Sports

By Don Lyons
Published: June 11, 2009

A's three-peat as league leaders

In a Saturday double-header at Veira Park, the A's clipped the Red Sox, 9-6, thereby clinching their third straight major league top seed. Mike Mussell was 4-for-4 at the plate including a bases-loaded double, driving in three in the second inning. Tucker McNeely had four hits for the Sox.

Also Saturday, the Mets won their second game of the season, topping the Tigers, 6-2. Pitchers Morgan Michalski and Kyle Dostal combined to keep the Tigers at bay. Dostal was 2-for 2 at the plate. The Bresnick boys, Zach and Sam, combined to reach base seven times.

Little League Majors Standings As of June 8

Teams G W L T % RF RA
A's 13 12 1 0 .85 109 27
Cardinals 12 8 4 0 .67 87 72
Cubs 12 7 5 0 .58 76 54
Red Sox 13 7 6 0 .54 74 82
Tigers 13 2 11 0 .15 62 119
Mets 13 2 11 0 .15 39 93

Monday the Cardinals ran away from the Red Sox powered by Tony Canha's pair of two-run homers. Sox shortstop Jack Slayton turned two unassisted double plays.

As of Tuesday, the playoff schedule had not been determined. The only thing known for sure is the A's will be top seed in the major league and the Twins have clinched first place in the minor league.

The championship games will be played on Sunday, June 21. The major league game is at 11 am, followed by an award ceremony, and the minor league championship will start at 2 pm.

Southpaw Henry Gallagher took a turn on the mound for the Sox. Photos by Ralph Stewart

Tony Canha is greeted at the plate by Cardinal teammates after hitting his second round-tripper.

Youth Soccer Leagues

At Fall River the boys Under-10 MV United played the host team to a 2-2 tie. Douglas Debettencourt and Joshua Tate scored the Vineyard goals. United tied Freetown/Lakeville for first place with six wins and two draws, but won the South Coast Soccer League title by virtue of superior goal difference.

Adiles Goncalves and Justin Mendez, Martha's Vineyard

Adiles Goncalves's bid for a last-minute goal is thwarted by Falmouth keeper Justin Mendez. Photos by Ralph Stewart

The U-10's will play in the post season Friendship Tournament in Swansea this weekend.

The Under-12 Islanders finished the regular season unbeaten at 8-0 with a 3-1 win over Sandwich at the West Tisbury School.

Jason Lages scored twice and Yannick Goncalves added some late insurance for MV who will host Barnstable in the league semi-final, Saturday at 12:30 at the West Tisbury School.

The Under-14 boys are in a second place tie with Nantucket and Norton with a 5-2-1 record. Taunton leads the list barely, at 6-2-0 and will host MV in the semi-finals Tuesday.

The MV Untied Under-16 team defeated Wareham off Island, 3-1 to go 6-2-0 on the season. They are in second place behind New Bedford at 7-1-0 and playoff against Dartmouth Friday at the West Tisbury School.

Jason Lages eludes a Sandwich defender on his way to score for the U-12s.

The Under-18 boys suffered their first regular season defeat in four years, dropping a 4-3 decision to visiting Falmouth, Sunday.

Adiles Goncalves scored twice and Alex Poole fired in a 30-yard blast early on, but the guests were resilient and most effective on the counterattack. They also got a spectacular diving save from keeper Justin Mendez in the final minute to preserve the upset.

Still, MV (6-1-1) claimed the top seed over Taunton and will host either Sandwich or Fall River Saturday afternoon in the semi-final.

As successful as the Vineyard boys teams were last weekend, the Island girls teams failed to post a win.

The winless Under-11 girls team lost its eighth game, a defensive gem, 0-1 at Wareham.

The Under-13 girls, also winless, bowed to Barnstable off Island, 0-6.

The Under-16 girls dropped their game to Dartmouth, 0-6, at West Tisbury. They are 0-7-1 on the year.

