Martha's Vineyard Sports
Field hockey heroics
Photos by Ralph Stewart
Last Wednesday, with three games yet to be played, the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School field hockey team needed two more points to qualify for post-season play. A win or two ties would do the trick.
All three games would be played at home and in succession: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Bishop Stang was due Thursday. The Spartans had won their previous encounter, 3-1. Sandwich, which had also beaten the Vineyard, 3-1, would come Saturday. Friday it would be Old Rochester, a team the Islanders had yet to play due to rainouts.
Thursday, Bishop Stang held a two-point lead, 2-0, at the half. A goal by Phebe Bates cut that to one, but the Spartans answered to lead by two again, 3-1. In the closing minutes of play Brianna Lewis and Sophie Lew found the back of the net and the game ended in a 3-3 tie.
Kayla Morris and Kate Cecilio earned assist credits.
The tie earned a point for the Vineyard, but they had not yet qualified for the post season.
Friday, against Old Rochester, Phebe Bates's goal was the only one of the game. The win gave the Islanders a ticket to the play-offs.
Saturday, Sandwich held a one-point lead until the final two minutes when - guess who - Phebe Bates scored an equalizer. Sandwich 2, Martha's Vineyard 2.
With an 8-6-4 record, the Islanders are seeded 15th in the Division 2 South Sectionals
Yesterday they defeated Carver, the 18th seed here, 4-2. Martha's Vineyard posted the first goal 12 minutes into the game when Olivia Gross scored, assisted by Hayley Pierce. Carver tied the score nine minutes later and at the half the score was one up. Two minutes into the second half Phebe Bates, assisted by Cayla Morris, put the Islanders up again, 2-1. But Carver responded and it was 2-2. The final goals were by Sophie Lew assisted by Phebe Bates and Leah Selvy.
Martha's Vineyard's next assignment is second-seeded Bishop Stang at North Dartmouth, Friday. The Spartans have a gleaming 15-1-1 record. Their game with the Vineyard on October 23 ended in a 3-3 tie.
Runners rule
To no one's surprise, the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School cross-country teams are the Mayflower League champions once again. Thursday's win at Kingston was the eighth year in a row that the Vineyard boys beat all and the third consecutive year that the Martha's Vineyard girls claimed the crown.
The Martha's Vineyard boys team's winning score was 26 with Mark Reppert leading the way and finishing second overall in 17:20. At 17:38, Willie Nevin was the fourth to complete the run and fifth was Max Conley in 18:03. Anthony Piland, Forrest Harcourt, Max Miner, and Robbie Osmers were 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th.
Sacred Heart, host of the meet, was second at 55. Then came Diman Regional with 65, Southeastern with 99, Bristol Plymouth with 157, and Bishop Connolly at 164.
Only three schools entered teams to vie for the Mayflower Large girls title. The Martha's Vineyard girls came close to sweeping.
Megan Dreyer set a new course record for girls, finishing first in 20:26, and Shivonne Schofield was close behind at second in 21:04. Ellie Hehre was fourth in 21:33, Kim Carlomagno fifth in 23:43, and Sarah Flanders sixth in 22:14.
Hilary Dreyer and Julia Sadowski were 10th and 11th.
Team scores were: Martha's Vineyard 18, Sacred Heart 47, and Diman Regional 71.
Saturday, at Wrentham in the Hockomock League Invitational, finishing with 72 points, the Martha's Vineyard boys were second to Canton which had the low total of 53.
Third was Mashpee with 104. Then came (4) East Bridgewater, 116; (5) Sacred Heart, 141; (6) Hull, 158 (7) Foxboro, 161; (8) Norwell, 202; (9) Randolph, 204; and (10) Ayer, 231.
Martha's Vineyard scorers were Willie Nevin and Mark Reppert who were 6th and 7th at 16:33 and 16:36; Anthony Piland, 15th at 17:01; Max Miner 20th at 17:13; and Max Conley 24th at 17:27.
With 67 points, the Martha's Vineyard girls team was third of four teams at the Hockomock, trailing Canton (58) and Foxboro (60), and beating Sacred Heart (106).
Martha's Vineyard's top runners were Megan Dreyer, 2nd overall in 6:11; Shivonne Schofield (7) at 6:26; Kim Carlomagno (15) at 6:43; Hilary Dreyer (21) at 6:51; and Sarah Flanders (22) at 6:58.
Townies drubbed
The Charlestown football team visited on Saturday and left on the short end of 42-8 final score.
It looked like a good match. The Charlestown boys were big enough, numerous enough, and, as it soon became evident, they had a talented and fleet runner and a quarterback with strong arm.
But appearances are deceiving. It wasn't close.
Charlestown began the game on their own 15-yard line. In three plays they advanced the ball two yards and punted to midfield. It took the Vineyard four plays to reach the end zone. Matt Costello carried the final 19 yards and over the goal line. Quarterback Mike McCarthy ran for a two-point conversion untouched.
Cody Brewer's windblown kick went through the end zone so Charlestown began on their 20. They picked up a first down on the 30, but then bogged down and punted. Cody Brewer returned the kick 32 yards to the Townies 28. It took the Vineyarders eight plays to grow the score to 14-0.
The extra point attempt failed.
Then things looked up for Charlestown as a young man in red and white ran down the left sideline 90 yards for a score. The Townies added two more points with a short run and the score was 8-14.
Charlestown's defense stiffened and the Vineyard would score only one more touchdown in the first half: 20-8.
The second half was only minutes old when Cody Brewer broke loose and rambled 71 yards for the Vineyard's fourth touchdown. Billingham's kick made the score 27-8.
Martha's Vineyard would score twice more in the second half on runs by Mike McCarthy and Nick Billingham for the final count of 42-8.
This Friday Cape Tech/Harwich brings its 5-2 record to McCarthy Field. To date they have scored 147 points and given up 94. Martha's Vineyard has scored 228 and allowed 59.
Last year Cape Tech defeated the Vineyard, 20-16.
