.) – The Rocketeers sealed the outright Davenport division title with the win. North used a 14-run second inning to put the game away. Katie Daby had a grand slam in the rally, finishing with five RBI in the game. Ashley Cangiano also had three hits and two RBI for North, while Belle Clarkin (two runs scored), Abby Gallagher (two runs), and Olivia Capobianco (three runs) each had a pair of hits. Bella Erti picked up the win, allowing three hits and one unearned run. Katie Abreu knocked in Abbi Holmes on a two-out double in the third for OA’s run.
Boys Lacrosse
Franklin, 12 @ Longmeadow, 7 – Final – Franklin went on the road and picked up a marquee victory over Western Mass. powerhouse Longmeadow, who have won four straight sectional titles. Jake Davis led the way with a hat trick and three assists, Nitin Chaudhury also scored a hat trick and had an assist, and Ben Greco scored twice for the Panthers, who jumped ahead 7-3 at half. Will Davis had 12 saves while FHS coach Lou Verocchi noted his defense had a strong performance, limiting the Lancers to four goals through three quarters.
Milford @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 4:30
Oliver Ames, 16 vs. Southeastern, 5 – Final – Oliver Ames earned a win in its final regular season game, finishing with the program’s best regular season record ever at 14-4. Frankie Ireland had three goals and two assists, going over the 100-point mark for his career. Shane Kilkelly added five goals and two assists, Colin Bourne and Sandro Masciarelli each had a hat trick, and Sam Stevens chipped in with a goal and four assists.
Stoughton, 3 vs. Dedham, 12 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Canton vs. Brookline, 3:45
Foxboro, 17 @ Medway, 10 – Final
Milford, 14 vs. Assabet Valley, 2 – Final – Milford celebrated senior night with a big win over visiting Assabet Valley. Seniors Emily Haley and Sophia Bucal led the charge with four goals apiece while senior Riley Campbell added one goal and senior Savanna Rosado made eight saves in net for the win. Junior Elena Bon Tempo added four goals and Alyssa Williamson tacked on a nice goal for the Hawks.
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Silver Lake, 13 – Final
Sharon, 10 vs. Bishop Feehan, 12 – Final – Sharon finished with a split of the season series against Feehan, a potential D1 East opponent. Emma Eberhardt, fresh off her 200th career goal two days ago, scored four goals and recorded one assist for the Eagles. Cass Barbera, Maeve Barbera, and Molly McAlevey each scored twice and Mia Lappen added one for Sharon. Rose Wald made 11 saves in the loss.
Taunton, 19 @ Southeastern, 5 – Final – Taunton sophomore Alana Tavares scored her 200th career goal in the Tiger’s win on the road.
Boys Tennis
Taunton, 4 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Taunton swept all three singles matches with one more point coming in doubles play in a victory over Attleboro. Brett Beaulieu won 6-0, 6-1 at first singles, Charlie Fiske earned a 7-5, 6-0 decision at second singles, and Dylan Kullas prevailed 6-2, 7-5 at third singles. The team of Conor Fitzsimmons and Trevor Hart won 7-6, 6-1 at second doubles for the Tigers.
Canton @ Milford, 4:00
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – Franklin won two singles matches and swept doubles play to beat Oliver Ames and secure at least a share of the Kelley-Rex division title. Sophomore Liam Marr didn’t lose a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles while Rohan Herur dropped just two in a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles. Franklin’s first doubles team of Saketh Saripalli and Shoumik Sompally won 6-0, 6-0 while the Panthers won by default at second doubles. The third singles match was called due to weather.
Mansfield, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip’s first doubles team of Nate Ihley and Zak Ryan overcame a three game deficit in the second set, winning five straight to earn a 6-3, 6-4 win and clinch the victory for the Warriors, who stay in the hunt for the division title with the win. Nick Putney won 6-2, 6-0 at second singles and Jack Cannon added a 6-1, 6-0 win at third singles for KP. Mansfield’s Luke Nickerson won 7-5, 6-1 at first singles while Sam Donellan and Dheeraj Valluru picked up a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles.
North Attleboro vs. Framingham, 4:00
Foxboro, 2 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – Sharon won all three singles matches to pick up a victory over Foxboro and clinched the Davenport division title outright. Senior Danujan Thirumavalavan won 6-2, 6-1 at first singles, junior Alberto Olivei picked up a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles, and freshman Rueman Bhattacharyya earned a 6-0, 6-0 decision at third singles to clinch the win. Foxboro’s Brian Gardner and Justin Neale won 6-2, 6-2 at first doubles and the team of Sean McAvoy and Noah nicks prevailed 6-4, 6-4 at second doubles for the Warriors.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ Taunton, 5 – Final – Taunton won all five matches in straight sets to defend home court against visiting Attleboro. The team of Sam Martin and Brianna Fevrier earned a 6-2, 6-1 win at first doubles while the Tigers’ second doubles team of Ogechi Ariguzo and Kayla Parrett picked up a 6-0, 6-2 decision. Jillian Pagliuca won 6-2, 6-0 at first singles, McKenzie Lucie earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles, and Jocelyn Pagliuca won 6-1, 6-0 at third singles.
King Philip, 5 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – King Philip won all three singles matches in straight sets to knock off Mansfield and secure the Kelley-Rex division title outright. Junior Erin Regnier won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles, sophomore Katarina Schneider picked up a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles, and sophomore Mia Valencia didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Grace Ely and Katie Welch prevailed 4-6, 6-0, 10-7 at first doubles while Laura Davenport and Meghan Powers teamed up for a 6-0, 6-4 win at second doubles.
Milford, 1 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this match. – Canton won all three singles matches and added another in doubles action to beat visiting Milford. Sophomore Rachel Kupferman didn’t lose a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, sophomore Natalie Keppler followed with a 6-4, 6-3 win at second singles, and Sarah Hernandez won 6-2, 5-2 (retired/weather) at third singles. The team of Nyah Claiborne and Rose Hazam earned a 6-4, 6-3 win at first doubles. Milford’s Reese Gavlik and Ketny Sousa won 6-1, 6-4 at second doubles.
Oliver Ames @ Norton, 3:30
Sharon, 3 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Sharon won two matches in singles action and one more in doubles to secure the win before the match was called to rain. Senior Nupur Shukla won 6-3, 6-0 at first singles while freshman Valeria Barajas picked up a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles. The team of Lauren Glass and Makaila Cheung had the other point for the Eagles with a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles.
Baseball
Mansfield, 0 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Attleboro prevailed on the right side of a pitcher’s dual, earning a 2-0 win in a game that took just 80 minutes to complete. Attleboro senior Eoin Kelleher needed just 72 pitches to toss a complete game, scattering three hits with no walks, striking out one. Mansfield threatened in the second when Sam Nugent (error) and Jake Lund (double) reached to put runners on second and third but Kelleher got an infield ground ball and a fly ball back to himself to escape. Attleboro took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Alvaro Espinal singled and advanced to second on a pickoff attempt. Ryan Morry used a sac bunt to advance the runner and Lorenzo Wilson brought Espinal in with a sacrifice fly. The Bombardiers added a run in the fifth when Camden Fitzpatrick doubled and Tom Callahan had an RBI single to make it 2-0. John Carney was strong on the mound for Mansfield, allowing three hits in six innings, with one walk and one strikeout.
Foxboro, 9 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Foxboro got off to a strong start, scoring seven runners between the first two innings on its way to a win over Canton. The Warriors plated two runs in the first and then added five more in the second to build a 7-0 advantage. Foxboro tacked on two runs in the seventh while Canton scored once in the sixth and three in the seventh. Sophomores Sean Yoest (run) and Tom Marcucella (RBI, run) each had two hits to pace the Foxboro offense while Michael Devlin (run) and Joe Cavaleri (hit) each had two RBI. Canton’s Sawyer Julier-Albert and Nate Quan had two hits each. Yoest earned the win, allowing one run (unearned) on eight hits and two strikeouts in six innings of work.
King Philip, 1 @ Franklin, 11 – Final – Franklin had three pitchers combine for a one-hitter scored double-digit runs for the fourth straight game. Liam Dailey allowed one unearned run on one hit and two walks, striking out four in five innings of work. Ben Guzman (two strikeouts) and Will Pacheco (three strikeouts) each pitched an inning in relief. Scott Elliott led the offense with three hits, including a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Alex Haba (two runs, RBI), Jake Macchi (two runs), and Brennan Rivera (run, two RBI) each had two hits for the Panthers.
Sharon, 5 @ Milford, 11 – Final – Milford senior Tyler Almeida drove in four runs and junior Colby Pires was strong on the mound and offensively to help the Scarlet Hawks beat Sharon. Almeida went 3-for-4 with a triple, Matt Shaver added two hits, two RBI, and a run scored, and Pires chipped in with two hits, including a double, and three runs scored. Pires allowed three runs in four innings of work, striking out a pair to earn the win.
