Sports
Boys Lax win, lose; Girls tour UK
The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School boys lacrosse team dominated visiting New Bedford, Tuesday, 14-1. The Islanders scored twice in both the first and second quarters and kept the Whalers at bay to reach the half up 4-0.
New Bedford scored its only goal in the third quarter while the Vineyarders were adding five more on their side of the ledger. The fourth period was all Vineyard, especially the final five minutes during which Martha's Vineyard scored goals 11 through 14.
Putting names to the points, Riley Dobel and Duncan Meyst both had hat tricks and assisted once. Cody Chandler added two and Mike O'Donoghue, Luke Pisano, Kenny MacDonald, Mike McCarthy, Daron Stobie, and Max Conley all scored.
Goalie Gus Hayes was credited with a dozen saves.
Saturday, the Vineyarders lost to Franklin, 8-5, in an especially physical contest. In fact, in the opinion of several observers it was a needlessly punishing game. Granted, lacrosse is a contact sport and it is pretty much open season on a player carrying the ball, but spearing and tripping are not allowed and blind-siding players away from the ball is behavior not to be tolerated.
Photos by Ralph Stewart
The Franklin team is strong enough and talented enough to win its games under the rules without resorting to hooliganism.
The Vineyarders are at Bishop Connolly today and host Falmouth Sunday at 3 pm.
Girls Lax
Coach Betsy Dripps and her Martha's Vineyard Regional High School girls lacrosse team returned from their British junket Tuesday evening. The Times spoke with the coach Wednesday morning and found her tired, suffering a cold, and delighted with her team and their behavior on and off the field.
After their initial win at Westonbirt in the Cotswolds (see Martha's Vineyard Times, 4/24) the girls played a strong Cheltenham Ladies College squad in Gloucestershire and lost, 7-4. Laura Jernegan scored three times and Cristina Wiley added the fourth goal. Cheltenham is scheduled to visit this Island next year.
Game three was with Moreton Hall near Chester. The teams were well matched and the game seesawed back and forth to a 7-7 conclusion. Laura Jernegan led the Martha's Vineyard scoring with another hat trick. Jane Alexander (2), Cristina Wiley, and Hayley Pierce all found the back of the net. Lonni Phillips had an assist.
In Oxfordshire, the Islanders took on St. Helen's and St. Katherine's, a talented and experienced team counting 12 seniors. The Vineyard scored three times (Jernegan, Pierce, and Alexander) but the Saints scored ten.
The fifth and final game of the trip was with St. Catherine's at Bromley, England's best and winner of the All England-All Wales World Cup. Jane Alexander scored and had two assists. Cristina Wiley and Laura Jernegan also scored in the 14-3 loss.
The girls final days in London included a visit to the theater to see "Stomp" and to Henley to try their hands at rowing on the Thames.
The team will be at Sandwich, Friday, and entertains Falmouth Sunday at noon.
Softies at home
After playing six of their first eight games on the road, the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School softball team embarked upon a seven-game home stand, so far without noticeable benefit.
Friday they played hostess to a talented Cardinal Spellman squad and lost a five-inning game, 24-5.
Despite the one-sided final score, the Islanders had some things to cheer them. Kayla Morris was 2-for-3 at the plate, for instance. Kayla scored and drove in a run. Martha Scheffer was 1-for-2 with an rbi and a run scored. Lauren Willis reached three times in three trips to the plate.
But the Vineyard could not cool the Cardinals' bats.
Saturday they lost to Old Rochester Regional, 14-1. Julie Perry scored the run and Caroline Davey contributed three good innings of relief.
The girls are 3-8 on the season.
The next visitors are Dennis/Yarmouth, Wareham, Bourne, Sandwich and Nantucket.
