Sports
By Don Lyons
Published: March 25, 2010
RCBL week 12
The RCBL's two top teams, the Heat and Suns, met in the early game Monday at the Boys & Girls Club.
Laker Jordan McNeil drives for two of his eight OT points. Click on photo to enlarge. Photos by Ralph StewartThe game started surprisingly slowly. After four minutes the teams were deadlocked, 4-4, and at the end of the first 12-minute quarter it was 21-20, in favor of the Heat.
The Suns warmed to the task in the second period, pulling away to lead at the half, 47-38.
The three-quarter mark found the Suns up by 22, 83-61.
They played most of the fourth quarter at the foul line and closed up 122-101.
It was the third time of four meetings that the Suns had burned the Heat.
The second game could hardly have been closer. The teams, Lakers and Bulls, were tied at the end of the first quarter, 21-21. The Bulls cooled in the second period and the Lakers took advantage. At the half they led, 49-31.
The Lakers increased their lead in the third period to 78-54.
But the fourth quarter belonged to the Bulls, especially Joe McCormick, who scored most of his game total 25 points in the final 12 minutes, including four three-point plays. When the buzzer sounded the score was even, 93 - 93,
Sterling Bishop of the Suns sprints upcourt pursued by Matt Rivers of the Heat. Sandy Fisher follows the play. Click on photo to enlarge.A three-minute overtime was called for.
Jordan MacNeil took charge for the Lakers scoring eight unanswered points, before Ryan Kurth found the hoop for the Bulls.
Final score Lakers 106, Bulls 97.
The RCBL second season, the Playoffs, begins next Monday at the B&G Club. To advance to the finals a team must win two of a possible three games. The Suns vs. Bulls game begins at 6:15 pm, followed by the Heat vs. Lakers at 8. A second round of games is scheduled for April 5 and a third round, if needed, will be April 12.
Heather Eng of Groton, Conn., tries a ballet move. Click on photo to enlarge.Golf with a difference
One hundred eleven disc golfers competed in the 6th annual New England wide Martha's Vineyard Disc Golf tournament, "The Vineyard Social VI."
Twenty New England pro golfers entered the Men's Pro Open. Winner with a score of 110 for 36 holes was Jim Wills. At place and show were Bill Dunn, last year's champion at 112 and Fabricil Abdala, an Islander, at 113.
Two women went mano a mano in the Women's Pro Open. With a score of 136 Anne Lewis of Vermont prevailed.
Of the three Pro Masters, Rick Belhumeur of western Massachusetts, won at 20. Dewy Kaeka was second at 127 and Eric Brown third with 137.
Rick Williams topped the field of 12 in the Men's Pro Grand Masters (over 40) carding 122. Jim O'Connor 132, and Tim Smith 135 were next.
Arthur Graustein's 127 beat all in the men's advanced field of 12. Ed Hoverstadt and Mike Salmond followed at 128 and 130.
Twenty-six entered the men's masters competition won by Mark Valis at 118 beating Paul Cotton in a playoff.
Erin Tivnan was the best of four in the Women's Advanced group at 138. Michelle Ala was right behind at 139.
Of the 26 in Advanced Men's 2, Leo Lacwasan was best. In the Women's Advanced 2 Rachel Hudson had the class act.
Fitchburg's Art Grauston was best in the advanced field. Click on photo to enlarge.
Phil McAndrews, owner of Offshore Ale, takes aim at the fourth hole. Click on photo to enlarge.Squirts square off
The MV Youth Hockey Squirt C team went undefeated in the Lower Cape Spring tournament at the Moore Arena in Orleans last weekend.
The champion Squirts with their coaches and swag. Click on photo to enlarge. Photo courtesy of Julie HattThey first beat Waltham, Friday, 4-2 on goals by Wilson Slayton (2), Hunter Ponte and Jack Murray.
Next to fall was Newport, Rhode Island, 9-3, early Saturday Slayton had a hat trick plus one. Both Ellie Hanjian and Hunter Ponte scored twice. Jack Murray added another.
Late Saturday the Islanders beat Groton 5-1. Slayton had another hat trick. Ponte and Ian Trance also scored.