Little League Minors Standings As of June 8

Teams G W L T % RF RA
Twins 11 9 1 1 .73 126 71
Rockies 11 7 2 2 .64 119 93
Marlins 11 7 3 1 .64 126 112
Indians 11 7 4 0 .64 93 86
Rays 10 6 4 0 .60 92 70
Orioles 11 4 7 0 .36 84 119
Blue Jays 10 1 9 0 .10 70 115
Reds 11 0 11 0 .00 57 101

Minors ready for playoffs

Last Wednesday the Indians squeaked by the Reds in a pitchers' duel, 5-4. Jack Sayre served three innings of no hit ball and the Indians overcame a 4-0 deficit to foil the Reds. Tuesday the Tribe did it to the Rays, 10-9. Oliver Carson was called upon to face the Rays with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the sixth inning. He retired the Rays without a run scoring. With the Tribe trailing by a run in the bottom of the sixth, 10-9, Taber Caron led off with a double and scored the tying run on Nick Fiore's long single. Later Colby Scarsella drove in Carson with the game-winner.

Benefit at Farm Neck

The annual Children's Benefit Golf Tournament at Farm Neck dodged the rain clouds, Sunday. and raised some $35,000 for the M.V. Boys & Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Martha's Vineyard.

The winning combination was Scott Blalock, John Fitzgerald, Buck Martin, Victor Pisano, and Brian Scott. Second place honors went to Ann Heron, Connie O'Doherty, Tom Prendergast, Norman Vunk, and Peyton Wallace.

Third were Bill Rossi, George Santos, Paul Garcia, Diego Messina, and Jay Walsh.

Major sponsors were Morton Financial, Edgartown National Bank, Bank of Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Vines, and Cape Air.

Hole sponsors were Martha's Vineyard Savings Bank, Allied Waste Services, John G. Early Contractor & Builder, Cronig's Market, Martha's Vineyard Insurance, Cini-Miller Law Offices, R.M. Packer Co., Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation, and TOSA Foundation.

Half-hole sponsors were McCarron, Murphy and Vukota, Depot Market, Vineyard Cash & Carry, Tashmoo Restoration, and The TJX Foundation.

Charles Harff and Burke & Lamb were Junior Golfer sponsors. Island Tobacco and the Coca Cola Co. were snack sponsors. Island Food Products was a breakfast sponsor.

Prize sponsors were The Edgartown Golf Club, The Island House, l'etoile, The Newes from America, The Wharf, The Grill on Main, The Chilmark Store, and Jim Hackenberg.

Netmen retire at Dover

With the high school's tennis team's semi-final loss to second-seeded Dover-Sherborn, 4-1, the Vineyard's participation in postseason tourney play ends.

The girls and boys lacrosse teams had been eliminated earlier.

Playing at Dover, the Dover-Sherborn Raiders swept the three singles matches as Andrew McHugh conceded 6-4, 6-4, after making a run at Andy Dougherty in the second set and tying the score at 4-4. Reid Yennie bowed 6-1, 6-2 and Nik Wojtkielo lost 6-2, 6-3.

The Vineyard doubles teams gave the Raiders all they could handle and then some. Zach Rabin and Grant McCarthy lost their first set at second doubles, 5-7, then roared back to win 6-0 and outlasted their opponents in a super tie-breaker, 10-6.

At first doubles. Win Grimm and Dylan Hutchinson lost the first set, 3-6, won the second 6-3, and were up 5-3 in the third, but the Raiders rallied and ran off four games to take the set and match.

The Island team ended with a record of 15 wins, 5 losses.

It was the 15th (of 16) year that a Ned Fennessy coached team had made it to the MIAA playoffs and the first year that they reached the semi-finals.

The season past also included Coach Fennessy's 200th win when the Vineyarders defeated Coyle & Cassidy.