Stoughton, 11 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – After trading runs early on, Stoughton exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning to turn a close game into a blowout. The Black Knights took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Robbie Seaman (3-for-4, two RBI, two runs, stolen base) singled, took second on a passed ball, stole third, and scored on another passed ball. North responded with a run in the bottom of the second. In the fifth. Cian Swierzewski got things going with a leadoff single, Zak Paquette and George Currier drew walks, Seaman had a two-run single, Jacob Kaplan had an RBI single, Paquette added a sac fly, and mixed in with a couple of Rocketeer errors, the Black Knights jumped ahead 9-1. Sophomore James Genest was strong on the mound, needing just 83 pitches to get the win. He allowed one run (unearned) on five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Taunton, 6 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Taunton senior Josh Lajoie had one of his best outings of the season, striking out 10 in a complete game effort to help the visiting Tigers take down Oliver Ames. Lajoie scattered five hits and walked two while allowing one run (unearned). Offensively, sophomore Danny MacDougall had three hits and knocked in two runs while Lucas Martins had a pair of hits and one RBI.
Softball
Attleboro, 4 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Attleboro scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie and then stranded a pair of Hornet baserunners in the bottom of the seventh to grab a win on the road. Attleboro took a 2-0 lead in the third but the Hornets knotted the score in the third when Mady Bendanillo smacked a two-run triple to make it 2-2. In the bottom of the seventh, with the Hornets down two, Mary Muldoon launched a one-out homer and the Hornets put two more on base but Attleboro closed out the win. Makenzie Killough went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Bombardiers, Lora Woyton added three hits, including a double, and an RBI, and Brenna Morse hit a triple. Megan Letendre had two hits for Mansfield while Kara Bendanillo and Ella Verheggen each added a hit. Sarah Cahill had eight strikeouts for the Hornets while Emily Gittle (seven strikeouts) pitched a complete game for Attleboro.
Foxboro, 6 @ Canton, 5 – Final – Peyton Feldman (3-for-4) tripled for the second time in the game and aggressively took home when the throw went down to first on a dropped third strike to score the game-winning run. Feldman scored three times for the Warriors, who picked up and important Div. 2 win. Chelsea Gibbons also went 3-for-4 for Foxboro, while Camryn Willis went 2-for-4 and threw a complete game in the victory. Taylor Reynolds went 3-for-4 for the Bulldogs and scored a pair of runs, while Liz Bickett tripled and homered and Steph Trendell tripled and doubled in the loss. Caroline Hughes threw five innings in relief and allowed one run, striking out three. Canton coach Dave Bohane called it a great game between two improved teams.
Franklin, 0 @ King Philip, 6 – Final – King Philip Faith Turinese had a strong performance in the circle, scattering five hits in a complete game shutout. Meghan Gorman had two hits, including a home run, to lead the Warriors’ offense. Liliana Rolfe also had two hits and Abby Carey came through with a key single with the bases loaded. Franklin’s Maddy White went 2-for-3.
Milford, 9 @ Sharon, 11 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this game – Sharon scored five unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, four coming with two outs, and then held off a final inning charge from Milford to secure a season sweep of the Hawks. Sharon sophomore Julia Earley went 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI, and played strong defense at short with three putouts and two assists to pace the Eagles, which totaled 11 hits as a team. Savannah Gray (double, RBI, run), Ciara McAuliffe (two RBI, run), and Penny Rabatsky (run) each had two hits for Sharon. Emily Botvin pitched three innings in relief, allowing just one earned run, with four strikeouts to get the win. Milford’s Amanda Wenckus went 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles and four RBI, Lucy Creedon (three runs) had three hits, including a home run that put Milford up 7-6 in the top of the sixth, and April Swain (run), Carly Ferreira (RBI), and Olivia Morelli (run, double) each had two hits.
North Attleboro, 6 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – North Attleboro belted out five consecutive hits, all with two outs, to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 5-1 lead, and junior pitcher Bella Erti took care of the rest as the Rocketeers swept the season series with the Black Knights. Emily Nardelli, Abby Gallagher (two hits), Ashley Cangiano (2B), Annabelle Hebard (three hits), and Katie Daby had consecutive hits to put the Rocketeers ahead. Erti tossed a one-hitter, limiting the Black Knights to one base runner (error) through six innings before Stoughton sophomore Nicole Baker recorded the team’s first hit. North coach Bill Wallace said Alex Moulson had a strong game in the field.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Taunton, 15 – Final (5 inn.) – Taunton senior Alexa White was nearly perfect in four innings of work, striking out nine with just one hit allowed as Taunton completed a season sweep of Oliver Ames. Olyvia Mendonca pitched a scoreless inning in relief with one strikeout. Jaime Brown (two runs, RBI), Alexa White (double, run, three RBI), Hanna Aldrich (triple, three runs, two RBI, two stolen bases) Tayah DaCosta (run), and Ava Venturelli (two runs) each had two hits for Taunton. Kenzie McAloon (double, two RBI), Rylie Murphy (three RBI), and Kelsey White (two RBI) also contributed to the Taunton offense.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 10 @ King Philip, 9 – Final – Canton junior Tommy Vaughan scored the game-winning goal with just over five minutes left in the game to help the Bulldogs knock off previously unbeaten King Philip. Vaughan scored his fourth of the game with 5:07 left and the Bulldogs took advantage of a three-minute locked in penalty to possess the ball and kill the final moments of the game. Griffin Roach and David Allen each added two goals while Chris Lavoie and Andrew Canton found the back of the net once each for the Bulldogs. Dylan Coyne had a strong game in net for Canton while Brendan Albert anchored the defense.
Attleboro, 1 @ Foxboro, 17 – Final – Foxboro raced out to a 6-0 lead after a quarter and took an 11-1 advantage in halftime and never looked back to knock off visiting Attleboro. Junior Bobby Yerardi (four goals) and sophomore Charlie Baughan (three goals, one assist) each accounted for four points to pace the Foxboro offense. Junior Aidan Stapleton added two goals and two assists, sophomore Max Biegel had a goal and an assist, and freshman Tom Sharkey and junior Ronnie MacLellan each scored once for the Warriors.
Franklin, 21 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Franklin built a 13-1 lead by halftime and then pitched a shutout in the second half, rolling to a win over the Hornets. Senior Jacob Alexander continued to dominate at the face-off X, winning 20-of-22 draws to help the Franklin offense control possession. Sophomore Matt Lazzaro scored six goals and had two assists, junior Jake Davis scored five times and added two helpers, senior Nitin Chaudhury had a pair of goals and one assist, and both junior Ben Greco (three assists) and senior Tim Kolb (two assists) scored once. Senior Will Davis made nine saves in net.
Oliver Ames, 15 @ Milford, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up a win on the road to punch its ticket for the state tournament, marking the first time in program history that the Tigers have qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons. Junior Shane Kilkelly paced the offense with six goals and two assists, sophomore Remi Creighton added a pair of goals and three helpers, senior Colin Bourne scored a hat trick and added an assist, and junior Sam Stevens netted a pair of goals with one helper.
Stoughton @ Sharon, 3:45
Girls Lacrosse
Foxboro, 19 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final
King Philip, 17 @ Canton, 3 – Final – King Philip exploded for 10 goals in the second half to run away with a win over Canton on the road. Caroline Klim paced the offense with eight points, scoring six goals and adding two assists while Jess Sullivan (assist) and Olivia Tormey each found the back of the net four times for KP. Haley Izydorczak, Julia Marsden, and Mackenzie Mazur each scored once for the Warriors while Caroline Watson made eight saves in the win.
Mansfield, 3 @ Franklin, 16 – Final – Franklin ran away with the game, picking up its seventh straight win with a 16-3 decision over visiting Mansfield. Senior Annie Walsh (four goals, three assists) and junior Erin Walsh (five goals, two assists) led the offense with seven points apiece, while Kelsey MacCallum added a hat trick and assists. Junior Gianna Cameron had a strong game in goal with 11 saves.
Milford, 9 @ Oliver Ames, 10 – Final – Milford scored two straight late in the game to get within one but Oliver Ames held on for the win. Senior Emily Haley paced the Hawks offense with five goals while senior Savannah Rosado had a strong game in net. Sophia Bucal added two goals while Alyssa Williamson and Stella Amour each found the back of the net once for Milford.
North Attleboro @ Taunton, 5:15
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield’s Luke Devine filled in at first singles and picked up a win in straight sets to help the Hornets defend home court. Devine won 6-0, 6-1 while Nilay Pangrekar secured a 6-0, 6-2 win at third singles for Mansfield. The team of Sam Shirmacher and Yash Sakhalkar picked up a 6-4, 6-1 win at first doubles while Jonah Fine and Ben Newcomb earned a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles for the Hornets. Attleboro’s Jared Cooper won 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) at second singles.
Canton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Canton freshman Suraj Ramanathan won 6-2, 6-0 at first singles.
Franklin, 3 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – Franklin won two matches in singles action and won one doubles match in a three-set thriller to edge King Philip in a battle of top teams in the Kelley-Rex division. The Panthers, who entered tied with the Warriors in first in the division, got the deciding win from Saket Gandham and Shoumik Sompally, who pulled out a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win at second doubles to give Franklin the win. Liam Marr won at 6-3, 6-3 at first singles and Vayshnav Malhotra didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. King Philip sophomore Nick Putney won 6-1, 6-2 at second singles and the team of Jack Cannon and Nate Ihley, both juniors, secured a 6-4, 6-0 win at first doubles.