In the Sunday finale, Newport managed to tie the Vineyarders, 2-2. MV goals were by Slayton and Ponte.
The Squirt C squad leads its division and heads to Hyannis this week for the division playoffs.
A first in futsal
Left to right in striped shirts: Gustavo, Leandro, Leif Iversen. Kneeling: Augusto. The Futsal tourney champion Vineyarders are shown with their challengers from Brockton. Click on photo to enlarge. Photo courtesy of Erik IversenFour MVRHS boys entered as a team in the World Cup Boston 2010 Jamboree. Leif Iversen, Leandro, Augusto, and Gustavo played in the high school division of the futsal 3v3 tournament. Futsal is a fast, skill game of indoor soccer using a special ball with less bounce and a small net sans goalie.
The Vineyarders finished with four wins and no losses as did a team from Brockton high school. The two undefeateds met in a Showcase Final.
The Islanders took an early 3-1 lead, but Brockton responded and went ahead, 4-3. The Vineyarders tied the game at 4, then pulled way, 6-4 and finally won, 10-7.
The M.V. team is invited to return for an 11 vs. 11 tournament in June.
Between games, Gustavo won a juggling contest with 1,163 touches.
Hawks fly high
In interscholastic volley ball action, last Thursday, Tisbury defeated Edgartown, winning three games in a row, 25-11, 25-22, and 25-23. The Tigers junior varsity also swept by winning twice, making a third game superfluous.
The West Tisbury varsity kept pace with its down-Island cousins taking three straight games from Oak Bluffs.
Tuesday afternoon
The two unbeaten (2-0) teams met Monday and the up-Island varsity came away in sole possession of first place, winning three of the four games played.
At Edgartown, Tuesday, Oak Bluffs prevailed, winning the first varsity game, 25-15, losing the second, 23-25, then they won the next two contests.
The O.B. junior varsity team also came away with wins.
The Blazers are home to unbeaten West Tisbury today.
Serogia Bernier leaps for a block at the net. Click on photo to enlarge.
Tim Roberts's overhand serves challenge the Hawks' opponents. Click on photo to enlarge.Springing into action
The girls varsity lacrosse team leads off the spring sports season at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School entertaining the girls from Westonbirt School in England on Sunday, March 28, at 2:30 pm.
On the same day the sailing team hoists anchor at Tabor Academy.
The season really blossoms on Tuesday, March 30. The girls varsity lacrosse team is home to New Bedford at 2:45 and the boys varsity lacrosse team opens their season at New Bedford High at 3:00 pm.
The girls varsity softball team swings for the fence at Dennis Yarmouth, Tuesday, at 4 pm and the boys varsity baseball nine takes on D/Y here at the same hour on the same day.
The girls varsity tennis team takes a shot at D/Y at Yarmouth, Tuesday at 3:30 pm. The boys varsity serves it up Tuesday versus D/Y here at 3 pm.
The track and field teams wait until 3 pm, Wednesday March 31, to run, throw, and leap into action at Abington. Spring has certainly arrived.
Whaling on Nantucket
Saturday, April 3, the lacrosse booster clubs are sponsoring a fast ferry ride to and from Nantucket for the boys and the girls lacrosse games. The ferry departs 10:30 am, returns at 7 pm. Cost: $60 adult, $20 student. Tickets available at the high school from 11 am to 12:30 pm through April 1.
Boys Youth Lacrosse
Practice for the U-15, U-13, and U-11 boys youth lacrosse teams begins this week at the Oak Bluffs School.
Brian Hall and Bill Munson coach the U-15 team and practice Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 4 to 6 pm.
Matt Parker is coach of the U-13 team, which practices Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4:30 to 6 pm.
Bruce Mahaffey and Greg Rollins coach he U-11 boys, (3rd and 4th graders), who practice from 10 to 11:30 am, Saturdays. A teaching level program, no prior experience is required. Interested persons should call Coach Mahaffey, 508-400-5677.
Little League dates
Monday, March 29, Minor League coaches meet in MVRHS room 322 at 6 pm.
Monday, March 29 to Friday, April 2, major and minor league teams begin practice.
Saturday, April 10, Field Renovation Day.
