Sports
By Whit Griswold
Published: February 18, 2010
Tourney hockey disappoints Vineyarders
After a 10 -1 Nauset whitewashing of North Reading in the first semi-final of the Fairleigh Dickinson Tournament at the Arena late Saturday, it was time for a tight, taut game. Martha's Vineyard and Lynnfield delivered.
A North Reading defender cleared the puck after an unsuccessful Vineyard assault. Click on photo to enlarge. Photos by M.C. WalloA scoreless first period featured fast-paced, even action, with only two penalties called and no goals scored. The goalies, Louis Jacobs-Walsh and his counterpart, each made a couple of nice stops, but scoring opportunities were few and far between.
The second period continued the trend, with spirited, clean, hockey the rule. End-to-end action kept the fans on their toes, as the two squads battled evenly for nearly six minutes before the first whistle.
M.V. was the more physical team, bringing roars from the crowd with several large, loud checks. Lynnfield had a fierce forecheck, however, which made it difficult for M.V. to break out of its own zone. A turnover down deep led to the first score of the game, when Lynnfield's Sam Oliveri converted a pass from Tyler Smith at 8:51. Lynnfield, 1-0.
Chris Davies reaches for control just before scoring one third of his natural hat trick. Click on photo to enlarge.Gloom turned to glee only 23 seconds later, when Chris Davies tied things up, unassisted, after picking up a loose puck just inside the blue line, moving in to the top of the slot where he let loose with a wrister that caught a piece of the goalie, but all of the net. Tie game, 1-1.
The Vineyard withstood a high-sticking penalty to Brooks Billingham, and play stayed even until the end of the period...almost. With eight tenths of a second left on the clock, Dylan Costa capitalized on a Vineyard defensive lapse, tapping in a loose puck that somehow ended up stationary just inside the right post. Lynnfield, 2-1.
Despite the dispiriting conclusion to the second period, M.V. came out flying in the third. But Lynnfield was equal to the challenge, creating several opportunities on the counterattack. Chris Davies showed off his speed and creativity with several long solo rushes, but Lynnfield's defense collapsed around him and didn't give him room to shoot.
Mike Davies goes all out but is barely thwarted by the goalie's right pad. Click on photo to enlarge.Through the period, the play continued to be even and spirited, but there was no more scoring, and M.V. was left on the short end of another disappointing outcome.
Sunday, M.V. lost to North Reading, 5-3, in the consolation game. Chris Davies had the natural hat trick, helped by two assists each from Colby Gouldrup and Tyler Araujo.
On Tuesday, the mood in the Arena improved as M.V. bounced back with a 4-2 decision over Bishop Stang. Vineyard goals were scored by Tyler Araujo, Chris Davies, Darren Gazaille, and Charles Goldthwait.
The last game of an up-and-down but largely disappointing season will be tomorrow, against Dennis- Yarmouth at 6 pm at the Arena.
In invitational hoops tourney girls come up short
For 20 minutes, the MVRHS girls varsity basketball squad stayed with Sabis in the second semi-final of the 2010 Island Invitational Tournament Sunday evening. The score at the half favored the visitors from Springfield by a single point, 26-25. The play was even, the pace exciting, as both teams sought to find an advantage.
Alicia Oliveira (left) and Jillian Sedlier are poised to pounce on a loose ball. Click on photo to enlarge.After the half, the tone changed. Sabis picked up their defensive intensity and steadily built their lead to an eight-point spread, 42-34, at the end of the third quarter.
A more physical team, Sabis clogged the middle on defense, forcing M.V. to put up low percentage shots from long range. They were also stronger on the boards, where they cleared away more rebounds at both ends of the floor.
The teams played fairly evenly through the fourth quarter, but M.V. could not gain ground. It would have taken a scalding hot hand from the outside to narrow the gap on the score sheet. And Sabis capitalized at the foul line, where they had too many opportunities.
Hanna Persson attracts a swarm of Falmouth defenders. Click on photo to enlarge.The final score was 56-46, Sabis. Shayne Wellington was tops for the visitors, with 18 points, and she was ably supported by Alexis Chappell with 12, and Jasmine Collins with 10.
For M.V., Jillian Sedlier led the way with 17 points, followed by Katie Hines, who had 12.
On Monday, in the consolation game, M.V. again came up short, this time in a low-scoring game against Falmouth. Jillian Sedlier had 11points, to lead M.V., while Katie Hines and Alex Mark both scored 7.
At the end, Falmouth prevailed, 44-38.
The girls ended the season yesterday, at Sandwich.
Omer-Callen over all
The Vineyard Tennis Center, Workout and Spa hosted its 14th Love at First Set benefit tournament for Hospice of Martha's Vineyard over Valentine's weekend. The mixed doubles event hosted the Sweetheart and Cupid draws of 50 players.
Runners-up Paul Adler and Vivian Normandeau with winners Tony Omer and Hope Callen at the 14th annual Love at First Set mixed doubles Hospice benefit tennis tournament at the Vineyard Tennis Center. Click on photo to enlarge. Photo courtesy of Vineyard Tennis CenterTony Omer and Hope Callen took top honors in the Sweetheart draw, defeating Paul Adler and Vivian Normandeau 6-4, 4-6 and 10-5 in the third set tie-breaker. In the semi-finals, Tony and Hope played a second close match, just edging out Laura Schroeder and Paul Schneider, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8. Darren Belisle and Lucia Hayman took honors in the consolation finals, beating Ruth McGorty and Patrick Caine, 6-2, 6-2.