North Attleboro, 4 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – North Attleboro won a pair of singles matches and both doubles matches, all in straight sets, to earn a 4-1 win over Stoughton. Junior Alex Pfeffer won 6-2, 6-1 at second singles and sophomore Sam Gallagher grabbed a 6-1, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Vikram Senthilakumaran and Tomas Bentley lost just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 decision at first doubles while Saketh Uppuluri and Justin Strom dropped a total of two games in a 6-0, 6-2 win at second doubles. Stoughton sophomore Waseem Sablon earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – Taunton earned two wins in both singles and doubles action to knock off visiting Oliver Ames. Brett Beaulieu won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles, Charlie Fiske picked up a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles, and Barrett Hodgson and Tyler Goddard earned a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles. Oliver Ames junior Yusaf Hameed earned his fifth straight win with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at third singles.
Milford, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon won all five matches in straight sets to earn a sweep on the road. Senior Danujan Thirumavalavan won 6-1, 6-3 at first singles, junior Alberto Olivei earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at second singles, and freshman Max Chen grabbed a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of Max Brody and Jake Ross didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles while Sharon’s second doubles team of Deyan Kassev and Mitch Weiss earned a 6-2, 6-1 win.
Girls Tennis
Mansfield, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Mansfield’s Lizzy Elsner prevailed in a super tiebreaker to win at first singles as the Hornets battled for a 4-1 win over the Bombardiers. Elsner won 6-2, 4-6, 10-2, Aryana Khosravani earned a 6-1, 6-3 win at third singles, Hannah Podolske and Sam Sternburg earned a 6-2, 7-5 win at first doubles, and Lauren Hobaica and Alex Burnham notched a 6-1, 6-3 win at second doubles. Attleboro’s Brianna Aronne picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles.
Foxboro, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Foxboro’s second doubles team of Maggie McAuliffe and Neha Jammula prevailed with a win in a tight three-set thriller, helping the Warriors edge Canton. McAuliffe and Jammula earned a 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 win for the Warriors, who also picked up wins from Pam Nelson (6-4, 6-2) at first singles and the team of Kendall Milender and Paige Krockta (6-1, 6-3) at second singles. Canton’s Natalie Keppler rallied for a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 win at second singles, and Sarah Hernandez earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory at third singles for the Bulldogs.
King Philip, 5 @ Franklin, 0 – Final
Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – Final – North Attleboro defended home court, winning all five matches in straight sets to earn a sweep of the visiting Black Knights. Senior Tara Nair won 6-0, 6-4 at first singles, senior Mae McLaughlin picked up a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles, and junior Olivia Wills emerged with a 6-2, 6-1 win at third singles. The Rocketeers’ first doubles team of sophomore Haley Strom and junior Sam Martino dropped just two games in a 6-0, 6-2 win while junior Brototi Nandi and sophomore Jayli Carmichael secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles.
Taunton, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Taunton won all three singles matches to secure a tight 3-2 victory over Oliver Ames. Jillian Pagliuca had a strong showing with a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singles, McKenzie Lucie picked up a 6-4, 6-2 win at second singles, and Jocelyn Pagliuca recorded a 6-0, 6-2 win at third singles. Oliver Ames’ Eva Belanger and Morgan Vasiliou earned a 6-4, 6-4 win at first doubles, and the second doubles team of Kate McCormick and Sarah Marley recorded a 6-1, 6-3 win for the host Tigers.
Sharon, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Sharon lost a total of two games in singles action and won all five matches on the road at Milford. Nupur Shukla didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles while freshman Valeria Barajas (second singles) and sophomore Charlie Martinez (third singles) each won 6-0, 6-1. The team of senior Sophia Fein and freshman Sasha Fein earned a 6-3, 7-6 win at first doubles while freshman Alice Zaniewski and sophomore Lena Lee won 6-4, 2-6, 10-5 at second doubles.
Baseball
King Philip, 2 @ Attleboro, 2 – Suspended/9th inning – The game will continue on Wednesday afternoon, starting with the 10th inning after the contest was postponed due to darkness.
Franklin, 1 @ Taunton, 0 – Final (11 inn.) – With the bases loaded in the top of the 11th, Franklin senior Alex Haba stole home for the winning run for the Panthers. Haba singled up the middle to reach base and was on third with two outs before sprinting home. It was a pitcher’s duel between starters Brennan Rivera (8IP, 4H, 4K 0BB) and Taunton’s Jack Moynihan (8IP, 3H, 10K, 1BB). Will Pacheco earned the win in relief for Franklin, tossing two innings with three hits, two walks, and one strikeout. Liam Dailey inherited the tying run in the bottom of the 11th but earned three straight outs for the save. Danny MacDougall and Andrew Gomes had two hits apiece for Taunton.
Sharon @ Canton – Postponed to Wednesday, 4/24 at 3:45.
Stoughton @ Foxboro – Postponed to Wednesday, 4/24 at 3:45.
Mansfield @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Wednesday, 4/24 at 3:45.
Milford @ North Attleboro – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.
Softball
Foxboro, 1 @ Stoughton, 7 – Final – Karly Estremera, Lexi Baptista, and Nicole Baker all had two hits, including a double each to pace the Black Knights to a win at home over Foxboro. Brianna Ferrandiz and Sydney Menz both had a pair or singles while Jordan Lyons and Sarah McGrath each had a base hit for Stoughton. Baker earned her sixth win of the season in the circle, scattering six hits while striking out seven in front of a strong Stoughton defense.
Attleboro @ King Philip – Postponed to Wednesday, 4/24 at 3:45.
Canton @ Sharon – Postponed to Wednesday, 4/24 at 3:45.
Taunton @ Franklin – Postponed to Wednesday, 4/24 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ Mansfield – Postponed to Wednesday, 4/24 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Milford – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.
Girls Lacrosse
Taunton @ Coyle & Cassidy, 6:00
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – King Philip senior Ethan Ball earned his first varsity win, teaming with classmate Jake Mager to earn a 6-0, 6-1 win at second doubles in the Warriors’ win over Attleboro. Junior Nate Ihley and senior Tyler Dowd won 6-1, 6-3 at first doubles for KP. In singles action, sophomore Nick Putney, junior Jack Cannon, and senior Zak Ryan each won 6-0, 6-0 at first, second, and third singles, respectively.
Canton, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Danujan Thirumavalavan, Alberto Olivei, and Rueman Bhattacharyya all earned wins in singles action for the Eagles, who knocked off visiting Canton. The team of Max Brody and Max Chen won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles for Sharon as well. Cnaton’s Tyler Duffy and Justin Luk rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) win at second doubles.
Foxboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Stoughton won at first and second singles but Foxboro took third and swept doubles play to earn the victory over the Black Knights. Bo Canfield won 6-4, 6-0 at third singled, the team of Brian Gardner and Sean McAvoy won 6-1, 6-0 at first doubles, and Noah Hicks and Justin Neale prevailed 6-1, 6-2 at second doubles. Stoughton sophomore Waseem Sablon won 6-0, 6-1 at first singles and senior Erik Anderson took a 6-4, 6-4 decision at second singles.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Franklin won all five matches in straight sets to knock off visiting Taunton. Liam Marr won 6-3, 6-2 at first singles, Rohan Herur secured a 6-1, 6-2 win at second singles, and Shoyaib Shaik won 6-3, 6-0 at third singles. The team of Saketh Saripalli and Vayshnav Malhotra won 6-1, 6-1 at first doubles while Shoumik Sompally and Saket Gandham paired up for a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.
North Attleboro @ Milford – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield swept singles play and added another win in doubles action for a sweep over Oliver Ames. Luke Nickerson didn’t lose a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, Luke Devine earned a 6-3, 6-1 win at second singles, and Sam Schirmacher prevailed with a 7-5, 5-7, 10-5 win at third singles. The team of Peter Rouvalis and Kai Schirmacher won 6-0, 6-0 at first doubles for the Hornets.
Girls Tennis
King Philip, 5 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – King Philip picked up a sweep on the road, winning all five matches in straight sets. Erin Regnier won 6-0, 6-2 at first singles, Katarina Schneider earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles, and Mia Velancia notched a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Grace Ely and Katie Welch took a 6-0, 6-3 win at first doubles while Laura Davenport and Izzy MacMeans secured a 6-3, 6-1 win at second doubles.
Sharon, 4 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Sharon emerged with a 4-1 win in a match that Eagles coach Diane Micheroni noted the score doesn’t reflect how close it was. Nupur Shukla earned a 7-5, 6-1 win at first singles, Valeria Barajas notched a 6-3, 6-3 win at second singles, and Charlize Martinez picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles for the Eagles. The team of Maikala Cheung and Lauren Glass won 6-3, 6-0 at first doubles for Sharon. Canton’s Nyah Claiborne and Rose Hazam picked up a 6-4, 6-4 win at second doubles.
Stoughton, 0 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Foxboro didn’t drop a game in any of its singles matches and won both doubles matches in straight sets to beat the Black Knights. Pam Nelson, Sarah Prag, and Julia Muise each won 6-0, 6-0 at first, second, and third singles, respectively. The team of Kendall Milender and Paige Krockta secured a 6-2, 6-1 win at first doubles while Lindsey Young and Maria Shehata earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at second doubles.
