Sports Highlights
800 meters gold
Both Mark Reppert, a junior at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, and Jeremy Alley-Tarter, a sixth grader at the Oak Bluffs school, won their 800-meter races at the New England Junior Olympics Association Championship meet at Fitchburg State College on Saturday, and qualified for the Regional meet at Randall's Island, New York on July 12.
Mark's gold medal time was 2 minutes flat. Jeremy won his race in 2:29.
Both runners are training with Jeremy's father, Richard Tarter. Mark is also the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School high jump specialist and has cleared six feet.
Tennis awards
At the annual tennis team cookout at Coach Fennessy's home, on Sunday, the coach announced the following awards:
Top Freshman: Reid Yennie
Unsung Hero: Dylan Hutchinson
Most Improved: Nikolaj Wojtkielo
Sportsmanship: Andrew McHugh and Winfield Grimm
Coach's Awards: Daniel Han, Seth Seeman and Evan Schwab.
Andrew McHugh and Nikolaj Wojtkielo were elected by the team to be 2009 co-captains.
Men's Softball
On paper, Wednesday looked like an interesting evening of closely contested softball games. The unbeaten Treds would tackle the undefeated Brewhas, and the only other team that had not lost a game, the Hurricanes, would be home to the talent-laden Highlanders.
The second game of the twin bill fulfilled expectations as the Canes and Highlanders reached the fifth inning tied at 11. Both teams failed to score in the sixth.
Highlander Jeremy Scheffer opened the seventh with a double to left field and took third on the throw. After Taylor Ives lined out to third, Chris Menne's single scored Scheffer. Eric Soikkeli lined out to deep right. Jullian Hickman's drive caromed off pitcher Don McFarland, and Menne stopped at second. Luke Colby's seeing-eye bouncer made it into left field, loading the bases. Danny Merry flied out to right.
In the 'Canes half of the seventh. Adam Golding, who had homered in his two previous trips to the plate, grounded to short, but when Ben Gunn's throw sailed out of bounds, Golding took second. Jordan Hoehn's hot bouncer made it into right field, sending Golding to third. Phil Regan flied out to right, not deep, but deep enough for Golding to tag and score the tying run. Hoehn tagged and went to third. Chris Wiggins doubled, driving in Hoehn with the winning run.
The Highlanders played long ball. Ryan Kurth, Ben Gunn, Chris Menne, and Eric Soikkeli all homered, using up the team's quota. Adam Golding (2) and Peter McDowell circled the bases for the 'Canes.
In the earlier game, Wednesday, the Treds scored five runs in the first three innings, then only one more in the final four.
The Brewhas scored three in the first, six in the second, two in the fourth and six in the fifth, a total of 17 - enough to halt the game under the league's mercy rule. John Van Putten, Kevin Hatt, Dewey Greene, and John Custer hit round trippers for the Brewhas.
Monday's first game, Hurricanes versus Wildcats, began under threatening clouds, continued despite thunder and lightning, and ended in the rain. The 'Canes scored 22 runs, some by long ball as Adam Golding, Jordan Hoehn, and Pete McDowell (2) homered. The 'Cats responded with round trippers by John Walsh and Ryan Bush, but that was not nearly enough. Final: 'Canes 22, 'Cats 8.
Later, in on-and-off rain, the Highlanders lowered the boom on the Riptide, and the Brewhas swamped the Stampede.
Men's Softball standings
Team games win loss Brewhas 5 5 0 Hurricanes 5 5 0 Treds 4 3 1 Land Sharks 4 3 1 Highlanders 5 2 3 Wildcats 5 2 3 Boilers 4 1 3 Riptide 5 0 5 Stampede 5 0 5
Women's Softball
In Martha's Vineyard Women's Softball action on Tuesday at Veterans Park, the Snaps remained unbeaten, dropping the Honeys 9-2. Ryan Gold hit a grand slam in the sixth inning.