The Cupid draw hosted 16 teams. Cathy Lattanzi and Roland Milller worked their forehands and well-placed lobs in the finals to beat Emily and Gavin Franklin, 6-2, 6-4. Their toughest match occurred in the semi-finals against Penny Franklin and Mark Zappa. Cathy, then playing with Gene Erez, prevailed 5-7, 6-4 and 10-7 in the third set tie-breaker. Lin DeYoung and Leo McHugh took the consolation finals, 6-2, 6-1, over Richard Cohen and Carmen Wilson.
Good food provided by Hospice volunteers was enjoyed in the tennis lounge and over $3,000 was raised for Hospice of Martha's Vineyard.
Island fishermen shine in state saltwater fishing derby
Massachusetts fisheries officials presented awards to fresh and saltwater anglers from across the state, at ceremonies held at the Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition, on February 13 in Worcester. The 2009 saltwater winners included five Vineyard residents.
State saltwater derby winners. Left to right: Wyatt Jenkinson, Keith McArt, Tony Canha, DMF director Paul Diodati, Helena Kirschenbaum, Bill Potter and daughter. Click on photo to enlarge. Photo by Pat JenkinsonIn the junior category, Wyatt Jenkinson of West Tisbury took first place honors with a 9-pound, 11-ounce bonito that also propelled him to the top spot during the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.
Tony Canha of Vineyard Haven won the wahoo junior division with a 43-pound, 11-ounce fish.
Islanders dominated the bass division. Women's division honors went to Helena Kirchenbaum of Oak Bluffs for a 42-pound, 6-ounce striper. And Zachary Tilton of Vineyard Haven took the men's spot with a monster 61-pound, 14-ounce bass.
In the category of elusive and scarce fish, Bill Potter of Oak Bluffs landed a 5-pound, 8-ounce Spanish mackerel to win first place in the men's division.
Another Derby winning fish also took top honors in the state contest. Keith McArt of Somerville caught a 16-pound, 9-ounce fish off Lobsterville that put him on the Derby stage in October and the state stage last week.
Ty Warren of Attleboro set a state record when he caught a 61-pound, 3-ounce dolphin fish at Vetch Canyon in August. Matthew Grimes of Nantucket also set a state record when he caught a 482-pound, 8-ounce porbeagle shark, the heaviest catch honored.
Massachusetts Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin presented gold pins to fishermen who reeled in the biggest fish of 2009 from Massachusetts lakes, ponds, streams, and coastal waters.
"With all of the special outdoor spaces in Massachusetts from the Berkshires to the seacoast, we encourage adults and children alike to take up fishing and other outdoor sports," Commissioner Griffin said. "We congratulate this year's anglers and hope others will be inspired to get out and fish this year with their family and friends."
Greg Rollins and Peter Hatt limber up before the race. Click on photo to enlarge. Photo by Tim Johnson20-miler: neither ice, nor...
Some 426 runners - most from off-Island - stepped over the starting line at the Steamship Authority at 11 am Saturday, heading for the finish and a cup of hot chowder at the Oak Bluff School. The M.V. 20-miler is a mid-winter highlight for many New England distance runners. It was a cold, clear morning, good conditions for mid-winter running, except for a few icy patches on the bike paths forcing runners onto the road here and there. But they are called road runners, after all, not bike path runners.
First to finish was Patrick Moulton, 28, of Providence with a time of 1:48:34, which shaved 1 minute, 24 seconds off the old course record, set in 2002. Moulton's pace was a blistering 5:26 per mile.
Helen Dinan, 29, of Bellingham led women finishers with a time of 2:12:43.
Among local runners, Dave Diriwachter, 40, of Vineyard Haven, was tops, finishing 82nd with a time of 2:30:51. He was followed by Patrick Parker, 49, of Vineyard Haven, who finished 102nd with a time of 2:34:58; Blake Edmunds, 36, of Vineyard Haven (134) in 2:41:04; Todd Cleland, 40, of Oak Bluffs (156) in 2:44:51; and Daniel Vaughan, 34, of Edgartown (169) in 2:47:41.
Local women runners were topped by Robin Breen, 46, of Edgartown, who finished 207th in 2:53:03; Lisa Schroeder, 42, of Oak Bluffs (208) in 2:53:10; Lauren Serpa, 42, of Edgartown (23) in 2:55:48; Alex MacMaster, 25, of Chilmark (254) in 2:58:09; and Marilyn Vukota, 40, of Edgartown (396) in 3:32:10.
Christina's gang: Leah Selby, Emma Forbes, Gillian O'Callahan, Phoebe Kelleher, and Maggie Johnson (left to right). Click on photo to enlarge. Photo courtesy of Joanne SelbyChristina's fan club
On February 14, an entourage of MVRHS girls ice hockey players went to Boston to watch Christina Wiley, a 2009 MVRHS grad, play for Boston University against Northeastern. The result went against the Terriers, 2-1, but Christina's former teammates and current fans were delighted to see her suited up in the B.U. red and white.
Boys basketball moves on
The seedings for the postseason will be announced tomorrow, February 19. With an overall record of 15-3 and a share of the Eastern Athletic Conference title, M.V. is in line for a first-round bye. Their first game will be next week, perhaps Wednesday, at home, against a survivor of the first round.