Franklin, 0 @ Taunton, 5 – Final – The Tigers defended home court with a sweep over visiting Franklin. Jillian Pagliuca won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles, McKenzie Lucie earned a 6-1, 6-0 decision at second singles, and Jocelyn Pagliuca won by default at third singles. The team of Sam Martin and Brianna Fevrier didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles while Ogechi Ariguzo and Cayeesha Charles earned a 7-5, 6-0 win at second doubles.
Mansfield, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this match. – Mansfield won a pair of matches in singles action and swept doubles action for a win on the road over Oliver Ames. Lizzy Elsner earned a come from behind 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at first singles while Aryana Khosravani battled to a 6-4, 7-5 win at third singles. The team of Hannah Podolske and Sam Sternburg picked up a 7-5, 6-3 victory at first doubles while Alex Burnham and Lauren Hobaica secured a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win at second doubles. Oliver Ames’ Maura Kiernan picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win at second singles.
Milford @ North Attleboro – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.
Boys Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 58 @ Oliver Ames, 78 – Final – Oliver Ames’ Aaron MacDonald was a quadruple winner and the Tigers swept the relays to earn a victory over Attleboro. MacDonald won the 400M (52.8), the 200M (23.0), the long jump (19’10”), and the triple jump (40’11”) for the Tigers. Chucky Akanegbu, Jared Boone, Collin Williamson, and Ashton Hart teamed up for a win in the 4×100 relay (47.5) while Sean Flaherty, Nate Reservitz, Alex Ramirez, and Zane Reservitz (3:46.1) won the 4×400. Flaherty also won the 400M hurdles (59.8) and Zane Reservitz earned a victory in the 1 Mile (4:48.7). Other winners for OA included Kyle Sarney (2 Mile, 10:11.6), Quinn Proudler (shot put, 41’6″) and Ryan Tamasanis (high jump, 5’8″).
Stoughton, 94 @ Canton, 42 – Final – Tommy Pulcini and Cam Sanchez took first and second, respectively, in the discus with both posting big PRs for the Bulldogs. Sanchez also had a third place finish in the 100M while Deyontai Dennis had a four second PR to qualify for divisionals in the 400M hurdles, while adding a third place finish in the high jump. Junior Sainvil won the 100M dash while taking third in the long jump and the 200M for Canton.
Foxboro, 28 @ Milford, 99 – Final – Milford’s Tyler Giroux won a pair of events as the Scarlet Hawks raced past visiting Foxboro. Giroux took first in the 400M hurdles (1:05.5) and the discus (106′ 7″). Other winners for Milford included Anton Luckett (high jump, 5’4), Pedro Moura (100M, 11.1), Joey Madden (1 Mile, 4:37), Rafaell Feliciano (400M, 53.2), Max Manor (800M, 2:05.7), Hugo Lopes (200M, 22.9), Nick Yohn (shot put, 38’4), and Max Martin (long jump, 19’4).
Franklin, 50 @ Mansfield, 86 – Final – Mansfield’s Andrew Williams won three events, anchoring a sweep in the high jump, to help the Hornets get a win over Franklin. Williams took first in the high jump (6’2) with Ethan Thevenot (5’10) and Drew Rooney (5’6) taking second and third. Williams also won the long jump (16’2) and the 110M hurdles (16.6). Greg Waters was a double winner for Mansfield, taking the 100M dash in 11.1 and the 200M in 23.2 with Anthony Comer taking second in both events. Other winners for Mansfield included Danny Knight (400M, 51.9), Jason Windvogel (800M, 2:00.4) and Danny Rapoza (javelin, 144′ 2.5″).
King Philip @ Taunton, 3:45
Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Girls Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 67 @ Oliver Ames, 69 – Final
Stoughton, 62 @ Canton, 54 – Final – Canton’s Maddie Rousseau went unbeaten for the second straight dual meet, earning wins in the 100M, 200M, long jump, and triple jump to pace the Bulldogs. Rousseau qualified for the 200M with her win. Sarah Collins also notched two wins, taking first in the 400M hurdles and 400M. Chloe Pennacchio added first place finishes in the 1 Mile and 2 Mile and Annie Hoban used a strong final kick to take first in the 800M. Bronwyn Mahoney took first in the discus and grabbed second in the shot put while freshman Talya Mendez-DeGraw placed third in the 100M and qualified for divisionals with a leap of 4’10” in the high jump.
Foxboro, 57 @ Milford, 70 – Final
Franklin, 54 @ Mansfield, 82 – Final – Mansfield senior Amanda Mangano shined, winning four events to help the Hornets beat visiting Franklin. Mangano won 100M dash, 200M dash, long jump, and the high jump for the Hornets. Freshmen Anna Darlington (400M) and Megan Johnston, (2 Mile) each won an event while classmate Anna Buckley broke the school record for freshman in the triple jump and the high jump. Senior Julia Hill won the triple jump while taking second in the 400M hurdles and the long jump.
King Philip, 63 @ Taunton, 73 – Final
Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Boys Volleyball
Milford, 3 @ Bellingham, 0 – Final – Milford cruised to a 3-0 sweep (25-8, 25-19, 25-4) win over Bellingham, who is in their first year at the varsity level. Charlie Vo had a team high seven kills for the Hawks while Nathan LeBlanc paced the defense with 20 digs.
Franklin’s Will Pacheco earned the save, getting the final three outs while stranding the tying run at first. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
STOUGHTON, Mass. – Stoughton’s offense came knocking multiple times throughout the game, but in the biggest situations, Franklin’s defense slammed the door shut.
The Black Knights loaded the bases in three separate innings and threatened with the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but three separate Panther pitchers came through to limit the damage, helping the Panthers secure a 5-3 win on the road.
After two quick strikeouts to start the game from Stoughton starter Zak Paquette, the Panthers cashed in. Senior Alex Haba had an infield single and quickly moved into scoring position by stealing second. Haba came in to score on a two-out RBI from senior Jake Macchi to put the visitors up 1-0 after a half inning.
Stoughton loaded the bases in the bottom of the first following a walk to junior George Currier, a single from senior Robbie Seaman, and a catcher’s interference but starting pitcher Liam Dailey induced a ground ball for the third out to keep the Knights off the board.
Franklin capitalized on its chances again in the top of the third. Scott Elliott led off with a single and took second when the hit got by the center fielder trying to make a defensive play. Elliott then stole third and came home when the throw from home was high, giving the Panthers a run without a second player putting the ball in play.
The Panthers struck again with two outs to increase the advantage. Cooper Ross reached on an error, took second on a single from JB Floris, and game in to score on an RBI base hit from Dan Markowski to make it 3-0.
“Two-out RBIs are key, they are clutch,” said Franklin head coach Zach Brown. “This is a good offense, and we’ve found ways to score runs in a number of ways. Today it just happened to be the two-out RBI and not quitting on an inning that made the difference.”
The Black Knights had the leadoff man erased with a double play in the second, and then couldn’t push across any runs when they loaded the bases with one out in the third inning. Currier and Seaman had back-to-back singles and junior James Genest reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases with the Black Knights trailing 3-0.
Again, Dailey was up to the challenge, getting a strikeout for the second out and inducing a pop up behind the plate that was caught on a nice play by Macchi to keep Stoughton off the board.
“With some of the plays we made, we didn’t make it easy for Liam,” Brown said. “He gave us a great effort, we’re proud of that effort. When he’s on the hill, we feel pretty good about our chances.”
Franklin increased its lead with another big play from Elliott. Junior Jack Nally drew a one-out walk and advanced to second and third on back-to-back wild pitches.Elliot laced a shot to right center field that went past the fielder. With no fence at the Stoughton field, the ball continued rolling allowing Elliott to round the bases for an inside the park home run.
Stoughton once again put pressure on the Panthers in the bottom of the fifth, this time pushing some runs across with the bases load. Cian Swierzewski led off with a single, Seaman was hit by a pitch, and Genest single to load the bases with one out.
Jacob Kaplan came through with an RBI single to get the Knights on the board, and Michael Nazzaro followed with a base hit of his own to bring another run in, making it 5-2. With the bases still loaded, Brown elected to go to the bullpen and brought in junior Cody Trotin.
Trotin came through for Franklin, getting the first batter he faced to strikeout and followed by inducing a fly ball to center to prevent Stoughton from adding to its total.
“We’re young and Franklin is a good team,” said Stoughton head coach Mike Armour. “We didn’t do ourselves any favors today. Zak was locked in to start, you saw it with the two strikeouts, and I felt like we could have done him a little better, we could have made some more plays early on. But at the same time, you have to tip your cap to Franklin. They got the bat on the ball and got a few runs across the dish early that ended up being the difference. But we’re still learning, there’s still room for improvement, but all in all, being a hit away from tying this game we’ll take it.
“We had 11 left on base, but you have to tip your hat to Franklin for making some pitches and getting us out. We’re young, we have some guys that are still getting their feet wet at the varsity level and I think they showed today. Hopefully, we learn from it.”
Genest took over on the mound in relief for the Black Knights, and after the first batter he faced reached on an error, he retired six straight Panthers.