Also on Tuesday, the Swingers and Shady Ladies matched each other's efforts, and the score was tied, 6-6, after four innings. But the Swingers managed one more run to pull off the 7-6 win.
In the late game the Creamers had their way with the Toppers in a mercy-rule-shortened game, 19-3. Alleyne Hughes and Lisa Jendrick were 4-for-4 at the plate.
Women's Softball standings
Team games win loss Snaps 3 3 0 Creamers 4 3 1 Honeys 4 2 2 Swingers 3 1 2 Toppers 3 1 2 Late Fees 3 1 2 Shady Ladies 4 1 3
Photo by Ralph Stewart
Summer Soccer
The (coed) Summer Soccer League began play on Tuesday at Veterans Park. The Atlantic Football Club edged the Monto Orthopedics, 3-2 in the early game. The Martha's Vineyard Celtics edged Sports Haven, 1-0, in the second.
The other teams in the six-team league are Coop deVille and Shirley's Hardware.
Games are played at the park on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 and 6:45 pm.
Bridge team at Sturbridge
Eight Vineyard duplicate bridge players did well at the Sturbridge ACBL Regional held last weekend. Claus Buchthal won the Vineyard Trophy with 9.59 ACBL master points, playing in several events, all with non-Vineyard partners, and as usual was in the money in most sessions. A C player, he was first in flight B in the Saturday morning side game.
Gail Farrish and Dottie Arnold were second in the race for the Vineyard Trophy with 9.14 master points each. They were 2nd in flight C in a compact Swiss (teaming with Ed Russell and Deirdre Ling), 3rd in a compact knockout, and 2nd in a round-robin team event.
Newly addicted to tournament play, Rhonda Cohen and Eric Stricoff placed in several intermediate/novice events and won their flight in one of them. Barbara McLagen, playing with non-Vineyarders, was in the money in a team event.
Table Tennis tidings
The Vineyard table tennis club Quinapong will launch its summer season on Tuesday, July 1, at the Aquinnah town hall.
The club, which has completed its fourth season, now has four players rated by USA TableTennis, the national sanctioning association: Jim Luncar and Albert Lau of Tisbury, John Walsh of Aquinnah, and Bob O'Rourke of Edgartown. Mr. O'Rourke won the first place gold medal at the Mass. Senior Games at Springfield on June 14, earning the right to represent the Commonwealth in San Francisco next year.
Quinapong is in session Tuesdays from 5:30 pm at Aquinnah, and players at all levels, genders, and ages are welcome. Equipment is provided by the club.
Women's summer table tennis play is being organized through Chappy Pong, the Chappaquiddick-based group that plans an Island tournament in August. Interested players should call Marvene O'Rourke at 508-627-7902.
Winter Guys racing ends
The Frost Biters and Winter Guys concluded their spring sailing season on Thursday with six boats racing from Nun 6 in Vineyard Haven Harbor, around Can 33A off East Chop, across the Harbor to Nun 4 off West Chop, then back to the starting line at Nun 6.
Line honors went to Tom and Laura Welch in Eastaway. Dan Culkin was second in Magic Time. A guest boat, Aired, was third, Alan Wilson's High Tide came in fourth, Jerry Goodale in Stormalong was fifth, and Phil Hale in Mischief, sixth.
Thursday evening Harbor races will continue under the aegis of the Holmes Hole Sailing Assn., beginning at 6 pm and followed by dinner at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club.
HHSA season begins
Sunday, eight boats posted for the 10 am zigzag race from red nun 6, to green can 23a, to red nun 4, to buoy RWNW, and back to nun 6. Winds of 10 to 20 knots made for good sailing.
In the A Division, Jerry Goodale finished first in Stormalong, followed by John Amabile in Solitude, Kathy Logue and Ernie Mendenhall in Rocinante III, Roger Becker in Gloria, and Phil Hale in Mischief.