Monday, April 12, TeeBall and Farm Leagues begin practice.
Saturday, May 1, Opening Day Parade: Tee Ball and Farm League games begin. Team Picture Day (all levels).
Saturday, June 26, Championship Day
5K road race
This Sunday the 12th annual St. Patrick's 5K road race begins in front of the Ocean View Restaurant at 10:30 am.
Register ($20) at the Boys & Girls Club before Sunday.
Register day of race at he Ocean View.
Getting along in D.C.
Marylee Schroeder of West Tisbury was one of the 2,321 to run the sixth annual Sun Trust Marathon in Washington D.C., Saturday. She finished the race in 3:35:00, fourth of the 70 runners in her gender/age group and 432nd overall.
Kat & Sam shine
Vineyard Youth Tennis student Kat Roberts of Oak Bluffs won the girls 10 and under singles division of the USTA tournament at the Dedham Health and Athletic Club last Saturday.
Kat defeated Olivia Berier of Marstons Mills, 6-2, Maddison Roy of Lewistown, 6-0, Alessia Cahoon of Dedham, 6-0, and in the finals, Mia Wallace of Arlington, 6-1.
It was Kat's first USTA singles event. She will travel to the Weymouth Club for her next tournament on April 24.
Another VYT student, Samantha Potter, also of Oak Bluffs, lost in the finals of the girls 12 and under division, 6-1, 6-1. However, Sam's New England ranking in the division advanced to the top 20.
At the M.V. Arena
"All You Need is Love," the Martha's Vineyard Figure Skating Club's 22nd annual ice skating show, is at the M.V. Arena on Saturday, March 27, beginning at 7 pm and continuing on Sunday, March 28, at 2 pm.
Adult tickets are $8 and children $5. The family fee is $25.
"Come and watch your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, friends, show you how far they have come in the last seven months."
What's in a name?
At the request of Major League Baseball, some Cape Cod League teams which had borrowed major league monikers are changing their names. The Orleans Cardinals are now the Orleans Firebirds, The Hyannis Mets are reborn as the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. That leaves the Y/D Red Sox, Bourne Braves, and Harwich Mariners still sounding like their betters.
Referee certification
The Friends of Vineyard Soccer (FOVS) will sponsor a course qualifying aspiring soccer referees as Grade 8 referees on Sunday, March 28, at the Boys & Girls Club.
Admission fee is $105. FOVS will reimburse course fees after a new ref works in five or more games.
For more information, call Trip Wadleigh, 617-833-8036.
New Bedford road race
Among the 2,309 athletes who ran the New Bedford half marathon last weekend were Vineyarders David Diriwachter, 40, of Vineyard Haven who finished 330th in 1:28:56; Pat Parker, 49, of Vineyard Haven, 509th in 1:35:15; Leonard Verville, 46, of Oak Bluffs, 694th in 1:40:50; Blake Edmund, 36, 720th in 1:41:38; Kim O'Callaghan, 45, of Vineyard Haven, 1,277th in 1:55:24 and Linda Hammond of Oak Bluffs, 1,697th in 2;06:17.
The winner in 1:05:20 was Derese Denibab, 28, of the Bronx, N.Y.
Tennis note
Last chance to register for this weekend's benefit tourney at Vineyard Youth Tennis to raise funds to purchase uniforms for the MVRHS boys and girls tennis teams is today before 6 pm.
Betsy's Bombers
MVRHS girls lacrosse coach Betsy Dripps anticipates the upcoming season with optimism. She was pleased with the showing of her team at the Falmouth Playday last Saturday testing their skills against "four tough teams" - Hanover, Hopkinton, Cohasset, and Newton North. "Both varsity and junior varsity teams have "a tremendous amount of talent." Eleven of last season's team, undefeated until the second round of the playoffs, return, including Hayley Pierce who was voted top player in the Maritime League.
Coach Dripps counts strength at every position and looks to players from last year's JV as well as the nine freshmen who were key players on last year's undefeated youth lacrosse team.
Isabelle Lew and Jessica Morris will assist as coaches.
The girls play Westonbirt School from England Sunday at 2:30 and open their season against New Bedford here next Tuesday.