Stoughton brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but again the Panthers got the necessary outs. Seaman led off with a triple and scored on an RBI single from Genest to make it 5-3. Genest moved to second when Kaplan was walked, putting runners on first and second with no outs, forcing Brown to go to his bullpen again.
Junior Will Pacheco got a strikeout and then a fielder’s choice, putting runners on the corners for the Knights with two outs. Pacheco then got a soft line drive back to the mound for the third out, stranding the tying run on first to get the win.
“We got some outs when we needed them,” Brown said. “Cody Trotin came into a big spot in his first outing of the year. He really gave us what we needed at the time. And obviously, Will Pacheco has been around the block and he just seems to rise to the occasion in pressure situations.”
Franklin baseball (5-0 Hockomock, 6-0 overall) is back in action on Friday when it hosts one of the top teams in the state in Walpole. Stoughton (3-2, 5-2) is back in action on Tuesday when it travels to Foxboro.
2018 Record: 9-11 2018 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Steve Dunlea
After missing out on the playoffs by just one game last season, the Bombardiers are hoping to their experience will help them reach the state tournament this year.
Attleboro has experience in its pitching staff, behind the plate, and both in the infield as well the outfield. The Bombardiers pitching was a strength last season and should be again this year. Eoin Kelleher, the 2017 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year, returns for his senior season and will be the anchor on the staff. Junior Ryan Morry impressed during his outings last season and lefty Camden Fitzpatrick will be in the mix as well.
The Bombardiers will be very strong on the left side of the infield. Senior captain Mason Houle will man third base while junior Tim Callahan, a starter last season, takes over at shortstop. Junior Lorenzo Wilson is slated to take the job at first base while Morry and junior Nick McMahon will split time at second base. While it’s a strong group defensively, all four will be relied upon to step up offensively. Attleboro had just 80 runs total last year, least in the Kelley-Rex division.
Another big part of the offense will be center fielder Alvaro Espinal. Espinal is arguably the best fielding outfielder in the league and will also bring a spark to the Bombardiers lineup at the plate. Senior captain Robbie Furtado will fill in at left field while Sam Larkin and Troy Gamache will both see time in right as well as designated hitter. Behind the plate, Troy Van Vliet gives the Bombardiers some experience while sophomore Bailey Camacho gives first-year head coach Steve Dunlea some flexibility at the position.
“The strength of this team is its senior class leadership and team chemistry,” Dunlea said. “We really have a well-balanced team that is strong in all phases of the game. It’s going to be a fun group to watch this year.”
2018 Record: 5-15 2018 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Ben Shuffain
A strong core of returning players along with some young talent should make for a fun season for the Bulldogs in 2019.
After losing a few key pieces from 2018, there is a good mix of experienced players and talented youth for first-year head coach Ben Shuffain to work with. The Bulldogs will look to three senior captains to the lead the way: Matt Pigeon, Paul Corcoran and Robert Sullivan. Pigeon is a three-year starter behind the plate who batted .368 last season. Corcoran and Sullivan will anchor a deep pitching staff that has looked solid in the preseason.
The pitching staff will also include seniors Kevin McGonigle, Nick Murray, and Joe Bates. Along with them Shuffain will also lean on junior Chris Rota and sophomores Nate Hewitt and Matt Connolly on the mound.
The infield has a double play duo that has shown to work well together featuring senior Mike Konzal and returning second baseman Nathan Quan. Offensively Canton will look to senior Max Macort along with juniors Owen Lahane and Lucas Bryant, and sophomore Steven Burbank.
“We have been very fortunate to have a lot of work outside so far this spring and I think it is going to help us start off on a positive,” Shuffain said. “The team is coming together and we have a great group of kids who really want to turn this program around.”
2018 Record: 5-16 2018 Finish: Reached D3 South First Round Coach: Derek Suess
Foxboro graduated 10 seniors from last year’s squad but there are 12 Warriors returning with varsity experience looking to make another trip to the state tournament.
The Warriors will be relying on their pitching staff this year to lead the way. There is a lot of optimism surrounding the rotation with senior Anthony Mollica and sophomore Sean Yoest each possessing plenty of varsity experience. Those two will be the top guys in the rotation while sophomore Cam Prescott has impressed during the preseason and could fit into the third starting spot. Seniors Guy Quartarone, Brian Duncan, and Philip Thomas as well as juniors Michael Devlin and Joe Cavaleri will be in the mix as well.
When he isn’t on the mound, Mollica will be the anchor of the defense from the shortstop position. He will be joined by sophomore Michael O’Toole at first base, Cavaleri will man third, and Thomas will take over at second base. Senior Adam Lanctot will also see time at second base this season for the Warriors.
In the outfield, Duncan — a senior captain that missed all of last season — will be the anchor, with Devlin handling center field duties and junior James Kaeser rounding out the Warrior outfield. Junior Zach Jenkins will also be in the mix for time in the outfield while junior Kyle McGinnis takes over behind the plate and will be relied upon as a key piece of Foxboro’s offense.
“Mentally, we have to have the same focus, energy, and intensity every single game,” said Foxboro coach Derek Suess. “There are no easy games in the Hockomock League. We must be consistent in our everyday approach in order to have a chance to compete for a league title.”
2018 Record: 21-5 2018 Finish: Division 1A (Super 8) State Champions Coach: Zach Brown
Coming off the program’s first-ever Super 8 state championship, Franklin is going to have a big target on its back — and the Panthers know it.
Franklin lost its top three pitchers in Jake Noviello, Bryan Woelfel, and Jason Ulrickson. Those were the only three pitchers to play during the Panthers’ Super 8 run. This season, the Panthers will turn to the experience of Ben Guzman, Brennan Rivera, and Will Pacheco. All three made appearances a year ago with Guzman and Pacheco registering wins. Guzman is currently recovering from an injury suffered in the preseason but the Panthers are excited for his contributions when he returns. Juniors Liam Dailey and Cody Trotin will also be in the mix after starting for JV last season.
While the pitching staff gets settled in, the Panthers will rely on its defense and offense. After an up-and-down regular season last year offensively, Franklin will be trying to carry over the success it had in the state tournament. Senior Alex Haba is back at shortstop and is one of the best two-way players in the Hockomock. Jake Macchi had a terrific postseason and will be looking to carry that over into his final year starting at catcher for Franklin. Scott Elliott will be the veteran in the outfield for the Panthers as well as a top offensive weapon. All three players — Haba, Macchi, and Elliott — are committed to playing baseball at Merrimack.
Cooper Ross is coming off a strong postseason and will start at third base while junior Jack Nally had a standout sophomore campaign in center field and will move up to the top of the order to set the table for the Panther offense. JB Floris will move from the designated hitter spot to first base and brings an experienced bat with him. Senior Joe Lizotte should see time in the outfield while senior Shane O’Neil’s versatility gives Franklin a lot of options defensively.
“We know this isn’t last year, this is a totally different team with different dynamics,” said Franklin head coach Zach Brown. “We like the makeup of our team, with guys working hard and the seniors being good leaders. I think we could be pretty good defensively, and we’ve shown at times in the preseason to be pretty versatile on offense.”
King Philip is returning a lot of experienced players from last year’s squad and is hoping that will turn into an improved season and berth in the state tournament.
One big reason for optimism is a seasoned pitching staff, which features seniors David Morganelli and Terry Murray. Morganelli posted a 1.99 ERA last season along with 43 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched. Murray will be the second starter for the Warriors while juniors Chris Sawyer and Robbie Jarest are expected to factor into the rotation as the season progresses.
“David’s size, strength, and velocity make him a formidable pitcher,” said KP’s second-year head coach Greg Kessler. “His slider and ability to locate his fastball are one of the best in the league. David has an opportunity to be one of the best pitchers in the Hock. He is competitive and has improved a lot in terms of accuracy.”
Sawyer and Jarest will handle the left side of the infield again this year, with Jarest returning as the starting shortstop and Sawyer back manning third base. Both players will be key pieces at the top of KP’s batting order. Senior Ian Zimmerman returns at second base while senior Jake Anderson and sophomore Conor Cooke will both see time behind the plate.
Timmy Nault (.311 last year) will lead the way in the outfield while Zachary Zarba will figure in as well. There is a lot of competition for some open spots in the KP lineup as well.
“We have a lot of work to do this season, we need to improve on our hitting and driving the ball,” Kessler said. “We have a great group of seniors who are dedicated and excited to compete for a Hock Title. This senior group is a collection of great student-athletes and really represent KP well. They are leaders on and off the field”
2018 Record: 19-5 2018 Finish: Super 8 First Round Coach: Joe Breen
Mansfield had a very successful 2018 season that saw the Hornets win the Kelley-Rex division and earned a berth into the Super 8 tournament. But the Hornets enter the 2019 campaign hungrier than ever.
After seeing an early exit from the Super 8, Mansfield is aiming to get back and make some noise in the tournament this year. There will certainly be holes to fill after graduating two top pitchers in Tyler Dalton and Kevin Dow, as well as the steady bat of Justin Pena and the terrific defense of catcher Cullin Anastasia. However, there are 11 players due back from last year’s team and a handful of new faces ready to make an impact of their own.