First in the B Division was Alan Wilson in High Tide. Then came John and Lisa Stout in Isabella and Tom and Laurie Welch in Eastaway.
The afternoon race was temporarily delayed by a fast-moving squall. The course was triangular from nun 6 to green can 23a, to red nun 4, to red nun 6, twice around. Jerry Goodale led the A Division again with Roger Becker, and Phil Hale trailing. Alan Wilson and Tom and Laurie Welch were 1-2 in the B Division.
HHSA racing continues tonight, Thursday, at 6 pm. This Sunday's rendezvous race is to Robinson's Hole at 10 am.
Photo courtesy of Donald Herman
Seniors win 2 of 3
The Martha's Vineyard Senior Babe Ruth squad won its game at Orleans, defeating Lower Cape, 6-0. Ryan Brennan hurled the shutout, striking out seven, holding the Cape team to two hits, and picking off as many base runners. Billy Johnson was 2-for-3 at the plate and drew a walk. Both Scott Cleary and Ben Ciciora had two hits. Ben stole four bases. Cole Maciel-Wingate drove in a run.
Lower Cape visited on Sunday for a double-header, losing the first to the Vineyarders 6-4, then taking the second in extra innings, 10-8.
Taza Verycrusse pitched six and two thirds innings for the 6-4 win in the first of the twin bill. He helped his own cause by driving in two runs. Zack Coutinho relieved for the final out and was credited with a save. Cody Pachico was 2-for-2, drove in two, and scored.
In the second game of the double-header, Steven McKenna was 3-for-4, stole a base, and scored twice. Billy Johnson was 3-for-4, drove in two, and scored three. Ben Ciciora also was 3-for-4 with four rbi. Both Joe Teirney and Scott Cleary hit safely twice.
After seven innings, par for the Babe Ruth League, the score was tied at eight. In the top of the eighth, Lower Cape scored twice avoiding a Vineyard sweep.
Coach Geoff Phillips' senior Babe Ruth squad is at Bourne on Wednesday, and hosts Yarmouth/Dennis on Saturday in a double-header. Starting times are 12 noon and 2:30 pm.
Bridge renewal
The Bridge Club of Martha's Vineyard is back in business meeting Saturday mornings at the Vineyard Haven Senior Center beginning at 9 am.
Last Saturday there were three tables in play. The winning team was Cheryl Neal and Claudia Bowser. Tied at second were Liz Clanton and Rosemary Taylor, Tillie Foster an Emily Robertson.
Summer hoops
A basketball league for girls entering the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades will begin play at Niantic Park, Oak Bluffs, on Sunday. Game days for girls will be Wednesdays and Sundays from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
The women's league for 10th graders and older will also play Wednesdays and Sundays, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
Junior High boys' games will begin Monday. The men's league starts play Tuesday.
Players should sign up this week at Niantic Park on Wamsutta Ave. Adult registration fee is $120. Youth fee is $60.
Traveling on
The very successful Vineyard boys travel soccer teams all advanced last week, following victories at home or away.
The U-11 boys finished their season unscathed, 10-0-0, defeating previously unbeaten Dartmouth, 2-1. Their next game is for the state championship.
The U-12 boys (8-1-1) beat the Mariners, 2-1, on penalty kicks. They advanced to the finals at Westport and lost 2-1.
The U-15 boys (8-2-0) bested New Bedford in the semi-final round and qualified for the state championship game.
The undefeated U-18 boys (10-0-0) shut out Fall River, 2-0, and will play for the state championship.
Congratulations to the coaches and boys for such impressive efforts.
Booting camp
Summer soccer camps will be held at Veterans Park, Vineyard Haven, and the West Tisbury School. Half-day and full-day programs are offered. To learn more see www.SoccerPrideUSA. com.
Minor League aged kids
(7-11 years) interested in playing pick-up baseball games Tuesdays at Manter's Field are encouraged to call Aliberti at 508-693-6720.