Finalists at Fitchburg

The Vineyard's two entries in the Massachusetts All State Track and Field Meet at Fitchburg, Mark Reppert and Kim Carlomagno, qualified for the finals by placing high in their heats. Kim won her heat. Mark was second in his. In the finals, Mark ran 800 meters in 1:59.55 and finished 12th of 24 runners. Kim set a new school record time in the 400m; final 59.97. She was 18th over all.

Youth Lacrosse action

All three of the Boys Youth Lacrosse teams lost their games to visiting Cohasset at the Oak Bluffs School, Sunday.

The Under-11 team lost, 11-2. Donald O'Shaughnessy scored both of the Vineyard's goals.

The U-15 team conceded, 7-2. Spencer Sherman did the scoring for the Islanders.

The U-15 game was a thriller as Asher Cottrell led all scorers with five goals. Also putting the ball in the Cohasset net were Nick Costello, Jeremiah Roberts, and Kyle Stobie. Max Davies was busy in the Vineyard net. Final score: Cohasset 10, Martha's Vineyard 8.

All three teams are at the Falmouth Jamboree this weekend for the final games of the season.

Equestriennes

Results of the Martha's Vineyard Horse Council Dressage competition held at the Agricultural Hall, Sunday, May 31:

Introductory A: (1) Lily Neville on Jackson, 60.500; (2) Cynthia Bermudes on Lady Rebecca, 60,000; (3) Sally Apy on Rising Star, 58.000.

Introductory B: (1) Cynthia Bermudes on Lady Rebecca, 68.500; (2) Cynthia Bermudes on Patience, 57.500; (3) Lily Neville on Jackson, 53.000; (4) Sally Apy on Rising Star, 50.000.

Training Level 1 Junior: (1) Evonne Kelly on Forever Young, 65.000; (2) Katelyn Weber on Jumpin Jack Flash, 59.130; (3) Tallulah Brodsky on North Star, 53.913.

Training Level 1 Adult: (1) Tracey Olsen on Halifax, 65.652; (2) Tracey Olsen on Bailey, 64.348; (3) Emma Vancour on Brown Eyed Girl, 51.304.

Training Level 2 Junior: (1) Evonne Kelly on Forever Young, 59.130; (2) Martha Scheffer on Shippin Up To Boston, 57.143; (3) Katelyn Weber on Jumpin Jack Flash, 55.357; (4) Tallulah Brodsky on North Star, 46.429.

Training Level 2 Adult: (1) Tracey Olsen on Shamrock VB Norfleet, 68.214; (2) Tracey Olsen on Bailey, 66.429; (3) Tracey Olsen on Halifax, 65.357; (4) Emma Vancour on Brown Eyed Girl, 46.429.

Training Level 3 (1) Caitlyn Francis on MV Knckerbocker, 63.600; (2) Samantha Cooperrider on Maximus, 61.200; (3) Mary Ann Brock on A Special Issue, 54.800.

Training Level 4: (1) Caitlyn Francis on MV Knickerbocker; 65.600; (2) Tracey Olsen on Shamrock VB Norfleet; 63.200; (3) Mary Ann Brock on A Special Issue, 61.600; (4) Samantha Cooperrider on Maximus 59.600.

First Level 1: (1) Samantha Cooperrider on Maximus, 59.333.

First Level 2: (1) Allison McAndrews on Opus, 58.056; (2) Lauren Oskan on Jackson, 50.278.

First Level 3: (1) Allison McAndrews on Opus, 58.571.

First Level 4: (1) Allison McAndrews on Opus, 57.105; (2) Clara Maynard on Jimi Hendrix, 49.211.

Test of Choice: (1) Tracey Olsen on Reina, fourth level, 62.683; (2) Clara Maynard on Jimi Hendrix, second level, 53.514; (3) Clara Maynard on Jimi Hendrix, second level, 53.421.

Cooperstown Here we come!

A Martha's Vineyard Little League team, to be called "The Vineyarders," has been selected to play in the Cooperstown Dreams Park and American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament during the week of June 27.