Junior John Carney and senior Kevin Moran will anchor the rotation; the Hornets unfortunately lost ace Connor Sheehan for the season to an injury. Both Carney and Moran have experience though, and Mansfield is looking to seniors Jake Gerraughty, Matt Scibilia, Aidan Angland, Connor Smith, and sophomore Greg Coyle to fill the relief and spot start roles.
Mansfield brings back two of its three outfielders from last year with centerfielder Sam Nugent and right field Dan Saraceno both returning. Speedy shortstop Mike Hargadon is also back so the Hornets have three key pieces from the top half of the lineup back to pace the offense this year. Look for Eric Longley, Jenkins, Smith, Gerraughty, and Scibilia to also factor into to the Hornet lineup this year.
“It’s been a wild offseason here between losing some of our top guys and coming down with the injury bug but we have a great group of self-motivated returning players that we will look to keep our program going in the right direction,” said Mansfield head coach Joe Breen. “There are a lot of positional battles and innings on the mound to be sorted out, but the staff is excited to see the boys compete over the first couple weeks of the pre-season to get ourselves ready for [the first game]. While we had some great success last season, the boys know that we are 0-0 and they are ready to carve their own path.”
2018 Record: 5-15 2018 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Alex Dion
After having a relatively young, inexperienced group in 2018, the Scarlet Hawks have flipped the script, bringing back six starters and eight total players and will be looking to ride that experience to an improved 2019 campaign.
Half of the returning starters are the three starting pitchers from last year, including senior Danny Corsini and juniors Colby Pires and Luke Rosa. Despite a 1-3 record last year, Rosa had a solid 2.97 ERA in 30.2 innings of work with 19 strikeouts. Corsini logged over 35 innings while Pires had over 24, so there is plenty of experience in the Hawk’s rotation.
Senior captain Matt Shaver returns to his shortstop position and will anchor the infield. Corsini and Pires will both see time at third base when they aren’t pitching, Justin Applebee is back for another season at second base, and Tyler Almeida continues his duties as the starting catcher for the Hawks. Senior captain Nick Marcolini gives the Hawks a left-handed option on the mound. Sophomores Carter Scudo (outfield) and Mario Lee (first, pitcher) will also factor in this year.
“I’m looking forward to the 2019 baseball season and am excited about the players that are on our team,” said Milford head coach Alex Dion. “This is a tough league with a lot of good teams and good coaches. I think we have an opportunity to be very competitive this year. I will lead on our returning seniors and captains to push this team in the right direction and I am excited about the young players we have in our program.”
2018 Record: 22-2 2018 Finish: Division 2 State Champions Coach: Mike Hart
North Attleboro is looking to replicate its success from last season, the best year in program history that resulted in the D2 State Championship. And with a solid group of returning players, there is optimism but the Rocketeers know it certainly won’t come easy.
“We are a team with a decent amount of returning players, but we will need everybody contributing to be successful,” said North Attleboro coach Mike Hart. “We are looking for guys to be more consistent, especially on the offensive side of the game.”
The Rocketeers have three returning starters in the infield, so that will certainly be relied upon as the season gets underway. Senior Nick Raneri started at third last season but will move over to first this year while seniors Shawn Watters and Ryan Warren will take care of business up the middle. Hart says there is a lot of competition for the final spot in the infield with a handful of players possibly seeing time. Brendan McHugh returns as the starting left fielder while Kyle Bolger, Russell Dunlap, and Kyle Briere are all in the mix.
Behind the plate, senior Todd Robinson and junior Owen Harding are battling for the starting spot.
While the Rocketeers look to get the offense going, they will rely on their pitching staff early on. Matt Wanless had a very strong junior year and will be counted on heavily this season while seniors Matt Seavey, Jake Palmer, Jake Carroll, as well as Dunlap and Briere, should be in the mix for innings. Sophomore Dennis Colleran will see an increased role this season and could emerge as a top option for the Big Red.
“We will rely heavily on our pitching staff to lead us, and with smart, mistake-free defense, we will be able to win some games,” Hart said. “I really like the competitiveness our team brings every day. If we can learn from our failures and grind through the tough parts of the season that are sure to come, I believe we can win some ball games.”
2018 Record: 16-8 2018 Finish: Reached D2 South Final Coach: Joe Abarr
Oliver Ames is coming off one of its most successful seasons, reaching the D2 South Final last year. The Tigers graduated some key pieces but there is a lot of players back that gives OA hopes at replicating last year’s success.
Senior Chris Pearsons will be a leader on and off the field for the Tigers, moving over from third base to take over the starting shortstop spot. Pearsons is one of the top players in the league, earning HockomockSports.com First Team honors last year after belting out 30 hits for an impressive .448 average. Not only is he a dangerous offensive player, he’s one of the top defensive players in the league as well.
Another key returner for the Tigers is catcher Jake Erlich, who will begin his third year starting behind the plate. Erlich is one of the top defensive catchers in the region and OA is looking for him to have a breakout season at the plate. Junior Jacob Levine showed flashes last season with some timely hits as a pinch hitter. This year, Levine takes over at first and the Tigers will be looking for him to bring a consistent bat to the lineup.
Reid Latham, who went 2-1 last season with a 2.85 ERA, focused heavily on pitching this offseason and will take over as the top starter in the Tigers’ rotation.
“We have an established lineup of varsity hitters with a handful of underclassmen that will be filling in gaps for us,” said Oliver Ames coach Joe Abarr. “Our pitching rotation should be solid as long as everyone stays healthy. Last year, the Hock proved to be one of the best leagues in the state. We need to show up and compete every day if we want to be successful.”
After a couple of seasons of being on the outside looking in, the 2019 Sharon Eagles are looking to make strides towards a state tournament berth.
Although it will be a relatively young group, there is strong senior leadership. Head coach Kee Arguimbau is hoping that a nice mix of veterans and new faces will result in a successful season.
Tarlin was also the ace of the staff for the past couple of seasons but senior Noah Kamens should be ready to step into the top spot after some real strong outings last year. A lefty, Kamens does a nice job mixing up his pitches and will be a key part of Sharon’s defense. Kamens will be complemented by 6’6 righty Max LeBlanc, who burst onto the scene a year and had some impressive outings. Jared Reef returns behind the dish and the Eagles are looking for him to have a breakout year offensively.
Junior Alec Filipkowski is moving in from the outfield to second base while sophomore Justin Brown returns to shortstop after picking up valuable experience last season as a freshman. Noah Martinez, who recently returned to Sharon after living in Florida, could be a key piece of the offense while playing the hot corner defensively.
Seniors Dairell Martinez and Matty Jacobsen will be doing their part for the Eagles in the outfield while = senior Ben Reinbold looks to have an impact for Sharon on the mound.
“This year’s team is young. Luckily, what we lack in experience, we make up for in solid leadership,” Arguimbau said. “The seniors have done a phenomenal job in establishing the culture for the team this season. The young guys in the program have followed their lead and have been working hard in the offseason and are ready to continue to put the work in every day.
2018 Record: 10-9 2018 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round Coach: Mike Armour
Stoughton had a solid season a year ago, but an early exit from the state tournament has left the Black Knights hungry for more in 2019.
It starts with the two co-captains for the Black Knights: senior Zak Paquette and senior Robert Seaman. Paquette emerged as Stoughton’s top option on the mound last season and will be counted on to take on a lot of innings again this season. Paquette isn’t the most flashy pitcher but he helps put Stoughton in position to win games. Seaman will start at shortstop and the Black Knights are looking to him for a big bat in the middle of the lineup.
Last year’s HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year George Currier is looking to pick up where he left off last season, giving the Black Knights flexibility with his ability to play anywhere on the field defensively. Seniors Cian Swierzewski, Kevin Dixon, and Kyle Gagnon are all experienced outfielders, James Genest III gives Stoughton a nice presence at the plate offensively, and Mike Nazzaro will handle catching duties.
Newcomers Clayton Rahaman and Jacob Kaplan should log some innings in the outfield, along with Cam Dirosa in the infield and Brady Conlin in the infield and on the mound. Senior pitcher Evan Jackman has impressed so far this preseason and will be a key piece of Stoughton’s starting rotation.
“The goal this season will be to compete every time we set foot on the field, playing sound fundamental baseball and doing the little things to put us in a position to win some ballgames,” said Stoughton head coach Mike Armour. “The boys have been working hard and I expect us to have some fun this year and play the game the right way.”
2018 Record: 1 2018 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round Coach: Blair Bourque
There is a lot of excitement in Taunton with its new turf field, but the Tigers are hoping it’s their performance on that field that will have people talking by the end of the year.
It all starts with pitching for Taunton this year. With two DI commits in Jack Moynihan (Siena) and Josh Lajoie (St. John’s), the Tigers will certainly be boasting one of the top pitching groups for another season. Moynihan posted a 1.44 ERA with 43 strikeouts while Lajoie fanned 36 batters and had a 1.52 ERA.
Both Moynihan and Lajoie provide a lot of offense as well, but the Tigers will need others to step up to fill some voids from graduation. Tyler Medeiros (.375) and Trevor Pietrzyk (.373) both graduated some Taunton’s offense so head coach Blair Bourque will be looking for some new faces to step up.
The Tigers will be looking to senior Evan Melo to give the offense a spark. Melo will patrol center field and set the table to the offensively from the leadoff spot. Junior Logan Lawrence impressed last year batting .336; Taunton will need his bat to provide pop in the middle of the lineup in 2019.
“We’re certainly excited about having the opportunity to showcase our new turf field,” said Taunton head coach Blair Bourque. “It’s really a dream come true. There’s something special about this year’s team, the senior leadership and camaraderie are substantial.”
Mansfield starter Tyler Dalton delivers a pitch in the top of the first inning against Franklin. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
MANSFIELD, Mass. – With the bases loaded and the go-ahead run at the plate for the visiting Franklin Panthers, Mansfield head coach Joe Breen had no hesitation going to sophomore John Carney in the big moment.
Carney needed just four pitches to get the third out — a ground ball to third — to help the Hornets escape from further damage. The sophomore right-hander was just one of many players that stepped up and delivered for the Hornets in a 10-3 victory.
There was also senior Justin Pena, who had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
And senior Mike Hargadon, who was pivotal in getting the Mansfield offense going from the nine-hole with the teams’ first two hits.
And of course senior Tyler Dalton, the Hornets’ right-handed starting pitcher that struck out 10 batters in 5.2 innings of work, allowing just five hits to earn the win on the mound. And on top of that, Dalton had a big two-RBI single that sparked a five-run fifth inning for the Hornets.
“Our guys have really battled the last couple of weeks, they aren’t afraid of any challenge at this point, and today was no different,” said Mansfield head coach Joe Breen. “Franklin is one of the top teams in the state and Jake Noviello is one of the top pitchers in the state.
“If you told me we’d put up 10 runs today, you would have fooled me. We knew we had a big challenge with Jake on the mound. He certainly pitched well but our guys kept battling and found a way to get the barrel on the ball, had some great at-bats, and put ourselves in position to score some runs.”
Franklin scored a run in the first inning but Mansfield tied the game with a run in the third game. It wasn’t until Dalton’s big hit in the fifth that the Hornets had a lead; from there Mansfield’s offense was clicking.
Dan Saraceno led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and moved to third on a deep fly ball to left field from Kevin Dow that just landed fair. Dalton plated them both with a single and took second on the throw. Pena delivered with a soft line drive down the left field line to score Dalton.
Kyle Moran reached on an infield error and both Pena and Moran moved up a base because of the error. Sophomore Chris Jenkins came up clutch with a single to bring both Pena and Moran home, making it 6-1.
“Our approach as a team offensively has certainly improved since the last game,” Breen said. “We’ve seen in the last couple of games, with two strikes, our strikeout numbers are way down. Guys get two strikes on them and it’s now a battle to get them out. I think we had quite a few important two-strike hits today and I think that was the difference. If you foul off some of those pitches, you’re making [Noviello] throw more pitches, and we tried to drive that pitch count up early.
“And one big difference this game is that last time, we had a decent amount of baserunners but we didn’t do anything with them. Today we did, we had time timely hits. Tyler Dalton, Justin Pena, Kyle Moran…guys just stepped up and had big hits when we needed them.”
Franklin’s offense responded in the top half of the sixth inning but ended up leaving the bases loaded. A one-out single from Scott Elliott and walks to Alex Haba and Jake Macchi loaded the bases for the Panthers.
Cooper Ross had a nice at-bat that resulted in a single through the right side for a run and Steven Luttazi drew a two-out walk to bring in another room.
Breen brought Carney in for Dalton (5.2 IP, 5 H, 10 K) and the sophomore came up big, getting the third out to leave the bases loaded.
“We have all the confidence in the world in Carney,” Breen said. “He is a sophomore but anyone that’s seen him pitch one or two times knows what a competitor he is. Anytime I look around when a starter gets tired, the first set of eyes I see are his, he wants the ball. That says a lot for a sophomore.”
The Hornets took advantage of one of Franklin’s five errors in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Will Pacheco sandwiched a walk and a hit batter between two outs. It looked like the Panthers would get out of the inning unscathed when Pacheco induced a ground ball, but an infield error allowed Saraceno to score and Dow to take third.
Dow then scored on a wild pitch and Cullin Anastasia went from first to third after a throwing error. Pena singled Anastasia in and a double from Moran plated Pena to make it 10-3.
“It was just uncharacteristic of us today,” said Franklin coach Zach Brown. “Don’t take anything away from Mansfield, they played great and competed hard. Some of the errors were forced but we had some mental mistakes, some walks, things like that that we haven’t been doing all year. When you’re playing a good team, the margin of error is slim and you have to make sure that you minimize all those things. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that today but we have to bounce right back because we’re playing a good Attleboro team on Wednesday.
“Both teams had opportunities, and today Mansfield capitalized on their opportunities. Unfortunately we opened the door for them to capitalize a couple of times.”
Franklin took the lead in the top of the first inning when Haba hit one deep to center for a double and then scored when Macchi drilled a bouncer off the third baseman’s glove.
Mansfield behind a leadoff double from Hargadon, a groundout that moved Hargadon to third, and then Dow’s high hit to center field was lost, allowing the ball to drop and Hargadon to cross home.
“We had Michael in the two-hole in the very beginning of the season and it wasn’t that he did poorly to move him down, I think we needed a few more guys on for the top of the order and we just weren’t getting it,” Breen said. “We moved him to the nine-hole and get him a few more fastballs. Today was a breakout day for him.”
Mansfield baseball (9-3 Hockomock, 11-3 overall) moves into a first place tie with the Panthers in the Kelley-Rex division, and with a game in hand. The Hornets are back in action on Wednesday when they host King Philip. Franklin (9-4, 12-4) is scheduled to host Attleboro on the same day.
Baseball
Attleboro, 1 @ Canton, 2 – Final (8 Inn.) – Attleboro took a lead in the top of the eighth inning, breaking open a scoreless game, with an RBI single by Alvaro Espinel, but the Bulldogs rallied for two runs in the bottom of the inning to walk off with the win. With one out, Tommy DeLello reached on an error and Nate Quan drew a walk. Matt Casamento singled to left to bring in the tying run and Matt Pigeon dropped a single just fair down the line to score Quan with the game-winning run. Robbie Wilkinson went five innings on the mound for the Bulldogs and Kevin McGonigle got his first varsity win in relief. Attleboro starter Drew Pagano went seven scoreless but ended up with a no-decision as the Bombardiers lost to a walk-off for the second straight day.
Sharon, 0 @ Franklin, 11 – Final – Bryan Woelfel went six innings to pick up the win for the Panthers, striking out two and allowing only two hits. Will Pacheco threw a scoreless seven and struck out two to finish the game for Franklin. Brendan Rivera, Cooper Ross, Jake Noviello, and Alex Haba each scored a run and drove in a run in the game, while Jake Macchi scored three times in the win. Ben Schwartz and Max Tarlin had the two hits for the Eagles.
Foxboro, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – David Morganelli had a great game on the bump for the Warriors, picking up a complete game shutout with six strikeouts and only three hits allowed. Collin Cooke had a hit an RBI for the KP offense, while Pat Limerick and Chris Sawyer each had two hits and each scored a run.
Softball
Canton, 5 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Caroline Hughes struck out five for the Bulldogs and picked up a complete game win on the road. Hughes also hit a double. Freshman Liz Bickett went 2-for-4 with a homerun and drove in three runs for Canton. Evelyn Carrington went 2-for-4 and scored the eventual game-winner. Steph Trendell threw out a pair of Attleboro runners, including one in the bottom of the seventh that ended the game.
Franklin, 15 @ Sharon, 1 – Final (6 Inn.) – Franklin broke the game open with a seven-run second inning to put the Panthers on the way to a third straight win. Jackie Cherry held the Eagles without a hit in her three innings in the circle, striking out seven. Cherry also went 2-for-3 with a triple, homer, and four RBI at the plate. Natalie Stott also went 2-for-3, drove in a pair of runs and scored three times. Gabby Colace went 2-for-2 with two RBI for the Panthers and Macie Phillips threw three innings in her varsity debut, allowing only one hit and striking out three. Nickie Martinez drove in the lone run for the Eagles and junior catcher turned a nice double play from behind the plate.
Taunton @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to TBD.
Boys Lacrosse
Franklin, 22 @ Taunton, 1 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Taunton, 1 @ Franklin, 21 – Final – Mairead Goguen scored two goals and had two assists for the Panthers, while Corinne Lewis had two goals. Kate Morse and Sydney Hawkins both scored their first goals of the season in the win.
Sharon, 17 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Sharon coach Shara Ginthwain said that the Eagles “played a strong game today and worked together to get the win” Sharon collected 29 ground balls as a team, won 16-of-19 draws, and assisted on 10-of-17 goals. Abbi Solomon and Sabrina Robbins each scored five goals for the Eagles and Emma Eberhardt collected a hat trick. Jenna Goldstein scored a pair and sisters Maeve and Cass Barbera each tallied once in the win.
Boys Tennis
Canton, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final
Franklin @ Sharon, 3:45
King Philip @ Stoughton – Postponed to TBD.