The team's roster lists five players from the Cardinals - Curtis Farrell, Charlie Parkhurst, Alexander Vukota, Tony Canha, and Austin Morley; four from the Cubs - Nate Backus, Nicco Cardoza, Tim Roberts, and David Macias; and one each from the A's, Red Sox, and Tigers - Mike Mussell, Tucker McNeely, and Emerson Mahoney, respectively.

The boys will be accompanied and coached by Steve Mussell and Bob Moore, both coaches of the A's, and by John Roberts, coach of the Cubs. Umpire James Costello will also make the trip.

The Island youngsters will compete with teams from around the country during their week at Cooperstown.

Cooperstown Dreams Park has 22 professionally groomed and lighted fields on 150 acres. The fields feature diamonds with grass infields and eight-foot-high stadium walls in the outfield.

All teams will earn a seed to play in the single elimination championship tournament. Also, all teams will be represented in the King of Swat, Road Runner, Golden Arm and Around the Horn Plus skill competitions.

All players will receive Cooperstown Dreams Park home and away jerseys, socks, hat and the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame ring.

Throughout the summer of 2009, from June 6 to September 4, Cooperstown Dreams Park expects to host more than 96 teams per week.

Sounds like a pretty good dream come true for some Island youngsters.

Babe Ruth League

The MV Sharks and Bonitos played host to he Bourne Mariners and Dodgers on Saturday.

The Sharks gave up six runs to the Mariners in the first inning, a barrier which proved too high for the Sharks to scale. Final score: 9-4.

In the second half of the twin-bill the Sharks clobbered the Dodgers in a ferry-shortened four-inning game, 12-0. Michael Montanile, pitching for the first time ever, hurled the shutout.

The Vineyard Bonitos dropped the Dodgers in the first game, 6-3, and then beat the Mariners, 4-1, behind Ian Bardwell.

Sandwich visits Saturday for three junior Babe Ruth games and one senior game. It will be the M.V. seniors' first home game, having played twice off-Island, at Sandwich and Mashpee.

Niantic Park tennis

Tennis in Niantic Park offers 10 weeks of tennis programming, from June 20 to August 30 offering regularly scheduled adult pograms including round robins for men and women at all levels of play. Sign up online. Call 508-693-2303 to learn more. See the park's brochure to learn of program details and fees.

Tossing a few

Thursday, Linda Wood won the M.V. Dart League's final playoff by besting Brenda Welch, who was second.

In the men's league, Robert O'Sullivan claimed top honors by defeating Wes Wood who was runner-up.

The annual Awards Banquet will be held at the P-A Club on Saturday, June 20, at 7 pm.

Girls Youth Lax

The Martha's Vineyard Girls Youth Lacrosse Under-15 and Under-13 teams wrapped up their undefeated seasons over the weekend with twin wins over visiting Weymouth.

The U-15 team held a narrow lead at the half, then opened it up in the second period with four goals by Alayna Hutchinson. Zoe Nugent had a hat trick and Molly Wallace scored twice. Alice Keenan, Samantha Maltais, Taylor Poggi and Aubrey Ashmun also scored. Mary Ollen, Rae Filley, Emma Yuen, Chantal Booker, Lucy Norris, and Sarah Alexander provided an effective screen for goalie Keila Geddis.

The Under-13 Islanders lost the opening draw but soon recovered and organized a strong defense as well as a potent offense, enough to dominate the rest of the game. Lucy Hackney led all scorers with four goals. Leila Gardner and Aubrey Ashmun, both playing their second game of the day, each added two goals. Also contributing points on the board were Belle Dinning (her first), Shannon Morris, and Kyle Hatt. Sam Hargy excelled in goal shielded by Ellie Reagan, Erin Hill, and K.C. Wallace.

Both teams will compete in the annual Acton-Boxboro Jamboree, Saturday, a day-long, lacrosse-filled tournament that is great fun for players, coaches and parents.