Taunton, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final
Girls Tennis
Attleboro @ Canton, 3:45
Sharon @ Franklin, 3:45
Stoughton @ King Philip, 3:45
Taunton, 5 vs. Coyle & Cassidy, 0 – Final
Taunton starter Jack Moynihan (21) tossed a complete game shutout, striking out 15 batters, as Taunton beat Franklin 2-0.
FRANKLIN, Mass. – The temperatures may have been hovering around 40 degrees and fans and players alike were bundled up as though it were mid-February rather than the middle of April, but Taunton starting pitcher Jack Moynihan was not bothered by the cold. He came out throwing heat and dominated from the opening pitch of Friday’s early season night game at Franklin.
Moynihan struck out the first five batters he faced and closed the game by striking out five Panthers over the last two innings. He finished with 15 strikeouts on the evening, allowed only three hits, and tossed a complete game shutout, as Taunton walked away with a 2-0 victory to remain unbeaten.
“Phenomenal,” said Taunton coach Blair Bourque of Moynihan’s night. “Getting ahead with his fastball first time around and then mixing it up but getting ahead. He did a great job.”
While striking out the side in the first, Moynihan threw strikes on 10-of-11 pitches. He also retired the first two batters in the second on punch outs before Stephen Luttazi became the first Panther to put the ball in play with a grounder to second. Luttazi injured himself coming out of the batter’s box and was forced to leave the game.
In the third inning, Moynihan struck out a pair before Franklin finally made solid contact, as nine-hole hitter Colby Fitzgibbons broke up the no-hitter with a double to left center. Moynihan came right back with a strikeout of Jack Nally to end the inning.
“We faced him last year and we knew we were in for a really tough test,” said Franklin coach Zach Brown of Moynihan. “He certainly was on, pounding it, and he really threw his breaking ball well for strikes.”
Franklin, which has been struggling at the plate this season with only 10 runs scored in five games, put together its lone rally in the fourth. Scott Elliott took the first pitch to center for a single and Alex Haba lined a twisting drive down the right field line that Griffin Tomaszycki went full stretch to get a glove to but couldn’t haul in. Elliott had to pause in case it was caught and ended up at third on the single.
Haba stole second to put two runners in scoring position and Brown turned to a suicide squeeze with catcher Jake Macchi at the plate. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the sophomore couldn’t get a bunt down and Elliott was easily tagged out by Taunton catcher Ben Joyce. Moynihan ended the threat with a strikeout and a comebacker.
Brown explained, “Today wasn’t going to be the day that we were going to roll out and put up crooked numbers or anything like that, so opportunities to execute and push a run across we knew was going to be big and whoever got that first one was going to be in a good position. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it done.”
The Tigers were not able to turn Moynihan’s dominance into a lead thanks to a strong performance from Franklin starter Bryan Woelfel. Using a repertoire of off-speed pitches, he kept the Tigers off-balance and managed to bear down and work himself out of several early jams. He allowed no earned runs and struck out seven in six innings.
“He had that slider going and he was filthy,” said Bourque of Woelfel. “He mixed it up and had our hitters off-balance and he made us look silly sometimes. Just a great game.”
Jacob Crawford drew a walk in the first and advanced all the way to third after a single by Christian Simoes (3-for-4, reached base all four plate appearances) and a stolen base, but Woelfel induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Tyler Medeiros to emerge unscathed. Taunton put two runners in scoring position in the third but again Woelfel escaped, this time with a strikeout.
Brown said, “I don’t necessarily know if Bryan had his best stuff today but one thing we don’t have to worry about is whether or not he’ll be ultra-competitive and he certainly was today. Very different styles, very different pitchers, but both competing hard and it was certainly a pitcher’s duel.”
A breakthrough finally came in the sixth inning. Simoes lined a double to center to leadoff the inning and, after Woelfel fell behind 3-0 in the count, Medeiros was intentionally walked. A wild pitch allowed both runners to move into scoring position, but Woelfel came back with a pair of strikeouts to get on the verge of another big escape.
Tomaszycki hit a slow, bouncing ball on the infield grass that couldn’t be fielded cleanly and allowed the game’s first run to come home. Woelfel limited the damage with another strikeout to end the threat.
The Tigers tacked on an important insurance run in the seventh against Franklin reliever Will Pacheco. With one out, leadoff hitter Trevor Pietrzyk dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line to get on base. After a strikeout and a stolen base, he stood on second with two down. Simoes came through in the clutch with his third hit of the night, driving an RBI-double to right center.
“Christian Simoes, a senior, came up big,” Bourque said. “He’s in that spot for a reason. That insurance run puts a lot less pressure on in the seventh. You get a runner on and your down just one that’s a lot different. Having that cushion allows us to take a breathe and go get the next guy.”
Two runs was more than enough for Moynihan. He struck out the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh, his 14th and 15th of the night, and got a slow roller to third that looked like it might end the game, but instead the throw skipped away to bring the tying run to the plate. Moynihan got slow bouncing ball to Josh Lajoie at second to end the game.
“From start to finish, he pitched so well and I think getting ahead sets the table for his off-speed pitches and he was able to spot and hit corners,” said Bourque of his pitcher. “Hats off to him.”
He added, “Every team in the Hock is really good and Franklin is up there, so we’ll take them when we can get them.”
Taunton (6-0, 3-0) will stay in the division on Monday when it hosts King Philip, while Franklin (3-2, 2-2) will be right back on the field on Saturday with a trip to Bishop Feehan.
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – Franklin senior Steven Luttazi hadn’t had his best performance at the plate, held without a hit through the first seven innings. But his day changed with one swing of the bat.
When the Panthers needed him the most, the senior delivered a clutch two-out single to drive in the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning. Junior Jake Macchi followed with a monster two-run double and Franklin prevailed from Frothingham Park with a 5-2 decision in eight innings.
“It was a tie ballgame, senior at the plate, a kid who’s worked really hard in the offseason…I feel like he was pressing early on but he let the game come to him and put a good swing on it and sparked us,” said Franklin head coach Zach Brown. “Then Jake followed it up with the big blow.”
Franklin was three outs from earning a win in regulation, but Oliver Ames rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. But instead of wilting, the Panthers responded — all with two outs.
Senior Colby Fitzgibbons drew a two-out walk from the nine hole, and after stealing second, junior Alex Haba took first after another walk. In stepped Luttazi, who laced a 1-0 pitch into center field to bring pinch runner Shane O’Neil home.
Macchi then launched the first pitch he saw into deep left center field resulting in a two-run double and a three-run lead.
“It was one of those early New England high school baseball games,” Brown said. “OA is really well coached, they play a real sound game. We’re lucky to get out of here with an extra inning win. It was a character win for us. We were frustrated with the way we played in the opener, and we let a two-run lead bleed away here but the guys showed a lot of resolve and a lot of character, and we got a lot of contributions from guys up and down the lineup.”
Sophomore Will Pacheco, who escaped a jam in the bottom of the seventh, retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth to earn his first varsity win.
Franklin built a 2-0 lead by scoring solo runs in the top of the second and the third, but Oliver Ames clawed back with a run in the fifth and the tying run in the seventh. OA senior Matt Muir reached with a one-out single, stole second, and came around to score on a double from classmate Nick Zwerle to tie the game.
OA had runners on first and second with one out, but Pacheco got a big strikeout, and Scott Elliott made a nice catch in foul territory in left field to send the game into extras.
“The kids showed a lot of heart there at the end to rally,” said OA head coach Joe Abarr. “We’ll reset…we’ll try to get our timing right with our hitters and then try to figure out our rotation, and see what happens from there.”
Elliott had a hand in both of Franklin’s first two runs. In the top of the second, the junior led off with a single and took second on a fielding error. He took third on a groundout from Jake Noviello and then scored on a bases loaded infield single from Haba to make it 1-0.
Macchi singled to lead off the top of the third and advanced to second base on a balk. Elliott delivered with an RBI double to bring Macchi home for a 2-0 lead.
“Scott has been doing a real nice job,” Brown said. “He’s been working hard, has had great at-bats, really competitive. He’s a hockey guy so he has that hand-eye coordination and we’re just excited with where he’s at.”
Oliver Ames cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth inning. Muir drilled a triple into center field, through the branches of the tree at Frothingham. Muir came home to score on a groundout from Zwerle.
As a team, Oliver Ames posted just five hits.
“A lot of is just timing,” Abarr said. “You see it click with some guys, like Muir today, he came on line. But some of the guys we’re dependent on just haven’t picked up the in-season rhythm yet. The kids will come around…Franklin figured it out in the last inning there.”
Franklin senior Bryan Woelfel got into a nice rhythm over his 6.1 innings of work, allowing five hits while striking out seven.
“Bryan worked really hard in the offseason and was throwing a lot,” Brown said. “He did a good job building up his arm so that he can last longer. Then Will Pacheco came in and slammed the door for us.”
Oliver Ames senior Michael Mulrean had a strong outing in relief for the Tigers, striking out four in four shutout innings of work with just four hits.
“He was phenomenal, I was very impressed with him,” Abarr said of Mulrean. “There were a lot of positives that came out of that game, obviously we want the win, but a lot of guys stepped up and showed what they’re capable of. Mike did awesome, he kept us in the ballgame.”
Oliver Ames (0-2, 0-2) looks to bounce back on the same day when it hits the road to play at New Bedford.
